Nathan Stark runs with his heart.
“Running with my heart is my motto,” Idaho junior cross country runner Nathan Stark said.
Stark was very active in high school, competing in track and field, basketball and swimming at Capital High in Boise.
As a three-year varsity track athlete, Stark posted career bests in the 800 meter (1 minute, 58 seconds) and the 400 meter (50.13) and was also the swim team captain and a state qualifier in high school.
“It’s funny,” Stark said. “I had a background of jumping and was playing basketball in high school … In the springtime, I found success in the 400, then the 800, and those successes got me to Idaho.
“My freshman year, I said no to cross country because I wasn’t confident in my ability to run anything longer than 30 minutes but we worked on building my strength and endurance and by spring, he (Idaho assistant cross country coach Travis Floeck) tested me out with my techniques in the hurdles,” Stark said.
Stark said he raced really well a few times in the steeplechase, which gave him confidence as a distance runner.
“Every year I’ve added on distance and increased the pace, breaking through my threshold,” Stark said. “Distance running is more about being mentally tough over a longer period of time. I have a lot of mental toughness and I use that to my benefit.”
In the season opener Sept. 1 in Colfax, Washington, Stark finished 24th with a time of 18:38.12. At the second meet, Sept. 19th in Spokane, Stark finished 24th again with a time of 25:25.07.
In the latest contest, Saturday in Missoula, Montana, Stark led the Vandals with a fifth-place finish with a time of 25:31.85.
“Nathan ran so strong,” Floeck said. “The confidence he is showing this season has as much to do with his success racing as his improvement in his fitness.”
Stark said he’s learned new things and has improved each race.
“Nathan is having a breakthrough cross country season for sure,” Floeck said. “He is a hard worker and is very dedicated. He’s also become more of a leader and he now accepts that role as himself, and he sees that in himself. When you find yourself in that role it’s easier to go out there and run with confidence to set the tone for younger guys on our team.”
Stark said he has seen a lot of change in the program in recent years.
“I’m from the Boise area and we have a lot of freshman from that area, so we have a connection there,” Stark said. “It’s been interesting going through the … changes in the program, and learning to adapt while leading the guys has been a big goal of mine.”
“It’s a lot of focusing on the little things and reminding the guys of what coach expects. We want to finish one or two spots ahead of where we are ranked and focusing on the little things and processes every day. If we do that, then anything is possible,” Stark said.
Faith Evans can be reached at [email protected]