For just about as long as anyone can remember, the Shawnee State University cross country team has seen nothing but success. This year was no different as the men’s team qualified to compete at the NAIA national meet where they would get to run against the best the NAIA has to offer. The Bears never shy away from a challenge. In the past, it had been no issue for the Bears to make it to the national meet; it was almost like second nature.
The Bears recognized that they might face a bigger challenge getting to nationals this year when they would have to go up against fierce competitors such as Rio Grande, a team that has made great improvements in a short amount of time. However, no matter the challenge, the Bears always seem to prevail. At the River States Conference meet, the Bears finished first, punching their ticket to the NAIA national meet.
So even though going to nationals may be like riding a bike for the Bears, it is still a great accomplishment, and a feeling that is hard to replicate in collegiate competition.
“I felt really good with this past cross country season,” said sophomore Isaiah Lanoy, Shawnee’s top finisher at the nationals.
Throughout our conversation, Lanoy only had good things to say about his coaches and teammates.
“Ever since coach (Conner Flynn) talked to us about doing faster workouts on the track, I knew we would win conference because this team has the heart for it,” he said
Having seen first-hand the Bears’ previous efforts, I can only attribute their even faster workouts to the work ethic this team has committed themselves to maintaining.
“I’m really excited for this upcoming indoor and outdoor season because I believe this team has something special that not a lot of teams do,” Lanoy said. “We look out for each other and cheer for each other. … We don’t act like individual groups and act more like a big team, which will lead to more conference titles in the future and hopefully a nationals podium.”
The future for the running Bears seems to be on par with the standard, and that is simply winning. Seeing the work these students put in, you can believe that making it to nationals is not only a great accomplishment, but a reminder for what they work toward each year.
