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Tiger runner Mishler enjoying senior season
10/9/2009
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
Last fall, Fort Hays State University's Ali Mishler suffered toe and knee problems during cross country. In track, she had a knee injury. Even with the pain, Mishler continued running and pushing her body. Finally, she reached a point where she couldn't run anymore. The rest, though, helped Mishler personally.
"I have so glad I got hurt because it really put things in perspective for me," she said. "Really got my faith back going again. Just realized, you know, it's not a life or death situation. It's just running. It's something that God put here for us to enjoy."
Mishler, the lone healthy senior on either the men's or women's teams, called this season her favorite. Personally, she has reconnected with friends and family. In running, Mishler didn't set any goals for time or placing, a change from past seasons.
"I love it because I enjoy the people on my team more and you don't get upset if you have a bad race because it is just a race," he said. "You have a bad run, oh well, your teammates are still there. Enjoy them. Enjoy the people that you are with. That was huge for me. I wish I had done that all three years."
Mishler, a Ransom-Western Plains graduate, and the Tigers will have their last regular season meet of the year when the Tigers host the FHSU Tiger Open on Saturday at the Fort Hays course. Races start at 9 a.m. Fort Hays, which won the men's side and finished second on the women's side last season, has completely reshuffled their rosters after losing runners to injury and graduation. The Tiger men have just one returning top seven runner, junior Riley Voth. Gavin Moore, the lone senior, will medical redshirt after he suffered a foot injury. Fort Hays' goal this Saturday is top two on the women's side, top three on the men.
Easily the most experienced runner is Mishler, one of Fort Hays' top runners. She has been the first or second Tiger runner at the last three meets. Fort Hays' top four runners, juniors Amie Algrim and Hali Mobley, freshman Gentry Linscott and Mishler have formed a tight pack throughout the season.
"She is trying to take it not quite as seriously in a good way," head coach Jason McCullough said. "A lot of times she would get too overly focused on a particular task or goal and it kind of hurts her performance. She is trying to be a little looser, trying to enjoy the process a little more."
The retooled men's team has received a strong season from sophomores Tanner Christensen and Jared Shillington, Voth and a significant turnaround from junior Cameron Reith, a Garden City Community College native.
Before the team's Alumni Run on Aug. 29, Reith had swine-flu symptoms. He didn't run at the Alumni Run.
"It just hit me," he said. "It took me a little while to get my strength back. It's taken a little while to get my confidence back. When I was sick, no possible way I could have run. I had a hard time just getting out of bed. Completely fatigued. It was pretty bad. Amazing what antibotics can do for you."
Reith was the sixth best runner for FHSU at University of Nebraska-Kearney and was the team's No. 7 runner at the Friends University meet in 27 minutes, 46 seconds.
"That was the tough race," he said of UNK. "That was probably one of the worst races of my life. It was discouraging. I know I can do better. I have run way better in my life."
As Reith recovered, his times have dropped. He was Fort Hays' top runner at the Southern Stampede (25:49) and second-best at the Tabor Invite (26:39).
"Through the training, I feel 10 times better than I do at the beginning of the year," he said.
"I am still not satisfied. I have to be getting in the low 25s."
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |