|
|
With just one more week before “The Big Dance” (NCAA’s), we were fortunate enough to catch up with Western Region Runner-up, Chris Eggers, and hear what the 3rd year sophomore from Chico State has been accomplishing over the years. Eggers has been vastly improving since coming to Chico State back in 2000. Last year, Chris placed 28th in the 2001 Western Regional Meet and 52nd at Nationals. This year Eggers has shown that he is a force to be reckoned with. Most recently he took 2nd in the Western Regional to match his 2nd place performance at the CCAA Conference Championships. Earlier this year, Chris won the Regional-Preview meet in Fresno to earn his first collegiate cross country victory. As a senior at Granada High School in Livermore, CA., he finished third at the California State Cross Country Championships. Next weekend (on 11/23/02), Eggers and fellow Chico Wildcats will head to Ashland, Ohio to compete in the Div. 2 NCAA XC Championships. Chico State is ranked 3rd in the Nation and hopes to continue their great team performances and “bring back some hardware.”
Background Info:
Name (Nickname?): Chris Eggers, "Eggers"
Age: 20
Hometown: (said proudly) Livermore, CA
High School: Granada HS
College: Chico State
Major: Communication Studies
Collegiate PR’s: XC 8K-24:36 Track 5k-14:35
Major Achievements: 2nd in CCAA in 5k (Track 2002) and 2002 XC, 2nd in the 2002 West Region XC
Favorite Athlete: Lance Armstrong
Favorite Quote: “Just know I chose my own fate, I drove by a fork in the road and went straight.” - Jay-Z
“Only God can judge me.” - Tupac
(Run Much) Congratulations on your 2nd place performance at the Western Regional Championships. How did the race unfold?
(Chris Eggers) Thank you. Basically Gary and Noah told me to go out with the leaders and stay in contact with everybody. Also, to expect that people will be around much longer because the West is a pretty good region. As the race got deeper, I started to move up and catch some people but Paul Kezes (eventual winner) had too much of a gap on me at that point. Gary told me to shut it down because I had a pretty comfortable lead on 3rd place and to just cruise the last couple hundred meters in.
(RM) You have been running great this year. What were some of your pre-season goals going into this season (both Individual and Team)? Have you accomplished them so far?
(CE) I wanted to win CCAA and Regionals. I’m not disappointed though because I have done a lot of good things this year and helped the team out a lot. My next goal for the season is to be top 15 at NCAA’s. I think if I stay healthy that I can definitely do that.
(RM) What kind of training did you do over the summer in order to prepare you for this season?
(CE) I moved to Boulder, CO this summer with my best friend Carl Dambkowski (Stanford). We ran a lot up there and I got up to 80 [mpw] a few times but mostly around 70 or so. We did 2 workouts a week up there. Lots of hills and some longer repeats. During the season I have spent most of my time above 65, probably at about 70 or so. That’s pretty high for me.
(RM) Chico State is only losing one Senior this year. It seems like more and more athletes are looking at Division 2 as college choices and Chico is earning a very respectable reputation every year. What do you think about the future of the Chico State team?
(CE) I’m excited to be a part of this team because every year we just keep getting better and better. It’s crazy to see what Gary and Noah have done with this program. Our ultimate goal is to win a national title. Gary told me that on my recruiting trip and I think we are taking the steps necessary to achieve that goal. I just hope to be a part of that team.
(RM) Coming out of the Bay Area in high school, you were highly recruited by many colleges around the state (4:19 mile, 15:53 at Woodward Park). What were some of your college choices and what made you choose Chico?
(CE) I got letters and phone calls from all over the place. It was hard to decide because the whole process is very taxing. Most of the D1 schools in California had contacted me and I was offered scholarships to most of the schools that called. But I took a few trips and one of them was to Chico. I met with Gary and some of the people on the team and that was early in my Sr. year. After that, I told myself that was where I was going. I waited awhile to tell Gary because I had to keep my options open, but I knew early on that Chico was the place for me. Chico is a great place to live and train, but Gary was a huge part of it too. I could tell he was a good guy and I liked that he was pretty young too. Gary was real and he said real things. I felt that some of the coaches that had contacted me were just full of it. But Gary said things that he meant. After coming here I met Noah Marcus and it’s an honor to work with those two day in and day out. Both of them are people who I respect and like a great deal. Noah is one of the smartest people I have ever met and he is somebody who I can bounce ideas off of and he tells it like it is. Chico is also known for having a lot of pride and that also made a difference in my decision. Many other schools were offering me lots of money but Chico has more to offer in many ways and I can’t imagine running anyplace else.
(RM) What's your take on how Chico has gotten the "Party School" reputation?
(CE) I think people who say that are ignorant. Every school is a party school if the student wants it to be. Sure Chico is publicized that way because of Labor Day and Halloween, but it's not like the teachers hand out 40's or something. So people will talk and that's fine, but Chico is much more than a "party school." There is a lot of good going on here and I wish people would consider that before making any conclusions about Chico State. Most people who say that haven't even been to Chico anyway.
(RM) It has already been asked in our previous interview with Sarah Hallas, but what do you feel is Coach Gary Towne’s basic coaching philosophy?
(CE) Gary takes pride in developing runners and he does a great job at it. Every year we increase mileage and intensity and try to take on more than before.
(RM) So with that in mind, what is a typical training week like for you during XC season?
(CE) Mon, Wed, and Fri would be aerobic and Tue and Thur would be some sort of workout (hills and then a longer tempo run workout). Sat would be race day or speed and Sunday would be long 14-16 or so.
(RM) Sounds like fun! Have you had many injuries over the years with this type of training? If so, how did you deal with it and what kept you motivated to get better?
(CE) Yeah, last fall I hurt my calf really bad and I was taking a lot of Advil just to be able to walk to school. It was crazy. I tried to get a cortisone shot but nobody would give me one. I eventually had to take 2 weeks off and was able to come back to run at NCAA’s where I ran pretty well. But I love the sport so much and that’s just part of it, so I take things as they come as best as I can.
(RM) Spoken like a true runner. Speaking of, how did you get started with running?
(CE) I started running in HS as a frosh. My soccer coach growing up (John Nunez) introduced me to Brian Davis (HS XC coach and a great man). That’s how it all started. Brian had a huge impact on my life and helped shaped me into what I am today, both running related and not. I love running and I love competing, I’m sort of addicted to it now.
(RM) Would you say you are more of a Track or Cross Country guy?
(CE) I like to think I’m good in both. I like both for different reasons and I couldn’t imagine doing just one and not the other, I love them both.
(RM) What has been your most memorable running accomplishments or races so far??
(CE) Probably last Saturday when I got 2nd in the Region. The race panned out just like we said it would and I did everything I could to get myself toward the front. There were so many people cheering and they were going CRAZY for us! We won and that was great because we all worked so hard and had great races. [Editors note: This was Chico State’s first Regional win since 1969.] Another fond memory is CCAA last spring. I ran the 5k with Tyler Graff and Juan Sanchez. The crowd was going so nuts because we had 3 in the top 4 with a mile to go. The crowd started getting louder and louder and started to chant “ONE-TWO-THREE!!! ONE-TWO-THREE!!!” So there was so much emotion going on that it was almost unbearable. We ended up sweeping the Conference in the 5k and it was a good day because the Men’s team won the CCAA that day
(RM) Who has been the biggest influence on your running?
(CE) The biggest influence on my running would be Brian Davis, Gary Towne and Noah Marcus. Brian was there when I was a scrub kid barely 95 pounds, (HAHA). He developed me into what I am. I think he laid the foundation and taught me the basics. Gary and Noah took over from there and I trust them fully with my training. I like to think that I am a very coachable athlete and I try my best to put action to their words. Brian has always been there for me even after I graduated from Granada High to talk to me and encourage me along the way. I still keep him involved in my running because he is still very close with me and I look up to him a lot. Of course my parents have always been supportive but they leave the coaching up to the coaches and they cheer me on, I like it like that. They just kind of chill in the background and let me do my thing, but they always have been behind me in everything that I chose to do (and not do). Another person I cannot leave out is Carl Dambkowski. Carl went to my HS and he and I have developed a great bond together. We train together whenever possible and it’s nice to have somebody on the same page as you to bounce things off of. As I said earlier, Carl and I moved to Colorado together last summer and that is something that I was glad to share with him. So I thank God that I have a close nit support group. I think of all these people as part of my family.
(RM) Do you have any long-term running goals or other major plans after college?
(CE) My long term running goal is to look back in 10-12 years and say that I’m still doing it. Running is a sport where just being able to continue doing it is a big thing. I hope to keep improving and have a desire to do my best. I think I will always stay active even after college, but I’ll have to see how things pan out in the next few years.
(RM) Rumor has it that you are a member of the “Long-Live-Tupac” Club. What are some of your other interests or hobbies, outside of running?
(CE) HA! Yeah I love listening to Tupac. I think his music really has importance among our society and the problems with it. I wish people in power would open their ears to this type of thing and soak it up because it IS relevant, it’s not just loud music. Running doesn’t control my life; however at this point of the season it is my main priority for sure. But outside of running I love to do all the college stuff. I love watching movies (Dumb and Dumber is a classic!!!!). And of course I am really into music (Tupac, Nas, Eminem, Nappy Roots, DMX, and Biggie, just to name a few).
(RM) Do you have any advice for other runners out there? (College, Injuries, Training, etc.)
(CE) Patience is key in this sport. Although I have done some good things so far, I have a long way to go. But it wasn’t long ago when I was a homesick freshman pulling up the rear in workouts up here. Hard work DOES pay off. Also, don’t just look at D1 schools. There are some really shitty D1 schools out there and some really great D2 schools. Just find what you like and go with it, but don’t rule out any one school because they don’t compete for D1.
(RM) Any additional comments you’d like to share???
(CE) Hi Mom, Dad and Sis! Thanks for giving me this opportunity to share some comments with you! Go CHICO!!!
(RM) Thanks Chris! Best wishes to you and the 'Cats in Ohio!!
Questions, Comments, or Have a good interview suggestion? Click Here
Share you thoughts about the interview on our Message Board