Athlete of the Week | Sanders dominates in cross country

Lucas Mann Assistant Sports Editor

For Colin Sanders ’08, last year’s cross country season ended in personal disappointment. “I was really frustrated after my sophomore season,” said Sanders. “I felt like I hadn’t met the expectations that I had for myself.” While many of us would respond to frustration with a summer of drowning our sorrows in laziness, Sanders took a different approach.

“I just made up my mind to train really hard,” said Sanders. “Six or seven days a week, I’d run. I worked up to about 75 miles a week.” Seventy-five miles a week? That summertime dedication seems as good an explanation as any for Sanders’ junior year success.

Sanders is not only shattering his old times, but he is also beating a majority of runners in the Northeast. At the James Early Invitational on Oct. 7 (a meet with more than 200 competitors), Sanders placed first. At the Saratoga Invitational two weeks later, he broke the all-time Vassar course record by 20 seconds.

Coach James McCowan views the Saratoga performance as proof of Sanders capabilities. “[Sanders’] time bettered the times run by no less than three Vassar NCAA National Qualifiers and one NCAA All-American,” said McCowan. “He has proven he is capable of running with the best in the region.”

Sanders himself attributes much of his improvement to his role as team captain. “We don’t have any seniors, which is actually kind of cool, and the added expectation of being captain and being a leader, I think, has contributed to the change in my times,” said Sanders.

Throughout his Vassar career, Sanders has lead by example. Last spring, he juggled schoolwork, running for the track team, and a lead role in a musical, impressing both coaches and teammates with the way he quietly handled all of his responsibilities.

That work ethic and humility have made him, in McCowan’s eyes, an ideal captain. “[Sanders] is always relaxed, modest, and fun, but always gets right down to it when it’s time to work and is respected by his teammates,” said McCowan. “The sky is the limit for what he can accomplish.”

The same could be said for the entire cross country team, which has been solid all year despite injuries.

The men’s team showed their strength when this past Saturday, Nov. 4, they placed sixth out of 40 at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships held at Williams College. Sanders dominated the ECACs and placed first with a time of 26 minutes and six seconds. Only the second Brewer to capture this title, Sanders’ win is certainly proof of his dedication to the sport and desire to succeed.