Most of the University of Michigan probably has never heard the name Kevin Sullivan, let alone know what he has accomplished or will accomplish in upcoming years. Even the few who know his name probably cannot grasp the number of titles he's captured or the records he's broken.
At a time when professional athletes abuse - and even choke - their coaches, and when the level of arrogance in athletics is at an all-time high, Kevin Sullivan emulates every characteristic that's hoped for in collegiate and professional sports.
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| FILE PHOTO Since he's been at Michigan, Kevin Sullivan has earned a number of honors, including three Big Ten Athlete of the Year awards. |
Sullivan, a Canadian citizen, was highly recruited by many top universities. Sullivan said he chose Michigan due to its "great combination of academics and athletics, and it (was) close to home."
Michigan's track program had perennially been a Big Ten contender in championship races. But with the addition of Sullivan, the distance squad became one of the best in the nation, and his presence at Michigan was a magnet for recruits.
As a freshman, he arrived at Michigan inexperienced in collegiate athletics and still not physically matured - yet he set a new standard for distance runners. In his first year of collegiate athletics, Sullivan garnered honors as Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Athlete of the Year, as well as Freshman of the Year.
"As a freshman I really was not intimidated," Sullivan said. "I came in and had not really set goals. I wanted to do well and compete to the best of my abilities. I guess I did stuff that few freshman had done in the past, but I didn't let that boost my ego and make me overly cocky."
Sullivan has been the centerpiece of the Michigan men's track team for the last five years. He has already captured eight All-America titles, and two more are likely this year. He has won three Big Ten Athlete of the Year honors, as well as four Big Ten Track Indoor and Outdoor Athlete of the Year awards. It's safe to say Sullivan's trophy case is well stocked.
"Kevin is one of the most amazing athletes I have ever witnessed," teammate Jay Cantin said. "When I finish one or two places behind him I'm just honored to do that much."
His teammates praise him and his coaches adore him. He has persuaded numerous runners, such as fellow All-American John Mortimer, Steve Lawrence and Jay Cantin, to attend Michigan. He's a teammate, a coach and a recruiter. His name is synonymous in the track world with greatness and accomplishment. He is Canada's shining star in the upcoming Olympics, and Michigan's leader while he still wears the maize and blue.
While his opponents and fans pay close attention to his overwhelming accomplishments, Sullivan's teammates and coaches know Kevin as modest and confident - yet not cocky.
"You wouldn't know Kevin is a world champion," Mortimer said. "He has extreme confidence but is one of the most modest and reserved athletes I have ever met."
In his tenure at Michigan, Sullivan has competed at the NCAAs and World Championships, and qualified for the Canadian Olympic team, although injured himself before the Olympics, preventing him from participating in the games.
He has competed against the best, and many times has won. His attitude and philosophy toward long distance running has been the main reason for his numerous trips to the winner's podium.
"I'm confident and I think I'm one of the best collegiate runners in the country," Sullivan said. "I am cocky to some extent, but what I really think is that I have a more reserved, inner-confidence. I don't have a brash, cocky or arrogant persona.
"I believe that distance running is more of a refined - and almost completely different - sport than sprinting. I don't think I could have done what I've done without being reserved."
Throughout the season, Sullivan has carried the team. On average he has won two events per meet and helped Michigan earn a top-five national ranking. The distance squad has been one of the strongest in the nation, yet the sprint squad has failed to send any members to NCAAs, or even earn any points at Big Tens.
While many top athletes would place blame on underachieving teammates, Sullivan doesn't point fingers.
"The people who didn't come through this year realize and know who they are," Sullivan said. "Realistically this year, we could have finished top three at Big Tens and maybe done better at some meets. But we lack depth - which is out of our control - and some runners came up a little short. However, to place blame on those runners would be unfair to them and the team."
He does not judge a team's greatness by first place finishes or championships. It is rare in track that an athlete who has succeeded in individual performances looks beyond statistics to judge his teammates' character and drive.
In response to Michigan's recent sixth-place finish at Big Tens, Sullivan noted, "I can't say that this was one of the biggest disappointments in my career. Of course I am graduating soon, and winning this team championship would have been one of my greatest memories at Michigan, but the final score of a meet does not always reflect the hard work and talent that a team possesses."
If you were to guess in 1995 that earning All-America status in all three seasons would be Sullivan's best memory at Michigan - you would be wrong.
Sullivan's best memory at Michigan personifies his leadership and team-mentality. Before the cross country season, the team went on a training trip to Montana.
"We were out in Montana, and 12 guys got up at 4:30 in the morning, ran 16 miles - no complaints, everyone just out there knowing we had to do it then. The whole team was willing to sacrifice for the good of the team.
"I was really proud of the guys that day, and probably the most proud of any team I have ever been on."
Sullivan will likely dominate the collegiate ranks for a few more months. He will then use the summer to run the professional circuit in Europe. Ultimately, he wants to win a world championship and earn a gold medal for Canada in the Olympics.
Whether Sullivan succeeds at the next level or not, his place in Michigan sports will surely not be forgotten. He has transformed the distance team into one of the nation's finest, and has set Michigan records that won't be broken any time soon. More important, Sullivan has not become arrogant through victory, and has accomplished all he set out to do, by being a team member - not just an individual.
03-13-98
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