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Teamwork fuels standout runners

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By Pat Tintle
Staff Writer

How does an athlete take his or her capability to the next level?

Practice, nutrition and devotion are, of course, the foundation for any successful athlete. But according to cross country runners, sophomore Kerry Caher and senior Kady Weisner, motivation is what pushes an athlete beyond his or her expectations. This can come from anyone, including a supportive teammate.

“We always work together,” Caher said.

Training between meets has formed a give and get relationship between the two teammates.

“In practices, we’re running partners,” Weisner said. “We do all of our runs together, and we’re workout partners too. She helps push me, and I help push her.”

Having someone there at your side during meets and practices is a huge boost, according to both runners. One can always look to the other for their faults and for their strengths.

“When I came into the school as a freshman, she (Weisner) knew so much more than I did,” Caher said. “Every day I learned something from her. It’s so nice to have her there at the starting line with me, because I know that we have common goals, and she definitely helps me achieve them.”

Caher and Weisner’s constructive relationship has shown its importance in the past year. Last week, Caher broke the St. Bonaventure women’s cross country 6K record at the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa. Before the race, not having a specific strategy, Caher turned to her workout partner for some answers.

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Caher said. “It was such a hot day, and I was taking Kady’s advice before the race. She was saying to stay conservative due to the heat.”

Caher’s performance led the Bonnies to a 10th-place finish out of 45 competing schools, an improvement from the team’s 2011 Paul Short Invitational finish of 42 of 44. Caher placed 21st of 365 with the new record of 22:22, a time that may have been different without support from a teammate.

On Weisner’s side, she set the SBU women’s cross country 5K record with a time of 18:46 two weeks ago at Notre Dame in the National Catholic Championships.

At the Seton Hill Classic in Greensburg, Pa., both Caher and Weisner broke into the top 10, leading the school to a third-place finish.

This relationship has not only produced improvement between the two. Caher’s and Weisner’s competitiveness has also rubbed off on the rest of the team, according to junior Taylor Greene.

“They are constantly motivating each other,” Greene said. “They use each other to improve and strategize for races and workouts and are friendly competitors. The team looks at this and reflects it. We all use each other to improve in positive ways, and it definitely stems from looking at the way Kady and Kerry are constantly improving and working together.”

To an outsider, cross country looks like a sport that revolves around the individual rather than the group. But an insider knows  there is more to it than that.

Weisner, who is running her final season, said she wants the team to continue to improve and rise above expectations.

“It’s important that no matter what happens with the team, no matter what type of adversity that you face, you just need to stay positive,” Weisner said. “Most importantly, you need to believe in yourself and have confidence in your training. If you put in the work that you should put into the sport, then you’re going to get a lot of return.”

tintleph11@bonaventure.edu

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