Running Strong Dan Schruth Says Determination Is An Important Quality For Cross Country Competitors
There may be a surprise waiting for top competitors at the state cross country championships.
Ferris senior Dan Schruth, who was kept out of the state race last year by a tough crop of qualifiers from the Greater Spokane League, has returned in full force. He drew attention early in the season by finishing second (12:59 over 2.5 miles) to University High’s Seth Mott (12:52) at the Highlander Invitational in mid-September.
In the next league meet, Schruth finished second to Mott again, crossing the finish line at 16:01, just two seconds after the Titan. Since then, Schruth has finished at or near the front of every league meet. He won last week’s league meet in 15:43.
Schruth’s biggest victory so far came when he won the Mountain West Classic early this month in Missoula. The race was a true test for Schruth and the other top competitors because the front pack took a wrong turn and ended up adding about half a mile to the race. One runner in the pack dropped back and one did not finish, but Schruth held on to cruise to the win.
It was a victory drawn from determination, which Schruth believes is one of the most important qualities found in a good runner.
“I think anybody can be good at running if they have the determination,” he said.
Schruth’s running career has been full of patience and determination, said Ferris coach Mike Hadway. Schruth began running in elementary school and was persuaded to run for the Saxons by his older brother, Dave Schruth, a 1995 Ferris graduate who placed fifth at state as a senior.
The younger Schruth remembers being coaxed by Dave to go on a “short run” that turned out to be an 11-mile haul up Tower Mountain.
Schruth’s turning point came the summer before his sophomore year, when Ferris was ranked second nationally. Schruth decided he wanted to be a stronger part of the team that was led by his brother and Ferris stand-out Isaac Hawkins.
“My brother was going nuts running that summer,” Schruth recalled. “They needed a fourth and fifth man to score some points, so he basically made me tag along.”
Hadway remembers Schruth’s turning point well, saying the runner has gotten stronger and more confident.
“He doesn’t get real keyed up before a race now,” Hadway said. “He used to get more nervous.”
Schruth cultivates his calm attitude before each race, taking a few moments by himself to clear all thoughts out of his mind so he can focus on the race. Unlike many other competitive runners, however, he doesn’t plan the details too carefully; he leaves himself the flexibility to listen to his gut feeling and react to whatever situation may occur.
, DataTimes