Recently in MensCC Category
Today, RunningTimes.com published a wonderful story about senior All-American Hassan Mead and his road back to running for the Minnesota Golden Gopher Cross Country team.
Over these last few months, I have had the privilege of working with Hassan doing different interviews and segments for gophersports.com . From what I have seen, he is very mature and respectful student-athlete. I have really enjoyed watching him compete this season and I am excited to see what he can do on Sunday at the Big Ten Championships.
Below is the first couple paragraphs from the article. After that, there is a link of the entire story.
It was deja vu all over again at last month's Roy Griak Invitational in
Minneapolis. Ditto at the
Wisconsin adidas Invitational on Oct. 14. Prominent in the lead pack of both
races, heading numerous All-Americans and a few recent high school standouts,
strode a tall, lanky University of Minnesota athlete. While some up front
looked uneasy and just might have been pushing the pace a bit too hard, this
guy was obviously running well within himself. He was the real deal. And he was
finally back after a prolonged absence.
The sight was certainly familiar to many, because
Hassan Mead is himself a three-time NCAA Division I cross country All-American.
But no one had seen Mead racing cross-country for some 22 months, not since his
16th-place finish at the 2009 national meet. Those who had written him off have
been sorely mistaken. Please click the link below to read the full story about Hassan and his journey back to the top.
Gophersports:
Why did you first decide to become a runner?
Blayne Dulian: In the 8th grade my dad encouraged me to run track and field
and after that I was a runner
GS: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make when moving from high
school cross country to running in college?
BD: Mileage and the length of the races.
GS: What
is the most difficult course you've ever run?
BD: Our home course for the Roy Griak
GS: What is the most unusual or creative workout you've ever run at practice?
BD: I would say the some of the circuit training workouts we do
are a little out of the ordinary
GS: What
team or individual performance are you most proud of?
BD: Winning
a state championship in High School
GS: Where
is your favorite place to run?
BD: River
Road
GS: What is your favorite Minnesota tradition?
BD: The
freshman singing the rouser
GS: What
is the coolest part of being a member of the Minnesota cross country team?
BD: The
guys I get to train with
GS: What
is the hardest part of being on the Minnesota cross country team?
BD: The
running
GS: What
advice would you give a new runner?
BD: Stay
consistent and have fun
GS: What have you learned from cross country that has helped you in other
aspects of your life?
BD: If
you don't put in the hard work, you aren't going to see any results. Remains
true for everything.
GS: Do you have a favorite sports movie?
BD: RUDY!!
GS: Where is your favorite place to eat on campus?
BD: Schang
Chengs
GS:
What are you listening to on your iPod right now?.
BD: Yelawolf
GS:
Do you have any race-day superstitions?
BD: Not
a very superstitious kind of guy
GS: What are your goals for this season?
BD: Improve
upon last year's times and help the team as much as I can.
GS: What is your favorite sport outside of cross-country or track and
field?
BD:
Basketball
GS: What motivates you to run and compete?
BD: Competing
against others makes it a blast
GS:
What is one talent or skill you have outside of running?
BD: I am
an exceptional dancer
GS:
If you had the choice to travel either forward or backward in time, which would
you choose? Why?
BD: I would go back in
time to re-live the awesome childhood memories
This afternoon at 1:40 p.m. CT, the No. 17 University of Minnesota men's cross country team will be in action in Madison, Wis., for the Wisconsin adidas Invitational. At 1:40 will be the championship race and at 3 p.m. the "B" race will take place.
Yesterday afternoon Flo Track interviewed Minnesota's own Hassan Mead. They also put together a preview of the 8k course. Check out the videos below!
Watch more video of Wisconsin adidas XC Invitational 2011 on flotrack.org
Watch more video of Wisconsin adidas XC Invitational 2011 on flotrack.org
GS:
Use five words to describe yourself.
DP: Responsible, Caring, Diligent, Self-Disciplined, Honest
GS:
Describe your perfect day - who would you spend it with, what would you do,
where would you be?
DP: I would spend it with either my family or my close friends and we would
enjoy a day on the lake skiing, tubing, and just hanging out on the water. Or
we would be camping on the North Shore up by Grand Marais, MN. Either way it's
a great day!
GS:
What is your pre-race routine?
DP: I wake up and go for a shakeout run, I eat a light breakfast...or lunch 3.5-4
hours before race time. Then I get cleaned up and everything packed and ready
and then double check to make sure I have my spikes and jersey. Many times I
then wait and relax, and read a book or my Bible.
GS:
Other than the Gophers, what is your favorite sports team? (College or Pro)
DP: Though they have both broken my heart in the past couple of seasons, I love
the Twins and the Vikings. Good times are coming for them.
GS:
What do you miss the most about being at home?
DP: Hands down...My Mom's cooking is the best! In the summer I miss the lakes as
well.
GS:
Who was the most famous person you have ever met?
DP: Hassan Mead! Look at him...he's a stud.
GS:
If your life was to be turned into a movie, what genre would it be; what would
the title be; what actor would you have star in it?
DP: It would be an action movie...some crazy adventure. Title is still up in the
air, but Matt Damon has signed on for the part.
GS:
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
DP: If I could go anywhere, I would travel to Europe to see all of the
incredible history and architecture over there. Oh and I bet the food would be
pretty good.
GS:
What is the best advice you have received? Who was it from?
DP: The best advice I have ever received has always come from my Dad. Some of
the advice that he has given me is to be a man of integrity and to put forth my
best effort no matter what is necessary.
GS: What are you listening to
on your iPod right now?
DP: Phil Wickham
GS:
If you had the choice to travel either forward or backward in time, which would
you choose? Why?
DP: I would have to agree with Sean Olson's Response to move forward in time,
because I know there are many Superbowl's in the future for the Minnesota
Vikings.
GS:
Where is your favorite place at the University of Minnesota?
DP: My favorite place to run is probably River Road. It's so nice to run there
during the fall and spring.
GS: What is your major? Why did you choose this major?
DP: I am a Kinesiology
major. I chose this because I am really interested in learning about the
movement of the human body. And it will prepare me for Physical Therapy grad
school.
GS: What is the first
thing you think about when you wake up?
DP: Should I hit snooze?
GS: Do you have any
siblings? How many?
DP: I have an awesome older
sister, Megan who works for NDSU and I don't see nearly enough, because of our
busy schedules.
GS: What is your favorite
class or professor so far at Minnesota, and why?
DP: Anatomy lab and
lecture were both great classes. I loved learning about the human body and
seeing how it all works together. It's amazing! Plus who wouldn't like studying
with Mike Torchia and Mike Shelendich?
GS: If you could eat only
one thing for the rest of your life, what would you eat?
DP: If I had to eat only
one thing, I would choose to eat Spaghetti, because it is always delicious
meal.
GS: Who was your
role-model as a child? Why? Has your role model changed now that you are older?
DP: Though I have had
certain people during different times in life that I have looked up to, my
parents have always been my role-models in life. I respect them so much for whom
they are and their unconditional love and kindness for everyone around them.
GS: How has being a student
and athlete at Minnesota influenced your life?
DP: Being a student at
Minnesota has obviously influenced my life in many ways, because I am getting
my education here and I usually learn something new every day from class and
everyday experiences. As an athlete competing as a Gopher, it has been an
amazing journey thus far where I have been surrounded by some great brothers
(my teammates), and I have learned that in life you get knocked down and back...a
lot. But your true character is seen with the response of getting up, learning,
and pushing forward towards your goals.
Go Gophers!
Gophersports.com: Use five words to describe yourself.
Andrew
Larsen: Weird, quirky, sleepy, dopey,
and funky
GS: Describe your perfect day - who would you spend it with,
what would you do, where would you be?
AL: I don't know about my perfect day but one of
my favorite days this year has been going for a run, grabbing some Chipotle,
and sitting on the couch with the apartment 5 guys watching Heroes
GS: What is your pre-race
routine?
AL: I usually have a bowl of oatmeal and just try
and relax. I don't have many superstitions.
GS: Other than the Gophers, what is your favorite sports team?
(College or Pro)
AL: The Minnesota Vikings
GS: What do you miss the most about being at home?
AL: Definitely the thing I miss most is my mom's
cooking, particularly pepperoni bread
GS: Who was the most
famous person you have ever met?
AL: Candice Parker, she ref'd one of my grade
school basketball games
GS: If your life was to
be turned into a movie, what genre would it be; what would the title be; what
actor would you have star in it?
AL: I don't know about a movie but Steve Sulkin
and I plan on making a TV show called "Sittin' Supes Close With Steve and
Lars." It's a TV show about quoting other shows.
GS: If you could travel
anywhere in the world, where would you go?
AL: Probably Japan, I've always wanted to go there
GS: What was the most
embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
AL: I have a few from the past couple years of
College but I doubt they would be appropriate.
GS: What is the best
advice you have received? Who was it from?
AL: One of the best pieces of advice I've been
given was from a high school training partner of mine, Charlie Kern. When I was a sophomore in High School he asked
me a simple question "How good do you want to be?" It wasn't really
advice, but I think about that almost every day before I go for a run.
GS: What are you
listening to on your iPod right now?
AL: Gordon Lightfoot, The Wreck of the Edmund
Fitzgerald
GS: If you had the choice
to travel either forward or backward in time, which would you choose? Why?
AL: Forwards, because than I wouldn't need roads.
GS: Where is your
favorite place at the University of Minnesota?
AL: The walking bridge overlooking downtown and
the 35W bridge at night, when it's lit up.
GS:
What is your major? Why did you choose
this major?
AL: Computer Science, I enjoy working with
computers.
GS: What is the first thing you think about when you
wake up?
AL: If I'm late for class or not
GS: Do you have any siblings? How many?
AL: Yes, I have a younger brother Alec. He's
16.
GS: What is your favorite class or professor so
far at Minnesota, and why?
AL: My favorite class has been Sports in a Diverse
Society
GS: If you could eat only one thing
for the rest of your life, what would you eat?
AL: Pizza definitely
GS: Who was your role-model as a
child? Why? Has your role model changed now that you are older?
AL: My role model growing up was Chris Carter but
my role model now is my Dad. The older I get the more I can appreciate
how hard he works everyday to support our family.
GS: How has being a student and athlete at Minnesota
influenced your life?
AL: Having the opportunity to not only attend
Minnesota as a student, but also to represent the Gophers on the cross country
course has been a great blessing. I am extremely thankful for the
opportunity that Coach Plaz has given me. This has led to my desire to
get everything I can out of myself, both in running and in school, so that I do
not waste what I have been given.
Gophersports.com: Why did you first decide to
become a runner?
Steve Sulkin: My older brother was on the high
school team and he said he loved it so I tried it.
GS: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make when moving from high
school cross country to running in college?
SS: The biggest adjustment for me was realizing that
it is a long process and you're not always going to get what you want right
away.
GS: What is the most difficult course you've
ever run?
SS: Our home course is probably the most difficult.
Where I'm from, there aren't any hills so our course seems hard. But that's a
good thing because we get to train on it all year.
GS: What is the most unusual or creative workout you've ever run at
practice?
SS: Our circuit workouts are pretty unusual. We will
do a two mile loop and stop at different stations to do exercises like jump
roping or med ball drills. It seems kind of goofy but its hard work.
GS: What team or individual performance
are you most proud of?
SS: I'm most proud of the track team winning five
straight Big Ten Track titles.
GS: Where is your favorite place to run?
SS:
I like running over the hills on the Griak course.
GS: What is your favorite Minnesota tradition?
SS:
Camp up in Nevis MN. All we do is run and relax. It's great.
GS: What is the coolest part of being a member of the Minnesota cross country
team?
SS:
Knowing that you're representing one the largest educational institutions in
the country
GS: What is the hardest part of being on the Minnesota cross country
team?
SS:
We have so many talented runners that it gets difficult to make the team. I
guess that's a good problem to have.
GS: What advice would you give a new runner?
SS:
Go out and run every single day.
GS: What have you learned from cross country that has helped you in other
aspects of your life?
SS:I
learned to be persistent. If something doesn't come easy right away, just keep
trying and it'll get easier
GS: Do you have a favorite sports movie?
SS:
Breaking away.
GS: Where is your favorite place to eat on campus?
SS:
It's a tie between Qdoba and Chipotle
GS: What are you listening to on your iPod right now?.
SS:
REO Speedwagon. Take it on the Run
GS: Do you have any race-day
superstitions?
SS:
I like to eat oatmeal but I do that every day so I guess not.
GS: What are your goals for this season?
SS:
I want to be on the team that gets top ten at nationals
GS: What is your favorite sport outside of cross-country or track and
field?
SS:
I love baseball. I'm a big White Sox fan.
GS: What motivates you to run and compete?
SS:
I just love to beat people in races.
GS: What is one talent or
skill you have outside of running?
SS:
I am very good at spoons.
GS: If you had the choice to travel either
forward or backward in time, which would you choose? Why?
SS: I would go forward because I would not want to
risk changing the present for the worse.
niti� "��� are your goals for this season? SS: I want to be on the team that gets top ten at nationals
GS: What is your favorite sport outside of cross-country or track and field? SS: I love baseball. I'm a big White Sox fan.
GS: What motivates you to run and compete? SS: I just love to beat people in races. GS: What is one talent or skill you have outside of running? SS: I am very good at spoons. GS: If you had the choice to travel either forward or backward in time, which would you choose? Why? SS: I would go forward because I would not want to risk changing the present for the worse.
Derek
Storkel: Why did you first decide to become a runner?
Gophersports: Well, it all began in soccer.
Basically my coach made me join track because he thought I was fast.
GS: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make when moving
from high school cross country to running in college?
DS: Not running like an idiot. In high
school, the distances were only 5k so I could get away with sprinting the first
mile. In college however, if I tried doing that in an 8k and god-forbid a 10k,
I would probably die.
GS:
What is the most difficult course you've ever run?
DS: In high school cross county, we went to
this tiny high school call Brookwood. The high school and course are on a hill
that is a steady third of a mile up. It's pretty much hell.
GS: What is the most unusual or creative workout you've ever run at
practice?
DS: My first year at camp Plaz made us swim
across Lake Belle Taine. That was interesting. It ended up not going well that
year so we don't do that anymore.
DS:
What team or individual performance are you most proud of?
GS:
I am most proud of our team getting 3rd at Big Ten's last year. They
overcame a relatively tough season and did really well.
DS: Where is your
favorite place to run?
GS: I like Danger Ranger. The whereabouts of this run are
closely guarded team secret.
GS: What is your
favorite Minnesota tradition?
DS: Definitely the Perham rouser.
GS: What is the
coolest part of being a member of the Minnesota cross country team?
DS: Just knowing that I am here to wear the Maroon and Gold and
knowing the truth about them rotten Badgers.
GS: What is the
hardest part of being on the Minnesota cross country team?
DS: It definitely would have to be wearing 10 pounds of clothing
in the winter just to stay warm.
GS: What advice would
you give a new runner?
GS: Listen to your
body and believe in the program. The first year here is slow. But after that
you will become a totally new runner.
GS: What have you learned from cross country that has helped you in other
aspects of your life?
DS: If you don't put in the hard work, you aren't going to see
any results. Remains true for everything.
GS: Do you have a
favorite sports movie?
DS: Happy Gilmore. Nothing better.
GS: Where is your favorite place to eat on campus?
DS: Annie's for sure. As long as we are eating indoors.
GS: What are you listening to on your iPod right now?.
DS: Katy Perry! I am a big Katy Perry guy.
GS: Do you have any
race-day superstitions?
DS: Nope, I just do what I think I need to do.
GS: What are your goals for this
season?
DS: I would like to help make sure that our team sticks together
through thick and thin. Without great chemistry, it can be hard to support your
teammates when they need it most.
GS: What is your favorite sport
outside of cross-country or track and field?
DS: Tetherball, especially at Lake Belle Taine. Otherwise
turtle-hunting (turtles remain unharmed).
GS: What motivates you to run and
compete?
DS: To see my body
progress to higher levels than I ever thought it could.
GS: What is one talent
or skill you have outside of running?
DS: I can be a pretty artist person when I feel like it,
otherwise I am an avid angler.
GS:
If you had the choice to travel either forward or backward in time, which would
you choose? Why?
DS: I would travel back in time to meet Abraham
Lincoln. I think he would have a been a cool guy to hang out with.
Throughout the 2011 season we will be bringing you either a set of 20 questions from a Gopher cross country squad member or an article focusing on a student-athlete from this years team. In our first crack at 2011 gophersports.com talked with Menomonie, Wis. senior Sean Olson.
Gophersports.com:
Why did you first decide to become a runner?
Sean Olson: The first time I realized I wanted to be a runner was in elementary
school. In 4th grade we had to run the mile for the first time. I
was the best kid in my class, it was my first ever race victory! I have loved
it ever since.
GS:What
was the biggest adjustment you had to make when moving from high school cross
country to running in college?
SO: In high school, my main
motivation was to win races. I never really entered a race that I couldn't win.
In college, the level of competition obviously changes. I have had to change my
mindset entering into a race since I have entered college. It is about working
with teammates and trying to PR in order to help the team. I also have less
control over races, in high school I could dictate the pace and manipulate the
race. In college, it is much harder to take control of larger, more competitive
races.
GS: What
is the most difficult course you've ever run?
SO: Hands down, the University of Michigan
course.
GS: What is the most unusual or creative workout you've ever run at practice?
SO: During some recovery runs, we will
leap-frog up a hill as a cross training activity. That is kind of strange I
guess.
GS: What
team or individual performance are you most proud of?
SO: For
the team, it has to be qualifying for nationals in 2010 at the Regional Meet in
Peoria, IL. We were a bubble team and we came in and got the job done. It wasn't
the best team we have had and we were missing Hassan due to injury and we came
together with a lot of young talent and made it happen.
GS: Where is your favorite
place to run?
SO: River Road, it never gets old.
GS: What is your favorite Minnesota
tradition?
SO: Singing the rouser at camp. "M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A!!!!!"
GS: What is the coolest
part of being a member of the Minnesota cross country team?
SO: Putting on the jersey and actually knowing you're representing
the University of Minnesota. You get to compete at the highest level of
collegiate athletics. It's pretty special.
GS: What is the hardest
part of being on the Minnesota cross country team?
SO: Probably staying positive even when times get hard. Winters can
be cold, races can go poorly, and injuries happen. Things can seem bad but
attitude can be everything in this sport.
GS: What advice would you
give a new runner?
SO: Believe in the
program, listen, work hard, and come with a positive attitude and you will get
better in this program.
GS: What have you learned from cross country that has helped you in other
aspects of your life?
SO: Resilience, whether it is injuries or bad performances or something else, to
succeed at running you have to be able to push through, get back up after
getting knocked down, and persevere. That carries over into the real world, it
is always helpful to be able to push through hard times.
GS: Do you have a favorite
sports movie?
SO: Remember
the Titans
GS: Where is your favorite place to eat on campus?
SO: Mesa Pizza
GS: What are you listening to on your iPod right now?
SO: Mat Kearney just came out with a new CD that I really like but I
never get tired of REO Speedwagon and Bruce Springsteen.
GS: Do you have any
race-day superstitions?
SO: Not really anything crazy, I always do a shakeout run, eat a
small breakfast, and stay focused.
GS: What are your goals for this season?
SO: I want to be part of a team that qualifies and places well at
nationals. I also want to continue the great chemistry and cohesion that the
team has exhibited in the past. Without a doubt, Minnesota cross country runners
are some of the best and goofiest guys I have ever met. Maybe, it's cliché but
the guys on the team are like family. It is important to me that we maintain
that friendship and atmosphere.
GS: What is your favorite sport outside
of cross-country or track and field?
SO: Basketball, especially college basketball.
GS: What motivates you to run and
compete?
SO: Seeing how the work pays off. There is no better feeling than
when you get to the end of a race and you still have a great kick left in your
legs and you run a great time. You don't get that feeling without getting out
the door and working hard.
GS: Outside of running,
what do you enjoy to do?
SO: Watch movies.
GS: If
you had the choice to travel either forward or backward in time, which would
you choose? Why?
SO: I
will say forward, because the Vikings haven't won a Super Bowl in the past but
I know they have a lot of them coming in the future and I can't wait to see
it!
Kevin Lachowitzer-Junior
Today was the last full day at camp. We started the day off by traveling to Itasca State Park for a hilly long run and afterwards we visited the headwaters of the Mississippi. When we got back from running, the nice weather we had all week moved out and it rained on and off the rest of the night. This ended the badmitten tournament without crowning a champion for the second straight year.
The afternoon turned into playing dominos and watching movies. The team was in for a treat for supper, Wayne fried up a meal of fish he had caught this year and Bunch made some delicious desserts to go with it. This was my favorite meal of camp.
After supper, the team went into Park Rapids for an evening of bowling. After bowling the team stopped at the local DQ and overwhelmed the staff for a few ice cream cones, then it was back to the cabins to start the long process of cleaning up after a week of making messes. The freshman got the privilege of cleaning out and vacuuming the vans for everyone.
The team looks pretty tired after an intense week of training so I believe it's gonna be an early night tonight. Thanks to everyone for an awesome week of camp!
Slideshow Aaron Bartnik-Freshman It was another early start to the day with the four University vans leaving for the twenty minute drive to the ATV trails at 8:00. It was a nice, relaxing run ranging between 50 to 60 minutes for most of the team. Everyone was a little sore form the workout the day before, and preparing for the long run at Itasca State Park tomorrow. The run was proceeded by strides and returning back to Belle Shores Resort. Followed by a refreshing lake shower, it was a lazy morning with most athletes returning to their cabins to relax before lunch. Bunch's amazing turkey sandwiches and sweet potato surprise filled everyone's bellies for lunch. The food seemed to bring back energy to the team with more activities taking place after lunch. Minnow races were a big hit of the afternoon with all the athletes and coaches encouraging their minnows down two parallel gutters. Some of the minnow's names were Chuck Norris, Salty Sulkin, Nevis Nightmare, Disappointing but Consistent, Nemo, Tim, and Never-Ending Daydream. Freshman Alex Brend came out as the overall champion leading his minnow, Roxxxy, to five wins. The races were followed by delicious popsicles. Bocce Ball, badminton, football, swimming, board games, and tanning occurred in the afternoon. While most people were having a great time, Coach Chris Rombough decided he would be anti-social and take a three hour nap missing team bonding time and the second practice of the day....naughty naughty. At 4:30 the team met for a short and relaxed second run of the day. Hurdle mobility drills and a medicine ball routine followed. Another lake shower and tanning session followed the run. A wonderful dinner of spaghetti, salad, and bread was served around 6:30. Puzzles and relaxing ended the night of another day at CC camp.
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