Cordes To Take His Best Shot in National Cross Country Championship
November 20, 2002

By Joe Soehnlen, AU Sports Information

There comes a time in every athlete’s season that is the pinnacle. The ultimate point, the time to grab a dream and run with it and to accomplish everything that you’ve been focused on for so long. For Ashland University’s Nick Cordes, that time has come.

This Saturday, Nov. 23, Cordes goes to the starting line with athletes and individuals representing universities across the nation as he competes at the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships held at Brookside Golf Course in Ashland.

Many believe that come race time on Saturday that Cordes is one of the favorites to win the national title.

“I have a shot, maybe a good one, maybe not so good of one, to win NCAA’s, and that means I am going to set myself up for it mentally,” Cordes said. “There are many good runners coming here to toe it up and bang heads and I know that there is not a true favorite heading into the race.”

Cordes is definitely one of the runners to watch in this championship field. He won the 2002 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference individual championship and the Great Lakes regional title. He also led the field at this year’s Ohio Intercollegiate Championships and at an early-season race at the University of Georgia. During his career, Cordes has won two GLIAC individual championships and a pair of regional crowns. Two years ago at the national meet he was 16th.

AU’s head cross country coach, Bill Gallagher said that Cordes’ confidence is something that gives him an edge once it comes time to race.

“Nick has always been an internally confident person- but this is not to be confused with being cocky,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher sees Cordes not just as a low number in cross country meets, but as a true leader and inspiration to his teammates.

“Nick’s had the opportunity to learn from the runners before him and the cycle will continue as our young runners will learn from him,” said Gallagher.

Freshman Paul Lang said that Cordes is not just a leader by example, but by the pure fact that he cares for his teammates, which he added is a key component of the AU program.

“He is a leader not because he has so many All-America certificates or because he is so fast, but because he cares for the team as much as he cares for himself, if not more,” Lang said.

Cordes views having the national championship here to be a positive thing and not something that adds pressure to him come race time.

“Having the NCAA championship here is great. This is one of the main reasons why I redshirted cross last year. I am going to enjoy running in front of a very large home crowd.” Cordes said. “I really do not feel any extra pressure with it being here. I know that on race day I will give it all I got and whatever the end results of that are is what they are going to be.”

Since Cordes is a favorite heading into the national championship, he is faced with something that has not been accomplished since the early 1990’s, an American winning the national title.

“A champion is a champion regardless of nationality,” Cordes said. “I would like to end the streak, but wanting and doing are two entirely different things. Come Saturday all the wondering and the waiting of each runner will come to an end.”

Lang believes that Cordes being one of the favorites for the national championship is actually the combination of a few key things.

“His combination of sheer talent, work ethic and his uncanny ability to push to the edge are just unbelievable.”

Cordes said that on Saturday he won’t just be thinking about this race in particular, but the entire season, which has been a roller coaster ride for the entire team.

“There have been so many ups and downs for our team and its members that I really feel lucky and fortunate to be able to compete. I will be running for all of my teammates come race time,” said Cordes.