Lehigh University Athletics
Trailblazing trio exemplifies the power of teamwork
5/14/2014 10:43:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field
Most people don't think of cross country and track and field as team sports. There's the passing of batons in relays and the scoring system that goes into awarding points to a team as a whole, but at the end of the day, it comes down to people running, throwing, or jumping to achieve the best mark that they, and they alone, can receive.
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Lehigh seniors Tyler Mueller and Jimmy Miller and junior Ryan Mahalsky would beg to differ. The three Mountain Hawks have worked together to accomplish their goals and lead the cross country and track and field program to new heights.
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"It's pretty simple to see that iron sharpens iron," said head track and field coach Matt Utesch. Â "There's certainly a spirit that develops between guys who train together the way they do. It's such a hard thing to put your finger on exactly what it is, but there is something there that is very different and it comes from having the same goals, the same attitudes, the same focus. They've certainly benefitted from it and they are all better because of each other. And actually, our whole team is better because of them."
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Mueller has virtually re-written the Lehigh distance running record books. The Pottstown, Pa. native was named Lehigh's Graduating Male Athlete of the Year for his athletic accomplishments at the Lehigh Athletics Convocation in April and was also awarded the John A. Cable Leadership Award for his execution of effective team leadership and consistent performance and work ethic.
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Without Miller and Mahalsky, many of Mueller's successes would not be possible. The symbiotic relationship has also helped Miller and Mahalsky accomplish feats of their own.
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"You don't feel great every day," said head cross country coach Todd Etters. "Tyler isn't beating them in every workout. There's just some days where you need the other guys to support you and push you even further. Without a good training partner, you're going to be faced with a lot of limits."
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A successful year began in the summer of 2013 when Mueller and Miller spent two months participating in high-altitude training in Colorado. Â
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"A lot of the best guys in the country do it and a lot of programs use altitude training," said Mueller. "We figured that it was an advantage that other runners had been getting over us for a few years and we figured that we could take the summer to see how good we could get for our senior cross country season."
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Mueller and Miller came back from Colorado in better shape than ever. But what followed was something no one expected. Miller suffered an injury that ended his season before it even began and the senior wasn't able to compete in any races during his senior cross country season. Unfortunately, he wasn't the only injured runner from the defending Patriot League Champion cross country team that was expected to make another run at a title. Other key runners in the Mountain Hawks' lead pack were also injured.
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"Before this fall, it was me and Tyler but we also had a few other guys in our pack like Jimmy and Sam Bernitt," said Mahalsky. "We had a few guys injured so it was really just the two of us in the fall. Tyler came back very fit and I thought I was too. The pack mentality diminished a bit and it was really just Tyler and I."
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In a team riddled with injuries, Mueller and Mahalsky stepped up to be the unquestioned leaders of the cross country team, a squad that won its first championship in school history in 2012 and would now be missing a few of its key pieces.
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"They set the tone," said Etters. "It's not just at the meets, it's at practice. It's what they do, how they think. Before they got here and really got together, I don't know that our team goals were really what they are now. They're certainly great role models for everyone else."
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The two trained together all throughout the season and it ended up paying off. Mueller became the first ever Lehigh runner to win the individual title at the Patriot League Championships and be named Runner of the Year, while Mahalsky finished right behind in third place. The Mountain Hawks finished just two points behind champion Navy.
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"With Ryan and I, it's less about us pushing each other than it is us keeping each other under control," said Mueller. "It's hard to run the workouts that you do just by yourself. When you have someone with you and you can just focus on that aspect rather than just being out there by yourself, it really helps.
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"Ryan is a very mature runner and he doesn't overdo it," Mueller continued. "He knows when he's going harder than he should be. I'm able to do that too, so while we run with each other, it's more that we keep each other under control as opposed to pushing each other."
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Mueller's regional race qualified him for the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. where he finished 67th out of 253 runners to become the highest finisher in Lehigh history. He wasn't alone at the race, however. Mahalsky traveled with Mueller throughout his whole trip, and over 20 members of the cross country team made the 10-plus hour drive to support Mueller on race day.
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"I was the last person to come out of the athlete's tent after the race and I was just taking my time savoring the moment and trying to enjoy it," said Mueller. "When I came out, I saw about 20 Lehigh people there just waiting for me and I think I gave every person there a hug. That one moment sticks out for me.
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"Seeing all of them there for me after the race and knowing how far they drove and how they stood there in the miserable weather meant so much," Mueller continued. "I'm never going to forget how much people were willing to do to come out and watch me race in Indiana."
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With the start of indoor track brought new challenges, new strategy and another important piece back to the puzzle. Miller was cleared to begin competing after a long layoff due to his injury.
Â
"Even though I couldn't run, it was awesome to see these guys doing so well and it sort of gave me hope," said Miller. "It gave me hope that it looked like Colorado worked and whatever we did this summer was working.
Â
"I saw Ryan make such big improvements, and he was a guy I had been on the same level with in the past," Miller continued. "I came into indoor season not really wanting to be patient and I wanted to be back with these guys right away. Seeing these guys do so well in cross country really pumped me up and made me train harder so I could get back."
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As the three trained together throughout the indoor season, they also worked on and perfected race plans and strategies throughout various meets leading up to the indoor Patriot League Championships. Their time and effort paid off, as the men finished 1-2-3, and all within four seconds of each other, to sweep the podium in the 5,000 meter race. Mueller took the top spot and became Lehigh's first-ever indoor 5,000 champion. The three men combined to give Lehigh an astounding 24 points just from the one event, as the Mountain Hawk squad finished the day in first place.
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"That was the best race plan we've perfected," said Mahalsky. "Our goal was just to trade laps every quarter mile so that we would trade taking the lead and share the work. That way one person wasn't doing too much.
Â
"Whoever was feeling the best at the end, which was Tyler, as it usually is, would take the win," said Mahalsky. "It took the rest of the field forever to figure out what we were doing. Us three being together versus every team only having one guy up there really helped and that's how we swept the race."
Â
Two weeks later, as Mueller took a rest, his counterparts kept turning up the heat. Mahalaksy finished fifth in the 5000 meter run to earn All-East distinction at IC4A Championships while Miller broke a 29-year old school record in the 3000 meter run.
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In their first race of the outdoor season, all three men turned out regional qualifying times in the 10,000 meter run while Mueller recorded a new Lehigh record in the event. A few weeks later, the trio did the same in the 5,000 meter run as Mueller re-wrote the record books once again. Â Mahalsky took fourth in the 10,000 meter run at the outdoor league championship meet a few weeks ago, while Miller placed third in the 5,000 meter race.
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From the beginning, the three men have helped push and support each other to aspirations beyond the Patriot League. Those efforts continue this weekend at IC4A Championships in Princeton, N.J. and then hopefully the NCAA Championships. The men have been planning for a trip to nationals since the track season began back in November, which would have been much harder to do if they didn't have each other.
Â
"It seems like a lot of people just try to focus on league championships," said Mahalsky. "That was our mentality freshman and sophomore years. Now we're on a level where we're trying to go to the NCAAs, which is three weeks after the PL Championship so it completely changes the way we train. We train in phases and we peak at different times, so we've started our workouts much later on in the season in order to be able to continue our season for three weeks longer than most."
Â
As the three hope to accomplish more and more major feats over the next few weeks, Mueller and Miller will be looking to end their careers on a high note. Â Mahalsky is ready to step up to fill their shoes as his senior season looms on the horizon.
Â
"I really looked up to these guys my freshman year," said Mahalsky. "We push each other in workouts so they're the reason I got to this level. I've thought about next year when they're gone. We'll have to get guys to buy into the system and continue to improve the way that we did. I think we could get a couple of guys to really buy in and win some league championships in cross country."
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Lehigh seniors Tyler Mueller and Jimmy Miller and junior Ryan Mahalsky would beg to differ. The three Mountain Hawks have worked together to accomplish their goals and lead the cross country and track and field program to new heights.
Â
"It's pretty simple to see that iron sharpens iron," said head track and field coach Matt Utesch. Â "There's certainly a spirit that develops between guys who train together the way they do. It's such a hard thing to put your finger on exactly what it is, but there is something there that is very different and it comes from having the same goals, the same attitudes, the same focus. They've certainly benefitted from it and they are all better because of each other. And actually, our whole team is better because of them."
Â
Mueller has virtually re-written the Lehigh distance running record books. The Pottstown, Pa. native was named Lehigh's Graduating Male Athlete of the Year for his athletic accomplishments at the Lehigh Athletics Convocation in April and was also awarded the John A. Cable Leadership Award for his execution of effective team leadership and consistent performance and work ethic.
Â
Without Miller and Mahalsky, many of Mueller's successes would not be possible. The symbiotic relationship has also helped Miller and Mahalsky accomplish feats of their own.
Â
"You don't feel great every day," said head cross country coach Todd Etters. "Tyler isn't beating them in every workout. There's just some days where you need the other guys to support you and push you even further. Without a good training partner, you're going to be faced with a lot of limits."
Â
A successful year began in the summer of 2013 when Mueller and Miller spent two months participating in high-altitude training in Colorado. Â
Â
"A lot of the best guys in the country do it and a lot of programs use altitude training," said Mueller. "We figured that it was an advantage that other runners had been getting over us for a few years and we figured that we could take the summer to see how good we could get for our senior cross country season."
Â
Mueller and Miller came back from Colorado in better shape than ever. But what followed was something no one expected. Miller suffered an injury that ended his season before it even began and the senior wasn't able to compete in any races during his senior cross country season. Unfortunately, he wasn't the only injured runner from the defending Patriot League Champion cross country team that was expected to make another run at a title. Other key runners in the Mountain Hawks' lead pack were also injured.
Â
"Before this fall, it was me and Tyler but we also had a few other guys in our pack like Jimmy and Sam Bernitt," said Mahalsky. "We had a few guys injured so it was really just the two of us in the fall. Tyler came back very fit and I thought I was too. The pack mentality diminished a bit and it was really just Tyler and I."
Â
In a team riddled with injuries, Mueller and Mahalsky stepped up to be the unquestioned leaders of the cross country team, a squad that won its first championship in school history in 2012 and would now be missing a few of its key pieces.
Â
"They set the tone," said Etters. "It's not just at the meets, it's at practice. It's what they do, how they think. Before they got here and really got together, I don't know that our team goals were really what they are now. They're certainly great role models for everyone else."
Â
The two trained together all throughout the season and it ended up paying off. Mueller became the first ever Lehigh runner to win the individual title at the Patriot League Championships and be named Runner of the Year, while Mahalsky finished right behind in third place. The Mountain Hawks finished just two points behind champion Navy.
Â
"With Ryan and I, it's less about us pushing each other than it is us keeping each other under control," said Mueller. "It's hard to run the workouts that you do just by yourself. When you have someone with you and you can just focus on that aspect rather than just being out there by yourself, it really helps.
Â
"Ryan is a very mature runner and he doesn't overdo it," Mueller continued. "He knows when he's going harder than he should be. I'm able to do that too, so while we run with each other, it's more that we keep each other under control as opposed to pushing each other."
Â
Mueller's regional race qualified him for the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. where he finished 67th out of 253 runners to become the highest finisher in Lehigh history. He wasn't alone at the race, however. Mahalsky traveled with Mueller throughout his whole trip, and over 20 members of the cross country team made the 10-plus hour drive to support Mueller on race day.
Â
"I was the last person to come out of the athlete's tent after the race and I was just taking my time savoring the moment and trying to enjoy it," said Mueller. "When I came out, I saw about 20 Lehigh people there just waiting for me and I think I gave every person there a hug. That one moment sticks out for me.
Â
"Seeing all of them there for me after the race and knowing how far they drove and how they stood there in the miserable weather meant so much," Mueller continued. "I'm never going to forget how much people were willing to do to come out and watch me race in Indiana."
Â
With the start of indoor track brought new challenges, new strategy and another important piece back to the puzzle. Miller was cleared to begin competing after a long layoff due to his injury.
Â
"Even though I couldn't run, it was awesome to see these guys doing so well and it sort of gave me hope," said Miller. "It gave me hope that it looked like Colorado worked and whatever we did this summer was working.
Â
"I saw Ryan make such big improvements, and he was a guy I had been on the same level with in the past," Miller continued. "I came into indoor season not really wanting to be patient and I wanted to be back with these guys right away. Seeing these guys do so well in cross country really pumped me up and made me train harder so I could get back."
Â
As the three trained together throughout the indoor season, they also worked on and perfected race plans and strategies throughout various meets leading up to the indoor Patriot League Championships. Their time and effort paid off, as the men finished 1-2-3, and all within four seconds of each other, to sweep the podium in the 5,000 meter race. Mueller took the top spot and became Lehigh's first-ever indoor 5,000 champion. The three men combined to give Lehigh an astounding 24 points just from the one event, as the Mountain Hawk squad finished the day in first place.
Â
"That was the best race plan we've perfected," said Mahalsky. "Our goal was just to trade laps every quarter mile so that we would trade taking the lead and share the work. That way one person wasn't doing too much.
Â
"Whoever was feeling the best at the end, which was Tyler, as it usually is, would take the win," said Mahalsky. "It took the rest of the field forever to figure out what we were doing. Us three being together versus every team only having one guy up there really helped and that's how we swept the race."
Â
Two weeks later, as Mueller took a rest, his counterparts kept turning up the heat. Mahalaksy finished fifth in the 5000 meter run to earn All-East distinction at IC4A Championships while Miller broke a 29-year old school record in the 3000 meter run.
Â
In their first race of the outdoor season, all three men turned out regional qualifying times in the 10,000 meter run while Mueller recorded a new Lehigh record in the event. A few weeks later, the trio did the same in the 5,000 meter run as Mueller re-wrote the record books once again. Â Mahalsky took fourth in the 10,000 meter run at the outdoor league championship meet a few weeks ago, while Miller placed third in the 5,000 meter race.
Â
From the beginning, the three men have helped push and support each other to aspirations beyond the Patriot League. Those efforts continue this weekend at IC4A Championships in Princeton, N.J. and then hopefully the NCAA Championships. The men have been planning for a trip to nationals since the track season began back in November, which would have been much harder to do if they didn't have each other.
Â
"It seems like a lot of people just try to focus on league championships," said Mahalsky. "That was our mentality freshman and sophomore years. Now we're on a level where we're trying to go to the NCAAs, which is three weeks after the PL Championship so it completely changes the way we train. We train in phases and we peak at different times, so we've started our workouts much later on in the season in order to be able to continue our season for three weeks longer than most."
Â
As the three hope to accomplish more and more major feats over the next few weeks, Mueller and Miller will be looking to end their careers on a high note. Â Mahalsky is ready to step up to fill their shoes as his senior season looms on the horizon.
Â
"I really looked up to these guys my freshman year," said Mahalsky. "We push each other in workouts so they're the reason I got to this level. I've thought about next year when they're gone. We'll have to get guys to buy into the system and continue to improve the way that we did. I think we could get a couple of guys to really buy in and win some league championships in cross country."
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