Emmanuel Aouad ’10 — Terre Haute, IN
Kevin McCarthy ’12 — Zionsville, INBiology major (Pre-Med); Chemistry and Spanish minors
Favorite Event: "Whatever Coach puts me in! I’ve run a lot of events: almost everything from the 400 to the 8k. Historically the 800 has been my favorite, but who knows – things change. I have only been running three years now, since my senior year in High School, so I am still learning."
Favorite Race: "There have been quite a few great races, and of course, some bad ones too. The most influential for me was running at DIII Cross Country Nationals last fall and placing in the top 50. It changed my perspective on why I run. It gave me a reason to run. I now run because I love that competition and I know that I can compete at that level, since I was only a few seconds off All-American. It is weird to say that running 8,000 meters against over 300 dedicated athletes was fun – but slopping around on that muddy, cold golf course Thanksgiving weekend really was very enjoyable."
Favorite Wabash Experience: "In less than two years here I have already experienced a ton of unforgettable memories. The guys here are great, not only on the team but on the entire campus. You become family. I know more about the lives of my teammates and my coach than I do my own brother who I have known for my entire life.
"One of the most memorable days this past year was the gift to compete, and almost win, the NCAA Regional Meet for Cross Country at Terre Haute and seeing the HUGE Wabash fan section running and yelling all over the course, which was really awesome. Then we all packed up into vans and huffed over to DePauw where we cheered the football team to win back the Monon Bell. All and all it was a good day with my teammates and my college."
Why Wabash? "For me, Wabash was perfect. Most importantly is the incredible program here that allows me to be a true student-athlete. I do not have to sacrifice grades in the classroom for my athletics. I love the all-male aspect too. Wabash has a unique culture that helps me focus on what I need to accomplish, here and now, in college. I also appreciate that Crawfordsville is not a college town: the real world is right on the doorstep of this small campus. This constant reminder keeps me focused and in check of why I am here, working hard in college for my degree."
On Wabash Coaches: "The Wabash coaches have done everything good in their power for me and my teammates. They have been a constant and continual resource for support and experience both on and off the track. For me personally, they have been father figures in my life and have instilled confidence and the strength of character in my action, and I have learned so much from them. They are role models for many of my teammates and excellent examples of men from all walks of life. In athletics they always expect, and only ask for, the best of my ability and that of my teammates, and that is what we give them."
What do you see in the future for Wabash's track and cross country programs? "The program is only on the up and up. The staff, especially for track, is filled with passionate and experienced individuals who work excellently together to address all events and competition. Coach Morgan has been a catalytic influence on the explosion of this program in the last two years and has built off the foundation that Coach Johnson and Coach Busch have been creating. I am thankful to have such an incredible group of mentors and coaches, and their good influence is apparent in the team mentality. Their effect is especially true in the track team this year: we act as a unit and under one banner. The secret is simply: we come to practice, we compete, and we have fun.
"What is awesome about this team is that we are a group of young guys, with a lot of potential. Every year we are bringing in better freshmen classes and slowly building up our depth. The sky is the limit here."
Jake Waterman ’13 — Noblesville, INEconomics major ("but that may be subject to change")
Favorite Event: "My favorite track event is probably the 4x400, because it is the last event in a meet, and often the outcome of the meet comes down to the points from that relay. There's nothing like anchoring a meet-winning 4x400."
Favorite Race: "At the second meet we had at DePauw, Kevin and I got 1st and 2nd, and beat DePauw's top 800 runner. We all ran PR's, and it was the first time I ran a 1:52."
Favorite Wabash Experience: "It was really fun going to the bell game, for the small portion of it I got to see. I have never seen such an intense rivalry, and it is cool to be a part of a tradition like that."
Why Wabash? "I prefered the small school atmosphere over massive schools like Purdue, and I really liked all the guys on the team I met on my visits. The coaching here seemed pretty solid, which is obviously true. I liked the idea of a liberal arts college, because I had no idea what I wanted to do after I got out of school."
On Wabash's Coaches: "What helped me most is what I did in cross country season, which was mostly to add on base miles that I never had before going into a track season. I came into the season already in almost the best shape of my life, thanks to cross country. No matter how miserable of a sport it is, it helped me out a lot."
What's the future of Wabash Track and Cross Country: "For cross country next year, I see us doing much better than we did this year. We have all kinds of talent, we just need to get some guys in shape or off the injured list. In track, Kevin and I plan on going 1st and 2nd in the 800, which we hope to accomplish very soon. With the way Coach Morgan and Coach Busch have been recruiting, our track team seems to have a bright future."