Principia College Hosts Cross Country Nationals
During last month’s NCAA DIII Cross Country National Championships, 560 runners from 107 colleges and universities raced on Principia College’s North Farm course. Though high winds and fluctuating temperatures challenged all competitors, the field posted fast results. The men’s 8K champion, Darin Lau, a senior at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, finished in 24:03, and Khia Kurtenbach, a junior from the University of Chicago won the women’s 6K with a time of 20:39. North Central University captured the men’s team championship, and Johns Hopkins University took the women’s team championship.
A week earlier, seniors Shane Witters Hicks, Zach Matthiesen, and Nate Richards ran at the Midwest Regionals event, dubbed “The Road to Elsah,” where all three earned All-Region titles and qualified for nationals as individuals. “We should note that among the 254 runners in our region, only seven qualified as individuals,” says Principia’s cross country coach Sedge Southworth (C’01). “It’s incredibly challenging to qualify as an individual, and this is truly an outstanding accomplishment for Shane, Nate, and Zach,” noting that Zach broke the school record at Regionals. “Nate and Zach led the field that day with a bold statement of speed. A coach from another team told me that they pulled the entire field to incredible performances.”
Alumni returned from as far away as Alaska to see the nationals race and support Principia’s runners, and some volunteered to help staff the event. Competitors and coaching staff—more than 1,000 people—enjoyed a banquet dinner in Crafton Athletic Center the night before the race. College Athletics Director Pete Paciorek and Principia College President Dr. Jonathan Palmer (C’78) welcomed everyone to campus, and Southworth gave an invocation, inviting athletes to take a moment of silence to reflect on what they are grateful for. Following dinner, Stuart Jenkins (C’83), gave the keynote. “Racing to win has little to do with time or place,” he said, “but much to do with character.” Jenkins concluded his remarks by encouraging the runners to race with peace, joy, and power.
The three Principians ran outstanding races, all placing in the top 100. Shane came in first for Principia, placing 42nd overall and passing 101 runners after the first mile. Zach was second for Principia, placing 66th. And Nate came in third for Principia, 96th overall, after moving up from 174th place at the first mile mark.
“My heart is full of gratitude for these guys, the coaches, and the team,” Shane says. “The Principia community support was unbelievable.” Nodding in agreement, Nate remarks, “We overcame many challenges along the way, including supporting each other with physical healings in Christian Science.” Explaining that they set the goal of qualifying for nationals when they were freshmen, Zach notes, “I’ve learned about diligence, pushing the envelope for excellence, and getting satisfaction from good work.”
All three men are quick to credit their coaches over the years and their team members. “It may look like an individual sport,” Zach says, “but it’s actually an invisible team sport. From our metaphysical [meetings] to reading, as a team, the Christian Science Journal article ‘Be the Best’ [by Eric Bole, CSB, former Vice President of Principia], team members have been with us all the while.” Through it all, the trio focused on being the best in life. “I learned a big lesson about how to live deliberately—striving to do what is right, good, and selfless in all the little moments of each day,” Shane says.
Striving for excellence in running translated to strong academic records for all three men as well, particularly Shane, a physics major. At the banquet dinner, he was awarded one of the two Elite 90 awards, honoring the man and woman participating at Nationals who have the highest cumulative GPAs.
“I was grateful to see the dream of hosting nationals that former cross country coach Chuck Wilcoxen (C’81) talked about a dozen years ago come to fruition,” Southworth adds. “When a runner from a California college came up to me to say, ‘We love your course!’ I was filled with gratitude for all of the work that so many people had put in over the years to make it possible.”
Watch full coverage of Nationals.