November 19, 2009: Athletics

Evan Hitchcock ’12

Photo by Sara Tincher

Hitchcock to Represent Bishops at NCAA Cross Country Meet
First Ohio Wesleyan harrier since 1983 to qualify for men’s national championship

For the first time in over 20 years, Ohio Wesleyan University will see one of its own Battling Bishops compete in the national men’s cross country championship.

Sophomore Evan Hitchcock will be running in the NCAA’s men’s cross country national championship meet on Saturday. He is the first Ohio Wesleyan runner to compete in the men’s cross country national championship meet since 1983, when Mark Kimball ’84 represented the Bishops.

Hitchcock was an individual qualifier for the meet.  He finished 15th overall at last week’s Great Lakes Regional meet in Terre Haute, Indiana

“Qualifying for the NCAA Championship puts you in the top 1 percent of cross country runners in the country, so it truly is an accomplishment. However, I am not surprised Evan was able to do this,” associate head coach Matt Wackerly says. Hitchcock is an accomplished athlete, very dedicated to running and a very talented student-athlete, and making the national meet has been his goal since the conclusion of last season.

Hitchcock’s hard work has obviously paid off; running 75 miles per week in the heat of summer is no small feat and Hitchcock has the results to show for it.

“It’s hard to run by yourself, in the heat, with the competitive season seeming so far off, but Evan was able to perform at a high level all summer. It’s great to see his determination rewarded.” Wackerly says.

While he pushed the limits during his summer training, Hitchcock is going the opposite way in preparation for the meet, backing off in intensity and volume a bit, which will make him feel better on Saturday and will help him perform better. Unlike the summer, Hitchcock is not alone in his training.  He runs with several other cross country runners, with the other guys helping him push himself to keep him on his toes and keep his competitive edge up. Besides the excitement brewing as the day of the meet grows closer, not much has changed for Hitchcock.

“We’re trying to keep things as normal as possible for Evan,” Wackerly says.

The men’s race at the NCAA championship meet is scheduled to begin at noon at the Highland Park Golf Course in Highland Hills, Ohio.

– Danielle Rubinstein-Towler ’13