Suddenly swift
Joe Amick
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Sports
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The senior was the Spartans' top runner on the men's team at the University Athletic Association Cross Country Championships on Saturday.
Surprise - last year, he didn't even make the conference team, made up of the Spartans' top ten runners. At the first meet of the season, he was Case's ninth finisher. At the second, he was Case's eighth. Saturday, he finished the 8k in 27 minutes, 44.31 seconds. Cromer was 35th out of 80 runners.
"Honestly, my goal [this year] was to stay healthy and make the conference team," said Cromer.
Injuries have disrupted his track and cross country careers here.
Cromer suffered a hamstring injury last fall escaping a mugging. He kept his wallet, but basically lost his 2008 season.
He was walking near the Silver Spartan with friends when four men approached him and asked, at knifepoint, to see what he had in his pockets.
Surprise - Cromer bolted.
"I thought, 'I'm a runner. I should be able to out-run these guys,'" he said.
He ran past the North Campus Security Satellite Office (no one was there), looked back, and saw the men running after him, knives out.
"I really poured it on. I was running for my life, so I couldn't stop and stretch out. My hamstring was pretty messed up. It messed up the whole season," said Cromer.
Cross country coach Kathy Lanese said that Cromer's health and attitude have keyed his recent upswing. She first noticed Cromer improving at the All-Ohio Championships on Oct. 2.
"Brian has been one of those kids that's been hampered by some nagging injury every year," Lanese said. "He's got the drive more than anyone right now to accomplish what he needs to accomplish. He's a senior and he's not going to let anyone get in his way, as he's told me on numerous occasions."
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