Fresh off a Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Championship, the men’s cross country team has begun to reflect on its successful season. For junior Patrick Campbell, this season was one of growth and development as he worked to enhance his level of competition.
Campbell’s efforts paid off this season as he nabbed eighth place in the 8K at the MVC Championship Oct. 30 with a time of 24:15.21, a career best for Campbell and enough to place him on the MVC all-conference team.
The MVC announced Tuesday that Campbell had been named MVC Cross Country Scholar-Athlete, adding to his season’s success. Campbell’s career on the Bradley men’s cross country team has been a long one, beginning during his freshman season, when he was named the 2013 MVC Cross Country Freshman of the Year.
Campbell said he has worked hard to be able to compete as he does now by learning to finish his races as well as he starts them.
“My biggest challenge throughout my career has been the ability to really focus and remain positive from start to finish of a race,” Campbell said. “I was able to do just that in this year’s MVC Championship race, and it ended up being a great race for me.”
Campbell’s coaches have seen him grow this season as well and are very happy with his achievements this year.
“Pat came in with a good level of fitness but has continued to improve every week,” head coach Darren Gauson said. “He had his best performance of his career at the Conference Championships when it counted the most.”
Campbell’s recent success in cross country adds to his experience at Bradley and attributes to the person that he is today.
“My experience at Bradley has been incredible, and a big part of that is due to being a member of the cross country team,” Campbell said. “I have learned invaluable lessons from the sport and have built lasting friendships, and there is nothing I would trade for it.”
Throughout his time on the team, Campbell has been a reliable athlete for his coaches.
“He is very much a guy we can depend on, we know what we are going to get from him,” assistant coach Sam Bradley said. “He is extremely consistent.”
Furthermore, Campbell has been able to demonstrate his strong work ethic to those around him.
“He is a great guy all around,” Bradley said. “Not just an athlete, he is great academically and a great person to be able to coach.”
Campbell will look to further his hard work next season as a senior when he said he would like to improve his race starts in larger races.
“It really helps to get out fast so that you don’t have to pass as many people throughout,” Campbell said.
His coaches also have high aspirations for Campbell during his senior outing.
“As a senior, we want him to be a guy that can be even better and improve towards a top three athlete at the conference level,” Gauson said.
If his junior season was any indication, Campbell is on the right track to accomplish his goals.
