By Zach Waltz
Sports Editor
While cross country may not be the most popular sport on campus, junior Kerry Caher is certainly grabbing attention with her recent success on the cross country course.
Caher was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team after placing 13th at the Championships with a personal record time of 17:35.0, making her the first St. Bonaventure runner to earn a spot on the team. She said it came as a surprise to her that she could perform at that level.
“When I got on the line at the A-10 championships, I had no idea that I was capable of being among the top 15 runners,” Caher said. “Once I crossed the line and my coach informed me that I had in fact made the team, I was thrilled. It was an incredible honor and particularly exciting since I was the first in school history to do so, and that I had done it with a new personal record time.”
Caher has been named A-10 Performer of the Week twice so far in consecutive weeks this season after her performances at the Little 3 Invitational and the UB Stampede Invitational. She is the first Bonaventure runner to be named Performer of the Week in two consecutive weeks. She said the honors were a result of her dedication to running.
“When I found out that I was named Performer of the Week, I was thrilled, but it was really the support and enthusiasm from Coach Macfarlane, Assistant Coach Kady Weisner and my close friends on the team who made receiving this honor even more important to me,” Caher said. “The fact that I was recognized two weeks in a row really made me feel that all of the dedication and commitment that I have had for running is continuously paying off.”
Caher said it is important to her to continue improving throughout this season and to keep pushing herself to new heights.
“As Coach Macfarlane says, ‘you can be happy, but not satisfied,’” Caher said. “I am pleased with the success that I have had but look to improve further throughout the remainder of this season, next season and hopefully after I graduate. By following the advice of Coach Macfarlane, having the dedication of Assistant Coach Kady, the support of teammates and family and by continuously pushing myself to reach new levels, I feel that this can be achieved.”
Having been on the team for two years, Caher said she has built strong bonds with her teammates that give them good friendships off the course and good competition on the course.
“Over the years, I have made some lifelong friends on the cross country team,” Caher said. “I have never had friends who were so supportive and so proud of my success. As a team, we all push each other when we need it most— during practice and out on the course. There is no one else who can understand the intensity of the sport like your teammates do. Without them by my side, I know that I would not have been pushed or motivated to reach the levels that I have.”
Caher said she finds motivation to run because running is her passion, which allows her to enjoy the experience of competing week in and week out.
“When you’re out on a cross country course, you have two options— you can let the pain and exhaustion get to you, or you can remember why you are there,” Caher said. “I run because it’s what I love to do, and as difficult as it can be to remember that, it’s the most vital thing to keep in mind. Once I tell myself that I wouldn’t be out there if it wasn’t important to me, the race transitions from a chore to bliss.”
Caher and the rest of the cross country team will continue their season at the Harry Anderson Invitational at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester on Saturday, Sept. 27.
waltzzd12@bonaventure.edu
