Chris Schwartz eats better and wins California wins team scoring with 24 points (1-3-5-7-8)
by Steve Brand
Credit pancakes covered with peanut butter and a big glass of milk. Oh, and some Gatorade and a Power Bar.
That, said Bakersfield’s Chris Schwartz, was the difference between a collapse at the finish line and a seventh place finish in the California State Cross Country Championships last week and a Foot Locker West Regional title today.
“Last week I had a bowl of Raisin Bran and that was it,” said Schwartz, who covered the hilly 5,000-meter Mt. San Antonio College course in 15:38.
“I just didn’t eat enough food, so when I tried to kick I felt weak. It was horrible. Today I had to prove I could still race with the top runners.”
Schwartz certainly did that as he led five California runners among the top 10 who qualified for Saturday’s 30th Foot Locker National Championships in San Diego.
Pulling ahead on the final downhill, Schwartz ran totally under control, even on the track for the final 300 meters, to discourage Arizona state champion Brian Shrader (15:42) and Alaska’s Trevor Dunbar (15:43).
It was a complete reversal of fortunes from the previous week in Fresno, not to mention some payback against Dunbar who handed the Foothill High senior his only other loss of the season over the same course at the Mt. SAC Invitational.
“Sure, I was upset that I lost to (Dunbar), but it just made me work harder to catch him,” said Schwartz, who is clearly a superior runner when he is making up for what he considers a disappointing performance. “The plan was to not work too hard on the hills, to stay with the others.”
He, like the others, swore he was just running to qualify but there is something about being announced at the Foot Locker Nationals as the West Regional champion and wearing that bib that has the No. 1 in it.
Chris Schwartz wins
photo by John Dye
While he enjoyed the adjulation that is afforded the champion, he was already looking forward to his stay at the Hotel Del Coronado in preparation for the Nationals where he finished 37th a year ago.
“I was just happy to make it to the Nationals a year ago,” said Schwartz of his finish among only 40 runners. “Now I’m shooting for the Top 10.”
Or better.
For one thing, he will now be the veteran, especially on the West team where he is the only returnee.
The West contingent will include six seniors and four juniors, including Wyatt Landrum, James Cameron, Tyre Johnson and Zach Torres from the Golden State in addition to Schwartz.
The other qualifiers include Washington’s Shane Moscowitz, Idaho’s Cody Heibling, and Arizona’s Steve Magnuson.
There was only a 14-second gap between Schwartz and Magnuson in 10th. But the big difference next Saturday will be that there will be no holding back.
“I learned a lot from last year,” said Schwartz, not the least of which is what he plans to eat the morning of the race, provided he can find a place that serves pancakes, peanut butter and a big glass of milk.
Flow of the race photos by John Dye and Scott Kurtz
Start
Half Mile - Mac Fleet leads
Mile is reached in 4:43 Schwartz (1), Dunbar (9) & Fleet (12)
Crossover - 1.8 miles - Shrader takes the lead
Poop Out Hill - Dunbar and Schwartz lead the way
Reservoir Hill - Shrader leads with 700 meters to go.
