Five years have come and gone for the men’s cross-country team and its last individual race winner, but to kick off the 2013 season, sophomore Brendan Copley brought back a reminder of what it means to be No. 1.
Copley placed first at the Stony Brook Invitational on Aug. 31, nabbing Quinnipiac’s first event-winner since Rich Klauber did so in the Northeast Conference Championship in 2008.
“It was a good way to start the season, but you always kind of have the end of the season in the back of your head,” Copley said.
Even though Copley jump-started the season, earning his first MAAC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week, he maintains that it is first and foremost a team sport.
“The more we stay unified and stay focused as a team, the more the coach is on the same page as us,” Copley said. “When we are all on the same page it’s easier for everyone to keep improving and keep the focus during the meets.”
Copley also gives much credit to coach Carolyn Martin.
“Coach Martin is very good at saying one thing here or there to motivate me for a race,” Copley said.
This motivation is just the start for Copley and his team. Between Martin’s words of wisdom and Copley’s team-first approach, the men’s cross country team can put that five-year stretch behind it.
