Mitchell Far From Over the Hill
September 18, 2013

Greg Mitchell didn’t just settle for cake and presents for his 40th birthday – he now holds the American Master’s record in the 20,000 meters.

Mitchell, a 1995 Linfield graduate, associate cross country coach and accomplished runner, decided to do something special for his birthday. So he hit the track with nearly 200 friends and family in attendance and beat the record by more than three minutes. Read more about his recording-setting run on the Linfield Athletics website.

Linfield coach Greg Mitchell celebrates following his record-setting run.

New American Record

September 13, 2013

A new American Master's Track Record for the 20,000 meters was set by Linfield College associate head cross country and track coach, Greg Mitchell, on Friday, Sept. 13, 2013.  His official time of 1:04:47.16 smashed the old record by more than 3 minutes.  The former record of 1:08:21.5 was set in 2005 by John Metzgar in Jacksonville, FL.

Mitchell (bib #40) being paced through the early laps on his way to the record.

 Mitchell set the record in front of a noisy crowd at the track facility of Linfield College in McMinnville, OR.  The Master's record is for athletes age 40 and older and Mitchell set the new record the evening of his 40th birthday.  A total of five runners competed in the 20k (50 lap) event: Mitchell, Ben Zywicki, 1:04:47.32 (Louisville, CO); Chris McIsaac, 1:13:03.17 (Portland, OR); Brantley Lutz, 1:14:30.86 (Albuquerque, NM); and Cameron Chester, DNF (McMinnville, OR).

"I am thrilled that I got the record," stated Mitchell afterward.  "But having so many friends, family, my athletes, and community members there is what made it truly special.  It's a birthday I won't soon forget!"

Mitchell is an adidas and PowerBar sponsored athlete.  His running accomplishments include a top ten finish at the California International Marathon in 2010 with a time of 2:20:12 and a 34th place finish at the 2010 Boston Marathon (2:24:15).  Mitchell graduated from Linfield in 1995; his collegiate career included two conference crowns and two runner-up finishes in the 10,000 meters, as well as two second-place conference finishes in cross country. He competed in three cross country and two track and field national championship meets as a Wildcat.

Celebrating the new American Master's 20,000 meters record.
L-R: McIsaac, Chester, Mitchell, Lutz, Zywicki

Saturday, September 14, 2013
Wildcats tackle legendary “Dead Dog”

With no meet on the schedule, the Wildcats headed to the Yamhill County countryside for a traditional hard run with roots that date back to the early 1980s.  The team ran a hilly ten-mile workout that included the infamous “Dead Dog” Hill.  The name “Dead Dog” has filled countless Linfield runners with dread since the legend began nearly three decades ago. 

Senior Captain Hannah Greider is the first to emerge from the fog after cresting "Dead Dog."

 The story goes that former Linfield coach George Oja and some of his top runners were running a workout over a hilly farm road outside McMinnville, when a stray dog decided to trot along with them.  As the grade of the hills continued to increase, so too did the dog’s apparent suffering.  Eventually the group, with panting dog in tow, hit an absolutely brutal climb.  As the runners ascended the hill, they noticed that the dog’s heavy panting had subsided.  Looking over their shoulders for their four-legged companion, they saw the canine’s collapsed and lifeless body on the side of the road.  The legend of “Dead Dog” had been born.

The men's team descends on their cool down after reaching the end of the workout.

The 2013 Wildcats pose at High Heaven Road after completing the "Dead Dog" workout.

Though there is no record of any Linfield athletes collapsing on this particular run, all who run the workout would admit that there is a point on the climb where the possibility of death crosses one’s mind.  “This run is a gut-check,” stated associate head coach and former Linfield harrier Greg Mitchell.  “About 10 steps into it, you are presented with the dilemma:  am I going to be tough and press on or am I going to let the hill win?”

Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Rise and Shine

The Wildcat XC team practices every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 6:30am, long before your typical Linfield student crawls out of bed for class. “We go early for a lot of reasons,” stated associate head coach Greg Mitchell. “First, we run into hot weather at the tail end of August and early September, so that’s a pretty practical reason. Next, there are no class conflicts at 6:30 in the morning. Team is very important here at Linfield so we want everybody there working together during hard efforts. There is no sense in having a roster full of good athletes if they can’t workout together – pushing and pulling each other closer to greatness. Finally, being dedicated and disciplined enough to go to bed at a reasonable hour so that you can perform well at practice helps shape a runner into an athlete who is tough to beat on race day.”

The men's team pushes the pace at the practice fields.

One of the many locations that the team is able to run is the Linfield College practice fields. The well maintained grass of the football, soccer and lacrosse practice fields is perfect for loops of many varying distances. “The practice field workouts are my favorite,” stated junior Calvin Howell. “Throwing on the spikes and hammering for an hour is always sweet!”

The Lady 'Cats crank out a workout on the practice fields as associate head coach Greg Mitchell looks on.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

‘Cats dominate Bruins

McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Placing all five scoring runners in the top eight on both sides, the Wildcats cruised to a pair of team victories at the Linfield Harrier Classic, contested at Joe Dancer Park on a warm and sunny Saturday morning.

In what amounted to a dual meet between the Wildcats and their Yamhill County rivals from George Fox University, senior Hannah Greider led the Linfield women to a 20-35 win over the Bruins, while the host men rode the 1-2 punch of senior Joe Gladow and freshman Michael O’Neil en route to the 22-36 victory.

Hannah Greider, Katie Skinner, Claire Hann and Madison Trowbridge lead the charge early.

Greider completed the 6,000-meter course in 24 minutes, 28.01 seconds. Linfield rookie Marisa Kume finished third (24:59.57) with seniors Katie Skinner and Claire Hann following close behind in 25:13.83 and 25:21.81, respectively. Junior Madison Trowbridge rounded out the scoring for the Wildcats with a seventh-place finish in 25 minutes, 41.82 seconds.

“I was really happy with the way the team competed,” stated head coach Travis Olson. “It’s difficult to get up for small meets sometimes, but our men and women showed up and took care of business.”

On the men’s side, the senior Gladow (27:12.05) and freshman O’Neil (27:45.58) finished well ahead of George Fox’s No. 1 runner.

Flint Martino was fourth, clocking in at 28 minutes, .64 seconds for the 8,000-meter course. Junior Calvin Howell and freshman Chris Roth were the fourth and fifth runners to complete the four loops for the Wildcats. Howell finished seventh (28:27.42) while Roth took eighth (28:53.62).

Chad Linnerooth, Adrian Clifford and Tyler Griffin lead the chase pack.

Monday, September 2, 2013
Camp Kiwanalong sets the tone

WARRENTON, Ore. – In keeping with the tradition of the past three decades, the Linfield cross country teams traveled to the Oregon Coast for Labor Day Weekend.  “There is a lot of Linfield history here,” stated head coach Travis Olson. “The tone for the season is usually set at Kiwanalong.”

Staying at rustic Camp Kiwanalong, the athletes participated in team building activities, runs on the trails and the beach including the challenging “Jetty Fartlek,” S’mores and stories around the campfire, the now legendary “Talent Show,” and, of course, the traditional post-run swim in Lake Kiwanalong.

“I always look forward to coming to Camp K,” stated senior captain Katie Skinner. “It’s always so much fun and the team really bonds a lot. It’s part of what makes Linfield cross country so special.”

The Linfield cross country team participates in the annual obstacle course team competition.

Athletes do battle in Lake Kiwanalong.

The team competition heats up with the canoe race.

Fun on the beach.

 

 

 

The 2013 Wildcat cross country team.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Linfield men dominate in season opener

PORTLAND, Ore. – Linfield’s trio of Joe Gladow, Michael O’Neil and Calvin Howell set the pace early and led the team to victory in Friday’s season-opening dual meet at Portland’s Westmoreland Park. The Wildcats took seven of the top 10 spots, to defeat the Pioneers in the 4 mile race.

A sea of purple dominates the lead pack in the men's race.

The Linfield men outdistanced host Lewis & Clark 23-36. The L&C women, the three time defending Northwest Conference champions, grabbed three of the top five spots to defeat the Wildcat women 22-36.

On the women’s side, though the Pioneers snatched the victory, the Wildcats were hot on their heals.  Linfield’s Siena Noe placed second overall with Hannah Greider joined Noe in the top five. “Our women were closer to the Pios than the score shows,” stated Assistant Coach Chris McIsaac. “I think we have a legitimate shot at getting them by Conference.”

The Wildcat women get off the line quickly at the L&C Dual Meet.