Hawks News
Fri, May 28, 2010 - [Men's Cross Country]
Juan Gomez running at the Oakland Marathon
Juan Gomez running at the Oakland Marathon
Marion, IN - Juan Gomez represented Holy Names University in the NAIA National Championship Marathon Saturday, May 26, 2010, at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. 
On paper, the course appeared to be a fast course and was expected to produce fast times, but the mid-race temperature of 70 degrees and 88% humidity, along with some well placed hills yielded slower times than expected, As a result 7 athletes from various Universities dropped out of the race.
 
At the half way point (13th mile mark), Juan found himself with the leaders competing for the title but would have to slow down around the 16th mile mark do to a muscle cramp in his hamstring, He was able to recover after taking salt pills and stopping to stretch several times.
 
At the 21 mile mark, Juan found himself in 33rd place and on target for a 2:55 finish, which was 20 min off training his training pace. Annoyed by his placing and confident that he could have been in the top ten, with 5 miles to go Juan decided to risk further Injury and began picking up the pace and flying by athletes ahead of him to finish with a time of 2:44 and a 17th placing in the country. By doing this Juan became the second athlete from the West to cross the finish line. All other runners in front and around Juan were from Midwestern or Southern regions with humid climates similar to Indiana.
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