By Rosy Banks
Assistant Living Editor
In the fastest race of the season, sophomores Chad Trammell and Lauren Tyree led Pepperdine runners on UC Riverside’s farm course.
Several runners broke personal records on the speedy flat course with Tyree clocking in a 5k at 19:03, and Trammell setting a record at a phenomenal 25:26 for the men’s 8k. Trammels run is the fastest time recorded in Pepperdine history for a male.
Freshmen Neal Washburn and Karen Porter also had impressive times, 27:07 and 19:29 respectively. Pepperdine men finished 17th out of 29 teams and the women finished ninth out of 14 teams.
“We’re better than last year and closer to teams in the conference,” Tyree said. “We have one of the fastest girls teams ever at Pepperdine, and our team goal is to make at least the top two in conference.”
Head Coach Dick Kampmann is also pleased with how well training has been, and has faith it will be an impressive season.
“We’re the fastest in history and we keep improving year after year,” Kampmann said. “Soon we’ll be on top.”
The men’s team is becoming increasingly competitive within the West Coast Conference and several freshmen are earning notable times this year, including Chris Gaudreau clocking in at 27:46.
“The men’s times are closer than in the past,” junior Edward Leon said. “We’re showing tons of improvement and lots of potential.”
However, a budget cut may affect traveling and the number of competitive runners, which causes both disappointment and heightened competition among runners for spots. Lacking funding, cross country teams may not be able to take several runners to away meets, and the annual awards banquet could be canceled. Kampmann and others concerned are taking steps to aid the situation.
“People have had to battle for position and become more competitive but it hasn’t given many the opportunity to make the team for conference,” Leon said.
New runners on the team are especially disappointed. Kampmann could deal with the budget cut by reducing the traveling team to NCAA West Regionals by six runners, three men and three women. But through fund raising and outside donations, the team may be able to fulfill its funding needs.
“The budget cut has been ridiculous,” junior Evelyn Baca said. “I think it is horrible and that we should be treated fairly in accordance with other sports.”
New runners with little to no experience in cross country are pushing limits in the sport and are being molded into competitive NCAA athletes. They hope they will get a fair chance to travel and compete.
“Cross country is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life,” junior Suzanne Deberry said. “I will never return to running on a plain treadmill again now that I have experienced the glory of running from Pacific Coast Highway up to the Health Center.”
Runners will carry the budget burden through this season but hope that support will be paid to a sport often overlooked, but making extraordinary leaps this season.
“We have a great group of young people who are working very hard,” Kampmann said. “They’ve been quick and smooth, handling everything with no trouble.”
September 25, 2003