Deardorff and Lee continue to lead, succeed

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This season, Pacific’s cross country teams have had two members in particular that are challenging themselves and also bringing together their teams for the win.
The cross country season started off with a bang for Joe Deardorff. Just a sophomore, Deardorff has been climbing up the men’s all-time list every race he has ran this year.
His latest accomplishment came last weekend at the Warner Pacific Open where he finished 14th with a personal best time of 26:15. This moved him up one spot on the Pacific men’s all-time list for 8,000-meters.
When considering the accomplishments, “I try not to think about the top 25 list. I think about how I can help my team so we can win,” said Deardorff. For him, this keeps raising the bar.
“I already beat my original goal. My goal now is to get under 26 minutes and for our team to beat Linfield,” said Deardorff. The successes Deardorff has had thus far he said are due to the training plan Head Coach Tim Boyce has laid out for him with the intent for Deardorff to improve.
“Coach Boyce knows what he’s doing,” said Deardorff. He finished 125th out of 239 at the “Cardinal Race” held at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational. His time in that run helped the men’s team place 21st.
“Deardorff has ran better every race this year, and there’s no reason for that not to continue,” said Coach Boyce.
The women’s cross country team has also proved themselves this year. Leading the way is fifth-year senior, Sam Lee. At the Warner Pacific Open Lee cut 17 seconds off her old time and finished in fourth place moving her spot to No. 4 on the women’s all-time list at 5,000-meters. She finished fourth in the race with a time of 18:29.
While soccer was originally her game, Lee has made a big impact on the girl’s team as a whole.
“Sam is the leader on the woman’s team,” said Boyce. Lee’s accomplishments are great for the women’s team and she is grateful to many.
“I credit so much to Coach Boyce and his training, he doesn’t kill us right off the bat,” said Lee, describing Boyce’s training plan.
“The focus this year for the girl’s team hasn’t been on beating individuals,” said Lee. “More so to beat teams.” Although it’s a new playing field for her, the cross country team has been helpful to Lee’s successes.
“Hanging out with other runners has been great because they get really excited about their times and everything about running,” said Lee.
This year for women’s cross country, the team has been improving consistently.
“This year is the best women’s team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Boyce. The environment of cross country at Pacific is team based, said Boyce, and he is proud of the athletes on both the women’s and men’s team.
Both the men and women’s team gear up for the Northwest Conference Championships, which takes place on Saturday, Oct. 30, at Ft. Steilacoom Park in Lakewood, Wash.

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