The sun sets on the speedway stars

Cross-country seniors share their insights as their season wraps up

Compiled by Peter Melling /// Sports Editor

Following their final season of Lewis & Clark cross-country, the eight seniors reflect on yearbook quotes, favorite memories, their legacies and post-graduation plans.

Kory Andersen (’15)
“The Trial of Miles; Miles of Trials.” Learn to appreciate every moment, even the hard times. In the bigger scheme of things, all those unique moments add up to make a truly special path.

Competition wise, my favorite moment was in my second year when we pulled an upset and took second in the Northwest Conference. In general though, the best moments were the bus rides, hanging out in the locker room, and the countless runs spent with the guys. There’s no team like this.

I’m just happy to have helped to create a really close team environment. I am also glad that I was able to help the young guys get their bearings and to have raised the men’s team’s expectations.

In the summer, I’m going to continue working for the City of Gresham’s Urban Renewal Department, and in the fall, I’ll start graduate school in Urban and Regional Planning. I don’t know where I’ll be going quite yet, but likely back east.

 

Ali Brauer (’15)
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” -Steve Prefontaine

My fondest memory is a tie between the two Conference titles we won back-to-back my freshman and sophomore years. The way they played out was completely different. The first year, we had a ton of injuries and won against all odds by two points. The second year, we absolutely dominated, with one of the lowest winning point totals in history. It was an amazing experience to be a part of those championship teams and I learned so much from my older teammates.

I hope to leave my dorky sense of humor, quiet confidence and most of all, a killer love for racing. Also, Aviva Browning will have to put someone else at the top of her hit list.

I am pursuing a master’s and potentially a Ph.D in applied math, hopefully focusing on something physics-related.

 

Reed Bunnell (’15)
“I guess I’m not wearing any pants today!” -Spongebob Squarepants

There are so many good memories, which makes it hard to choose, but I’d have to say either pre-camp at the coast or Evan and Amelia’s face swap.

My ultimate goal is to leave behind a group of inspired teammates ready to take conference next year and who all know what and how to get to the Original Hot Cake House.

Besides defeating the Galactic Empire in my Millennium Falcon and getting my ears podded, I plan to play music with my band MugSpoon and teach music.

 

Lily Clarke (’15)
“Running is a road to self-awareness and reliance – you can push yourself to extremes and learn the harsh reality of your physical and mental limitations or cost quietly down a solitary path watching the earth spin beneath your feet.”

Every year after our Home Invite, everyone jumps in the river (keep in mind this is late October!) and everyone cheers each other on while the others are swimming out to “our rock”. It is so exciting to be part of such a huge support group and watching everyone go for it.

I hope to leave behind the sense that we run XC for the people and our love of running on top of competition.

I would like to conduct fire ecology research with the Missoula Fire Lab and then go onto Peace Corps. After that either grad school or medical school, I am waiting to make my decision after I have more experience in a variety of fields.

 

Brendy Hale (’15)
“You’ve got the playdough in your pocket, now build the sandcastle” -Eric Wilmurt

My favorite memory is that first PB&J in the Copeland E-10s lounge first day of pre-camp freshman year. Heavy on the Adam’s, heavy on the Smuckers.

I really hope to leave behind Applebot and Frunklin!

Hopefully, I’ll record another album with the Goddamn Band and play some gigs this summer, before heading off to the Peace Corps.

 

Peter Innes (’15)
run like the river
 run like the wind
      burning lotus
    fire within

My favorite memory of my time on the team is playing Super Smash Bros N64 at the guys’ house in our boxers.

I hope to leave behind the competition!

After this year, I’m going to live and study beetles in the Colorado Rockies during the summer; stay there and ski during the winter.

 

Susan Heinselman (’15)
My yearbook quote would be Robert Service’s poem Grin.

My fondest memory from LC cross country is our coast trips. During precamp we go to a house on the coast, cram in all 30+ of us, and just run, explore, and have bonding time.

I hope to leave behind a smile I guess, that’s a hard question.

Post graduation, I plan on hiking the Kings trail in Sweden, and then going into the peace corps.

 

Katie Keith (’15)
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” -Nelson Mandela

My fondest memory is running at the NCAA Division III National Cross-Country race in Indiana in 2012. I had never seen such enthusiastic crowds at a cross-country race before! Middlebury College loaded two charter buses full of fans dressed in full on Spartan uniforms.

I hope that our team will continue the tradition of distance running being a lifestyle, not just a sport. I feel like running teaches you self-discipline and perseverance enrich your life in every respect.

I plan to spend a few years working in China and then head to grad school.

 

Marin Olson (’15)
Pizza!!

My fondest memory is icing after a long run in the ocean. This happened several times and was always amazing!

After only running one season I can’t take much credit for leaving something behind in the program, but I can comment on the wonderful people joining and leaving the team. I have never known such a welcoming, supportive, and positive group of people! Leaving the team, I can only think about how glad I am that I could take part in it my senior year.

I plan to apply to medical school within a few years after working in a research lab.

Peter Melling is a Sports Editor at the Pioneer Log. He likes to write stories about athletes within the Lewis & Clark community, upcoming games and seasons, and the inner workings of the athletic department. You can follow him on Twitter @PMell2293.

pmelling@lclark.edu