By KEVIN HARRIS
In the fall of 2006 following a successful career at New Albany High School, Eric Schulz entered the Indiana State University men’s cross country program as a walk-on and spent his freshman year not among the Sycamores’ top seven runners.
But after four seasons of hard work and determination, Schulz competed in the ultimate meet for collegiate harriers on Monday — the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships.
Schulz finished in 151st place out of 250 runners in a time of 31:23.7 on the Sycamores’ home course, the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute.
Despite not reaching his goal of placing in the top 100, Schulz enjoyed the chance to run against the elite runners in Division I cross country.
“It was a great experience to compete on my home course. I had a lot of my friends and family there cheering me on,” said Schulz, who finished 23rd in the 2005 IHSAA State Finals on the same course to earn a spot on the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches All-State team. “I think it went good. I left it all out on the course. The first (4 kilometers) of the race was very packed up. But after it opened up a little bit, I started moving up pretty well.”
ISU head men’s coach John McNichols, who just completed his 25th season guiding the Sycamores, liked the way Schulz concluded Monday’s race.
“He got caught in the back of the field at the start,” McNichols said on gosycamores.com. “With the quality of athletes in this competition, that is not a good place to be. He ran really well, though, and finished strong.”
Competing on the home course gave Schulz somewhat of an advantage. The Sycamores train on the course periodically during the season and know every turn and bump on the course.
“We do workouts on that course every other week, so I know all the tangents and all the places where you really need to focus to get through the race,” Schulz said.
Schulz qualified for nationals by placing sixth in the Great Lakes Regional on the Indiana University course in Bloomington on Nov. 14. It was the first NCAA berth for the former Bulldog standout, who was thrilled to death to make nationals once he crossed the finish line.
“I was extremely happy,” Schulz said. “I knew I had it in me. I just had to put it all together. I also thought about getting to end my college cross country career on my home course.”
Unfortunately, his teammates came up short of joining Schulz at nationals.
The Sycamores placed fourth in the regional with 151 points, their highest finish ever in the meet. But they needed to finish in the top two spots to automatically qualify for nationals. ISU was in the running to receive an at-large bid, but the NCAA selection committee denied it the berth.
“It was very disappointing — we were so close. I have some great teammates that have made me into the runner I am and they deserve to get to the big dance as well,” Schulz said. “Being my senior year and being one of the captains, I wanted to lead my team to the first appearance to the big dance in school history. To come up short is a bummer, but I was the only senior to run at the regional meet. That being said, they are going to be very tough next year.”
His senior season has been one to remember for Schulz.
Along with making nationals, he placed fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference Championships on Oct. 31 in Peoria, Ill. The finish earned him a spot on the all-MVC squad for the second consecutive season and helped the Sycamores win their sixth conference title. They edged conference rival Southern Illinois by one point (32-33).
“It was a great accomplishment,” Schulz said. “I knew I had to make the all-conference team to give my team a shot at the conference title. To beat SIU by one point and to get my first conference team title was a sweet ending to my MVC cross country career.”
Schulz also finished seventh in the Evansville Mid-America Opener and 10th in the Indiana Intercollegiates.
But his top-10 finishes are not the only things Schulz will remember the most about his senior season. He will reminisce about being a leader and a role model for his younger teammates.
“It has been great. I wanted to help the team in every way I can,” Schulz said. “It might be leading them in extra core work or helping a freshman how to run a certain course. My goal is to leave ISU strong and moving in the right direction.
“It has been a great ride. Coming in being a walk-on to being one of the top runners is overwhelming. The coaching staff has really taken my running to the next level.”
Now with the cross country season finished, Schulz will concentrate on the upcoming track and field season. Schulz will run in the distance events, as he has his sights set on competing in the nationals and setting at least one school record.
Schulz also will be finishing up his bachelor’s degree in communications, as he is scheduled to graduate in May. Schulz, who is minoring in marketing, wants to work in the television industry.
SCHULZ’S SENIOR SEASON
DATE MEET PLACE TIME
Sept. 5 Evansville Mid-America Opener 7th 18:23.31
Sept. 18 Indiana Intercollegiates 10th 25:25
Oct. 2 Notre Dame Invitational 52nd 24:48
Oct. 17 ISU Pre-Nationals 97th 25:07.5
Oct. 31 Missouri Valley Championships 4th 26:11
Nov. 14 NCAA Great Lakes Regional 6th 31:13.37
Nov. 23 NCAA Championships 151st 31:23.7
