SPARTANSBURG, S.C. – Senior Louka Fetter participated today in the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships held at the Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in the final cross country race of his career. Fetter earned his spot at Nationals as the sixth of seven individual qualifiers in the Mid-Atlantic Region based on last week's regional championships, allowing him to return to Nationals for the second time in his career after a 166th place finish two years ago. Also making the trip to South Carolina were three members of the coaching staff and 21 athletes in support of Fetter as he toed the line against the most competitive field that exists on the Division III level. "I love to see so many team members have a good time together and support and encourage each other," remarked Coach Dale Fogelsanger, who was able to lengthen his impressive streak of having a male athlete qualify for Nationals in eight out of the last ten editions. 
 
Fetter's career in cross country as a Falcon could be characterized as consistent, with the senior generally performing in line with expectations on the biggest stage and in the most important meets. Such a distinction was put to the test today in an incredible way when Fetter was the unfortunate victim of widespread pushing and shoving throughout the field at the start, an incident that caused another athlete to step violently on the back of Fetter's foot. After two minutes of racing, Fetter found himself without his sock or spike on his right foot and stepped to the side of the course to put them back on, losing at least 10 to 15 seconds on the entire field. Just one kilometer in the race, Fetter occupied last place in the race and was four seconds behind any competitors on the biggest stage of his life. 
 
Fetter had developed a specific plan for how to pace his race with Coach Fogelsanger, with the expectation that these anticipated splits might change marginally or within reason based on how the rest of the field responded to the pace set at the front. With regards to outcomes, Fetter had hoped to finish inside the top 200, and with a good day, to surpass his finishing placement from Nationals two years ago in 166th. But the situation that Fetter found himself in was not nearly within any reasonable range of outcomes anticipated before the race. Nevertheless, Fetter maintained his composure, surging to the back of the pack of 294 racers to rejoin competitors and then ran steady, regaining his strength. The second kilometer came and went, and Fetter passed only seven bodies into 287th place, the efforts of the accident and his surge in response weighing him down. After recollecting himself, however, Fetter was in position to begin his ascent through the field.
 
Fetter's third kilometer, competed in a time of 3:18.3, was his slowest so far by nearly 10 seconds but still allowed him to pass 21 bodies and move into 266th place. The soft, wet course combined with extensive sections of loose mulch, rocks, and the same tight turns that caused his accident were not conducive to either fast running or Fetter's attempt to catch as many competitors as possible. "Even as I was catching people, I didn't feel good at every moment," Fetter recalled. "There were times when I felt great and could pass a whole group, but there were also times when it was all I could do to stay attached to the guys I'd just caught up to or passed. But every time, after treading water for a minute or two, I felt ready to move up again."
 
Fetter steadily worked his way up through the field as the race went on, turning in two fantastic back-to-back kilometers where he passed 27 and then 31 competitors to nearly pull himself into the top 200 in 208th. Fetter's fifth kilometer especially, passed by in 3:23.3, was not quick, but it also didn't need to be over an uphill section of the course with loose mulch as the South Carolina heat began to weigh on the field. 
 
The sixth kilometer progressed more like a time of waiting and regaining strength for Fetter, as he remained steady with the field for the majority before going on the move once more and passing 11 competitors before hitting the 6k mark, moving him up to 197th behind a 3:22.4 split. Fetter continued to gain places throughout the seventh kilometer, but as the course made its way towards the four-mile mark, it also meandered its way towards the direction of the finish. Large groups cheering near the finish began to energize the field, causing many athletes to begin their finishing kicks early and sending a whole group past Fetter. Even still, he managed to pass 17 competitors during the seventh kilometer to move into 180th place while remaining patient and biding his time to use his kick until the time was right.
 
With the onset of the eighth and final kilometer, Fetter struck, progressively unleashing the same sprint finish that has carried him to so many medal-winning performances in the MAC throughout his four years. As the race's finish approached, Fetter began to near many of his conference and regional rivals that he was accustomed to finishing near, passing a first up the final hill and then a second as the finish line came into view. Fetter's 3:15.4 split during the seventh kilometer turned into a 2:51.8 clocking for the final segment, an effort that carried him past an incredible 34 competitors and allowed him to place 146th overall. "I was so proud of how Louka adapted to having his shoe tramped off and how he maintained his composure to gradually move up in the field," Coach Fogelsanger reflected. "He really had to dig deep and find that next gear to finish off with a 2:51 1k, and I'm so proud of what he accomplished."
 
Despite Fetter's less than normal start, his finish in 146th ultimately captured both of his goals and additionally earned him the distinction in just placing inside the top half of a field of 294 starters. Fetter also finished in 14th amongst athletes from the Mid-Atlantic Region after finishing 17th in the regional championships last Saturday, upgrading his position from sixth to fourth amongst individually qualifying athletes. The result of Fetter's race might have ended up differently without his eventful first kilometer, but it ultimately ended up being a fantastic performance without a single qualifier. "At first, my mind thought 'what are the chances?'" Fetter said. "But before too long, I was thinking it wasn't just awful, random chance, but it was so unlikely that it had to be providential. This is the race that was set before me today, and I praise God that I was able to run it with joy." 

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