When Evan Schulte crossed the finish line fourth at Nike Cross Midwest on November 17, he had done something that no Rock Bridge runner had ever done before in qualifying for the prestigious Nike Cross Nationals meet.  Two weeks later in Portland, Oregon, the Bruin senior attempted to do something few in the country had ever accomplished, finish in the top 21 at Nike Nationals and earn all-american status.  While Schulte ultimately fell short of this goal Saturday, finishing 60th, he was still able to appreciate what he had accomplished.

Schulte was running near the front of the pack early in the race but a little less than a mile in, a runner fell in front of him, forcing him to stop and allowing 50 other runners to pass him, putting Schulte in a position he simply couldn’t recover from.  Schulte eventually crossed the finish line in 60th place with a time of 15:54,  54 seconds back of winner Taylor Wilmot of Spokane, Washington who finished with a time of 15:00.

“I was kind of frustrated at first because if not for a fall in front of me I may have had a shot at all american,” Schulte said.  “But top 60 in the nation is really good so I can’t be too mad.”

Qualifying for Nike Nationals,  all of Schulte’s expenses for the trip were covered and he said the experience was something he would never forget.

“The experience was awesome,” Schulte said.  “Nike put on a dream weekend and I got to meet some pro athletes and the best high school runners across the country.  All the stuff we got and the care they provided us was amazing and it’s a weekend I will remember for the rest of my life.”

by Josh Ripley