The Roberts Wesleyan College men’s cross country team hadn’t run a race on its home course in 24 months, making Shane Pease’s victory in the Harry F. Anderson Invitational on September 25 even more special.
Pease, a senior from Greece Athena, completed the 8,000-meter race in 25:39, which was .3 second faster than teammate Jimmy Betts, who ran stride for stride with Pease for the entire race on the Matt St. James Cross Country Trails.
The win, Pease’s first in college cross country, sparked the Redhawks to a second-place finish among 18 men’s teams.
A history major, Pease followed in the footsteps of his older brother Keith, a 2017 Roberts graduate by joining the Redhawks.
The 2021 East Coast Conference Preseason Runner of the Year, Pease shares his thoughts on several topics, including Saturday’s race, training through COVID and his expectations for the remainder of the season. His responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
What was it like to be back competing on your home course?
“I missed being out there last year when we were unable to compete, so I was really feeling the adrenaline. It was nice to be back out there on the course.”
You ran side by side with teammate Jimmy Betts on Saturday. How special was it to win and record your first college victory in cross country?
“That was a very special moment because we are both seniors. I have been on the same team with him since my freshman year, so it was really enjoyable.”
Did the race go according to plan?
“Our coach (Andrew Dorr) wanted us to do pack running. He is really a big fan of pack running and it usually helps runners out when they are running side-by-side with their teammate. Running by yourself isn’t the easiest thing in the world, so it is nice to have your teammate right there with you.”
What did being named ECC Preseason Runner of the Year mean to you? Did it give you any extra motivation?
“It was a nice honor, but I don’t think it gave me any extra expectations because I really don’t focus my attention on other people. I just try to focus on what I am doing and my teammates are doing.”
How did you train during COVID?
“COVID was definitely more of mental battle than a physical battle. Some days it was difficult to wake up in the morning and work out, but over time I realized that we had a season coming up and I needed to get up and get moving.”
How did you fall in love with running?
“My brother was a runner in high school and he was really fast. Every time that I saw him run, he was winning races and getting a ton of support and accolades. In seventh grade, I was like ‘I’ve got to try this.’ Once I had my first win in modified, I was like ‘This is great, this is awesome.’”
What are your goals for the rest of the season?
“Honestly, I just want to keep getting better and better. I want to run faster times and keep seeing improvement, not just for me but for my teammates, too.”
Why did you choose Roberts?
“I chose Roberts because it’s a small, private school and I am not really a fan of bigger colleges. I wanted to develop close relationships with my professors, my coach and my teammates. Plus, everyone on the team is just amazing. I also came to Roberts because of my brother and his teammates. I got to know them and they were all great guys and I wanted to join them.”
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