“I came into college as a pretty average, undertrained runner, but after working hard for 4 years, I’ve been lucky [enough] to see a lot of improvement. Running is a sport where it’s very easy to track progress because everything is timed, so I enjoy seeing the team’s progress year-to-year,” Theo Kahler said.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, the men and women’s cross country team ventured to Campbell University to compete in the Big South Cross Country Championships. The men ran an 8K while the women raced in the 5K. Both teams finished 7th in the championship.
Upon finishing the race, two student athletes were awarded for the accomplishments they achieved throughout the season. Kahler was named to the Big South All-Academic Team and Harper Henson was awarded the honor of 2019 Big South Conference Women’s Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Finishing with a time of 25:04:14, Kahler led the men as he earned 5th place.
“Conference is always one the the meets we focus on the most during the season,” Kahler said. “I wanted to run with the top pack, and although I felt a little rusty from not racing for a month due to some health issues, I was still happy with my performance.”
Although Kahler did not start running until his junior year of high school, he quickly discovered how much he enjoyed the sport, and “fortunately [his] times were fast enough by senior year to run in college.”
When Kahler began at Winthrop, he was running a 5k with a time of 16:31, but his dedication and perseverance lowered his time to 14:24.
“My goal is to make the NCAA prelims in track to get a chance to go to nationals,” Kahler said.
After completing the 5K in 17th place with a time of 19:00.20, Harper Henson was first awarded the All-Academic Team for the Winthrop women’s team. Henson explains how she went to get her jacket, but “then [her] coach was saying [she] couldn’t leave yet.”
Henson was confused until her name was announced for the Scholar Athlete of the Year.
“I was honestly surprised and shocked to be chosen out of all the Big South Conference. It still doesn’t feel quite real and I question myself for getting it. Like am I the one who really deserves this? I need to just accept it and not downplay all my hard work,” Henson said.
Henson emphasizes how she is “a student first, then an athlete,” so this is the biggest award she has won so far during her college career. In previous years she won an All-Academic Team award and “a few conference champ medals for the mile indoor and the distance medley relay.”
After running for roughly ten years, Henson is now finishing up her final season as a college athlete who always makes sure to get plenty of sleep and eat healthy meals in the days prior to her race.
“I also try to set my mind right and relax and remember that running is fun and a privilege I get to do as a scholar college athlete,” Henson said.
Proving herself to be the Scholar Athlete, Henson actually earned her degree in just three years, graduating last May. She has been lucky enough to continue playing for the Eagles while she works towards her Master’s in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and she looks forward to graduating in May 2020.
“I appreciate the recognition I am getting for my hard work in my education,” Henson said.
Despite being a student first, Henson cherishes her time being part of a close, family-like team.
“My favorite experience of being a college athlete probably has been the ability to travel. . . . Also getting the fun gear and the fact that I get to do what I love at a college level. It has given me many experiences and opportunities to grow into the person I am today along with how far I have come with my education,” Henson said.
On Friday, Nov. 15, Kahler and Henson will head to Charlottesville, Virginia with the other members of the men’s and women’s cross country teams to complete in the NCAA Southeast Regional. The Eagles will compete against other Division I teams from South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky.
“The top two teams qualify for NCAAs and the four fastest individuals not on a qualifying team make it as well. My goal is to run with that top pack and give myself a chance to surprise some people,” Kahler said.
Photo: Olivia Esselman/ The Johnsonian
