Running with the bullfighters

Run often. Run long. But never outrun your love for the grind

Jarek Morgan / Assistant Sports Editor / The USD Vista

On your mark… get set… GO! When the gun went off for the USD Cross Country Invite, there was an uproar of cheering from eager fans at Tecolote Shores, North Park on Sept. 18th. 

People have been waiting to watch the highly anticipated men and women’s cross country teams compete this year. Athletes from all over gave their absolute best for their respective schools. 

With only two winners to be crowned, it was a sight to see USD take first in both the men’s and women’s category – something that showcases how this is just the beginning of something much greater.

Runners from both the men’s and women’s teams shared their love for their sport, and what it’s like being back on campus.

USD senior, Ethan Steiner, finished first with a time of 25:41.50 (5:10/mile pace) in the 8K race, and currently maintains a “the time is now” mentality with his upbeat attitude and willingness to do whatever it takes to help his team succeed. 

Steiner’s goal is to lead his team from the front, something that has really pushed him to become an even better student athlete on and off the track. 

“I love the pressure of running in the front, it’s a way for me to really feel like I am helping my team,” Steiner said. “When I am up there I know that I am taking some of the weight off of the shoulders of my teammates and putting it on mine, and that pushes me even more.”

The mental fortitude that contributes to being a great cross country runner is something to marvel over. The 5 a.m. alarm clocks, the 6 a.m. 10-15 mile run, a full day of class, weights, stretching, resting, and then repeating all of it again. This is a daily mental grind that takes great sacrifice and dedication. Steiner, who currently holds the USD 10k record with a time of 31:21, feels he still has so much more to prove.

 Head coach, Will Guarinao, spoke in great detail about how much of a pleasure it is to have runners like Steiner and all the student-athletes under his program.

“I am so proud of all these men and women,” Guarinao said. “To have athletes like Ethan, who I believe is the best male athlete I have ever coached based on virtue of time, is really great for us.”

Coach Guarinao continued to offer motivation to his team with powerful words of encouragement.

 “Just days ago I shared with the guys that I felt like on paper this is the fastest team I have ever coached, and that’s because as a team everyone has bought into what we are teaching here. No one is bigger than another, but as a team we are a true force to be reckoned with,” Guarinao said.

On the women’s side, the level of talent is spectacular from top to bottom. USD first-year, Maddie Heller, stepped onto campus and got right to work. She finished first, with a time of 22:54.30 (6:10/mile pace) in the 6K. 

Heller is not letting her size of 5’1” stop her from becoming one of the best.

“I am so thankful that I don’t feel like I have any added pressure,” Heller said. “Everything still feels pretty similar [to high school] and I’m still training for the same sport. I want to do my very best everyday and being around such great teammates really has helped me so much.” 

With such a demanding sport on the body and mind, it is critical that student athletes find a way to release any extra pressure or tension they are feeling. Thankfully, San Diego is a beautiful city with amazing beaches that can help athletes like Heller find a place to let go and be free.

“I really love surfing,” Heller said. “I’ve been surfing since I was just six years old. For me it’s like a really cool hobby that I can do where I can go out there and let go of all the tension and stuff, but in a more peaceful way.”

As a first-year, being on campus for the first time at USD may feel a bit overwhelming. With the large groups of students you see in passing, going from one side of campus to another for classes, and bigger classroom sizes, all these things can be very challenging for some. 

Heller has found a great way to manage her expectations for her academics and athletics simultaneously.

“I really am thankful that I got to come to campus a couple weeks early to really help myself get adjusted to the big university life,” Heller said. “But most importantly, what I have learned about myself for sports and education is that, you get out what you put in. The more you work the better your results will be.”

USD students pride themselves on helping one another, and being there for their fellow Toreros. The same can be said for the men’s and women’s cross country teams. They train together, and share the same coach, and all have one thing in common: they want to be the best student athletes they can be. 

One thing is for sure, this is more than just a Torero team, this is a Torero family.

The next race for both the men’s and women’s teams is at the Notre Dame Invite in Indiana on Oct. 2, where the Toreros will look to continue to build on their team’s early success. 

Stay tuned for more highlights and information later this season as the Toreros continue their quest for NCAA championships and first place finishes this fall. Steiner and Heller will especially look to continue their early success.