November 29, 2014 12:29 PM
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Men's Cross Country
Principia College Athletics
Nate Richards Soars to NCAA Cross Country National Championship Level
Principia College Athletics
Wilmington, OH - It was at the King's Island Golf Course on a cold morning at 11:00am. Sophomore
Nate Richards was among the 280 competitors at the NCAA D3 National Cross Country Championsips. As the gun went off, the race was underway and competitors were lined shoulder to shoulder for the first 400 meters of the 8000-meter race course. Cheering and zealous spectators followed alongside the runners everywhere leaving almost zero empty space along the path and on the sidelines. Richards got off the line a little behind where he envisioned himself. Over the first two miles, he moved from approximately 50th to his highest spot of the race--18th. The race was very fast up front causing the rest of the runners to string out early. Richards ran very strong, but faded back to approximately 40th around the fourth-mile marker at which point he found himself next to a friend (and fellow Christian Scientist) from his summer camp at Owatanna.
They battled together for the last mile holding even in position. They duked it out all the way through the line. Richards solidified a 39th place finish for himself. Although his friend edged Richards out, his presence over the last mile was very appreciated.
Richards was cheered by a rowdy group of teammates and accompanied by head coach
Chuck Wilcoxen, who has traveled to several national meets with past Principia College cross country and track and field athletes, and assistant coaches Nano Litwiller and
Wylie Mangelsdorf,
a two-time cross country All-American.
Overall he ran a very courageous and tough race. He ran with the confidence and execution of a nationals veteran, although he will still have room to improve for his next showing.