2008 Woodie Awards
Cross Country ends season at nationals
Macias places fifth to become first team all-American
Kristen Roderick
Issue date: 11/21/02 Section: Silhouette Sports
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The Buster Cross Country team finished the season by sending five runners to the national meet in Leviland, Texas, Nov. 9.
Rujelio Macias, Houston, paced the Busters, placing fifth out of 77 men. He ran the eight kilometer race in 27:38. Placing fifth also allowed him to become a first team All-American.
"Rujelio did very well," Jon Rorabaugh, head track coach, said. "He really improved this year. At nationals he beat guys that had been in front of him the whole season. Also, during nationals, one American beat him. The first three were Kenyans."
Macias had a strategy for his race.
"I did better than I expected," Macias said. "Everyone thought I'd choke in the middle like I usually do, but I didn't this time. I realized it was my last race and slowing down wasn't an option."
Rorabaugh said he saw that Macias had no strains during the middle of his race.
"He usually has a problem during the middle of the race, but at nationals he sucked it up and found out what it was to be a runner," Rorabaugh said. "He learned that pain is good."
Following Macias was O'Neil Williams, Nassau, Bahamas. Williams placed 42 with a time of 30:12.
"He ran fine for his first time [at nationals]," Rorabaugh said. "I was just a little disappointed with his placing. He tried to go out with Rujelio and the Kenyans, but that wasn't his pace. He also wasn't used to that kind of wind. He went out fast and that and the wind coughed up with him."
Rorabaugh said that through the season, Williams had a tough time adjusting from the warm Bahamas weather to windy and sometime cold Kansas weather.
"He ran well during the season, but he endured a climate change, which made him sick," Rorabaugh said.
In the girl's race, Rachelle Ewy, Syracuse, led the Busters placing 24 out of 71. Her time was 20:33.
"Rachelle ran really well at Nationals," Rorabaugh said. "She ran a minute [Personal Record], which was very impressive."
Rujelio Macias, Houston, paced the Busters, placing fifth out of 77 men. He ran the eight kilometer race in 27:38. Placing fifth also allowed him to become a first team All-American.
"Rujelio did very well," Jon Rorabaugh, head track coach, said. "He really improved this year. At nationals he beat guys that had been in front of him the whole season. Also, during nationals, one American beat him. The first three were Kenyans."
Macias had a strategy for his race.
"I did better than I expected," Macias said. "Everyone thought I'd choke in the middle like I usually do, but I didn't this time. I realized it was my last race and slowing down wasn't an option."
Rorabaugh said he saw that Macias had no strains during the middle of his race.
"He usually has a problem during the middle of the race, but at nationals he sucked it up and found out what it was to be a runner," Rorabaugh said. "He learned that pain is good."
Following Macias was O'Neil Williams, Nassau, Bahamas. Williams placed 42 with a time of 30:12.
"He ran fine for his first time [at nationals]," Rorabaugh said. "I was just a little disappointed with his placing. He tried to go out with Rujelio and the Kenyans, but that wasn't his pace. He also wasn't used to that kind of wind. He went out fast and that and the wind coughed up with him."
Rorabaugh said that through the season, Williams had a tough time adjusting from the warm Bahamas weather to windy and sometime cold Kansas weather.
"He ran well during the season, but he endured a climate change, which made him sick," Rorabaugh said.
In the girl's race, Rachelle Ewy, Syracuse, led the Busters placing 24 out of 71. Her time was 20:33.
"Rachelle ran really well at Nationals," Rorabaugh said. "She ran a minute [Personal Record], which was very impressive."