Warhurst is the reason for good cross country season

LAWRENCE, Kan. - It's safe to say that after 25 years as coach of the Michigan men's cross country team, Ron Warhurst knows what he's doing.

In his silver anniversary season, Warhurst led a team that lacked depth - aside from its top five - to a Big Ten title and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

When the 1998 season began, Warhurst hoped that Michigan fans would become accustomed to seeing the same scoring lineup every meet - John Mortimer, Todd Snyder, Steve Lawrence, Jay Cantin and Don McLaughlin. If one of his top five got injured, Michigan's goal of a top-five NCAA finish would be in serious jeopardy.

But things didn't completely go according to plan for the Wolverines.

GRAHAM K JOHNSON/University Daily Kansan Todd Snyder, as well most of Michigan's men's cross country athletes over the past 25 years, has been coached by Ron Warhurst. Many credit Michigan's success through the years to his coaching abilities.

John Mortimer, who was expected to lead the team both on the course and off of it, developed pain in his leg which began to hobble his performance.

The classy Mortimer refused to use his injury as an excuse for his third-place finish at the Big Ten championships Nov. 1, but it definitely affected his race. Anticipating that Michigan would earn a berth in NCAAs, Warhurst and Mortimer decided the senior would sit out the district meet Nov. 14 to try to recuperate.

The rest of the Wolverines did their part at districts to guarantee Mortimer one final race, taking second place and gaining an automatic bid to nationals, but they couldn't write the happy farewell that Mortimer would have hoped for.

A healthy Mortimer would have been a favorite to win yesterday's race, but his natural ability just couldn't make up for the lost training miles.

Warhurst had a backup plan anyway. Mortimer's durability, even in the face of an injury, was a bonus. But just in case his return didn't work out as expected, Warhurst was ready.

All season long, he'd been grooming Mortimer's replacements. Even if they weren't needed to score points this year, surely they would contribute in 1999, after graduation takes three of Michigan's top five runners.

Gradually, unknown talents such as freshman Mark Pilja and Chris Bunt came to the forefront. Someday, Pilja, Bunt and sophomore Mike Wisniewski will be ready to lead the Michigan cross country program, thanks to Warhurst's experience and foresight.

Success breeds success. Wise decisions now provide security for the future. Warhurst has mastered these lessons, and Michigan has vaulted to national prominence because of it.

Here's to another 25, coach.

11-24-98