Marks PRs in 25:14 for 64th at NCAAs

(11/20/2010 8:36 PM) See more Photos     Full Results

In his first appearance on the national stage, Kyle Marks ran with unusual savvy for a rookie at the NCAA Cross Country National Championships at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. Dropping almost 40 seconds of his 8k PR, Marks ran 25:14 for 64th place overall. In grand fashion, Marks improved his overall place in each of his final three meets. After improving from a 25th place finish at the NESCAC Championships to a 13th place finish at the New England Championships, Marks peaked perfectly to PR and finish as the 4th overall New England runner.

Marks displayed the focus and determination that is typically reserved for grizzled veterans at the national stage. Amidst the chaos and confusion of the frantic National Championship start, Marks maintained a comfort and composure that helped him move into the 30’s for the first couple miles. The PR pace took its toll as Marks battled through the next few miles. He began to slowly lose ground and faded as far back as 85th at the 4 mile mark.

However, Marks showed true grit in the final mile as he surged and regained ground throughout the last 1600m. Passing 20+ people in the final mile, Marks moved up to finish as the 18th overall underclassmen (Fr and So). More impressively, Marks posted an effort that earned him a “returning” All American spot. He was the 35th non-senior in this weekend’s race – an impressive feat.

Marks put an excellent exclamation point on a solid season for the Jumbos. His effort demonstrated that the program as a whole is coming on strong and is on the verge of taking themselves to the next level. The combination of the youth, talent, and dedication with this year’s Jumbos puts them in an excellent position as they shift their focus to the 2011 track and XC seasons.

Look for the Jumbos to kick off the 2010-11 track season in two weeks at the Husky Carnival hosted by Northeastern University.


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