Spears Runs Well at Great Lakes Regional Meet

Nov. 13, 2004
ALMA, MI –Although a die-hard golfer would have been able to play a round on such a beautiful, cool day in November, the Pine River Country Club was closed for the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Cross Country Championships. On a solid running terrain across rough and fairway, runners in the race took advantage, including Marietta College Pioneer Clark Spears (Brunswick). 

“What a nice course to run on,” said Coach Derek Stanley.“This is a national meet caliber facility.”

In a high quality race with 250 runners Spears executed a superb race strategy that put him in position to finish well.  He got out strong in the first mile and focused on the 2nd and 3rd miles to hold his position. In 64th place at the 3-mile mark, Spears held on strong to finish the race in 69th place overall. He covered the rolling course in 26 minutes and 27 seconds, a personal record for Spears, who is midway into his junior year. 

“Clark ran the best race of his career thus far,” said Coach Stanley.  “You can’t help but marvel at what he accomplish today. Spears was coming off of a below average performance at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship where he finish 69th overall just two weeks before. He really needed this race, what a fantastic way to finish off the year.”