The Race to Ohio

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Created on Thursday, 20 November 2014 19:02
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scheibenpflugLYNDON - A local collegiate runner is headed to the Division-III National Championship this weekend, but the road there wasn't an easy one. 

Tyler Scheibenpflug, member of the Lyndon State College Men's Cross Country team, was one of fifty-six runners selected for the Men's Individual Automatic Qualifiers. According to the NCAA, along with these 56 individuals, 32 schools were selected on Sunday to race in the 2014 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships in Mason, Ohio. 

Scheibenpflug is out preparing for his race this weekend, but it's not his first time at nationals. Last year, he finished 119th in Indiana, recalling "that was a little tough for me to come and finish that far back."

Scheibenpflug did not think nationals were within reach for this year, as he nursed a knee injury throughout the summer. He has a small tear in his meniscus that still acts up on occasion. For a runner, summer is the most important time for training. Scheibenpflug said he could only run five or six miles at a time.

His coach, Christopher Ummer said, "He's no stranger to knee issues or problems... he's known how to work through those conditions, issues, and problems."

Working through it is exactly what he did last Saturday, when he placed 15th at the Regional meet. Even with his injury, Scheibenpflug said he was in a lot more control this year.

Ummer said, "Honestly, I think Tyler's more fit than he's ever been as a runner. I think his fitness level is piquing at the right time of the year. He's performed well in a number of races this year, but he hasn't pushed himself yet to the limit."

Since Lyndon State College joined the NCAA in 2008, only three runners have made it to the National Championships. Josh Grant, Kyle Powers, twice, and now Tyler Scheibenpflug, for his second time as well. 

The race kicks off at 11 A.M. at the Golf Center at King's Island in Mason, Ohio, on November 22nd, where Scheibenpflug is trying to top 88th place, the best by a Lyndon runner at nationals.