Oklahoma State University Athletics
Chasing Another Championship
September 27, 2013 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Sept. 27, 2013
By: Blake Zimmerman -
Before Oklahoma State men's cross country can begin defense of its 2012 NCAA title, the team's third in four years, its three returning All-Americans have to lead the team on a 10-mile run down Sangre Road on an early Saturday morning in Stillwater.
The team splits into smaller groups, usually of similar skill set, and takes off with staggered starts. Some of the coaches hop into a van and push ahead of the groups to give them their times at each mile. With each practice, the team shoots for faster times.
If you ask All-Americans Tom Farrell, Shadrack Kipchirchir and Joseph Manilafasha about Sangre Road, they all start to explain it with the same uncertain laughter because to the average person, a ten-mile run sounds awful. To these guys, it means so much more.
“It creates a massive sense of team chemistry,” said Farrell, last year's ninth-place finisher at the NCAA Championships. “That's where it all starts for us, those runs. We build from that point and run together. The atmosphere in that group, as you run together for 10 miles is indescribable. Because of those runs, as you grow in the program, you learn to always run together in every workout, no matter what.”
Kipchirchir, who took 18th at last year's championships, had never seen anything like it before transferring to OSU from Western Kentucky.
“When I came here and I was told about the 10-mile tempo runs on Sangre, I had no idea what to think because I had never done anything like that,” Kipchirchir said. “However, our guys enjoy it so much. It's all about team-building. That's what Coach [Dave] Smith tries so hard to do. He wants us to run and experience it together.”
Manilafasha, the 24th-place finisher at the 2012 NCAA Championships, said tempo runs translate to success at the meets.
“When I think of the 10-milers, they're just such a big part of what we do,” Manilafasha said. “They're tough, don't get me wrong, but there are days when it can be easy depending on how you approach it. It just helps us become so much closer as a team.”
These three guys would know. As seniors, they've seen many Saturday morning tempo runs lead to NCAA Championships. They know what it takes, which is part of what makes them great leaders for the 2013 squad.
There are different ways to be a leader, and Farrell, Kipchirchir and Manilafasha each have their own ways.
Farrell is the vocal leader. He's always at the front, urging his teammates along, whether it's words of encouragement or cracking jokes.
“Tom is more outspoken for sure,” OSU coach Dave Smith said. “He's a very charismatic guy and very outgoing. He always has a joke or something funny to say. He leads by example as well, but he is definitely the most vocal of the group.”
Kipchirchir and Manilafasha aren't as outspoken, but they have their own ways of communicating with the younger runners.
“We just try to do more while running,” Kipchirchir said. “Whether it's trying to pull young guysalong, or even off the course, realizing the position you're in and taking care not to do anything stupid. We just try to lead with what we do.”
“Shadrack is kind of in between Tom and Joe,” Smith said. “He has a good sense of humor and he laughs quite a bit. He has some one-liners of his own that he throws out there from time to time, but you don't hear them unless you're next to him. At the same time, he's also very serious. He doesn't get very vocal or get in anyone's face, he just leads by example. Joe is the other extreme: Quiet, reserved and hard-working. He goes out there and takes care of business. He does very well in the classroom as well. They are three different guys who have contributed a lot to this program. We wouldn't be where we are without them.”
Manilafasha believes it is the team chemistry that allows OSU to perform so well, and it is what he will remember the most when he is done competing.
“We know each other and we know what to expect when we race,” Manilafasha said. “We have shared experiences of nationals—the ups and downs. That's so important. It is so much easier to give up when you're alone, but when you see another orange jersey, it's comforting. You don't want to let the team down. No matter what happens, you have to do the best you can for your team.”
Leadership doesn't always come naturally, but Farrell said he embraces the role.
“My freshman year, the team leader was [Ryan] Vail, then German [Fernandez] and Colby [Lowe] took over,” Farrell said. “Being younger than those guys, it made me look up to them and want to learn how to be a team leader. Dave [Smith] doesn't sit anyone down and appoint them the leader, it's just assumed. I want to be a good example. I know not everyone likes me, but not everyone likes someone to tell them what they're doing wrong. It's mainly about showing these younger guys what it takes to be a national champion. I want to be someone they look up to the way I looked up to those before me.”
The experience of a couple national championships will help in that department for sure. Farrell, Kipchirchir and Manilafasha all have that experience. That, coupled with the team cohesiveness developed on those early Saturday morning runs are a couple good reasons why many see those three leading OSU to another championship.
