TERRE HAUTE — Pain tolerance can be a big part of endurance running, Indiana State coach John McNichols said recently, and Indiana State senior Eric Schulz and classmate Scott Keeney are two of the toughest runners McNichols has coached.
Keeney, the first four-time All-Missouri Valley Conference men’s runner in ISU history, took a cortisone shot to curtail back spasms before helping lead ISU to the MVC title. It turns out Keeney had suffered a fracture in his lower back that has put the remainder of the fifth-year senior’s collegiate running career in jeopardy.
“That’s life,” said a disappointed Keeney, who’s in the process of choosing a medical school.
Keeney qualified for the NCAA meet last season, so whether or not his career is over, he’s there to help a teammate go after his dreams. Keeney finished 196th in last year’s race, saying he probably worked his body too hard in the week leading up to the race.
“I think [ISU’s 2006 NCAA qualifier] Justin Kunz told him the same thing: all the work is done, it’s just recovering from the regional meet,” Keeney said. “It’s not what you do that last week, it’s what you don’t do.”
Schulz and Keeney have been the senior leaders on an ISU team that almost worked its way into the NCAA field even without Keeney.
Following the region meet at Indiana University, Schulz said he and his teammates were motivated by their team captain’s absence. The Sycamores took fourth in the region for the school’s best finish, with three runners — Schulz, Michael Disher and Craig Padgett — all earning All-Region honors by making the top 25.
But only three Great Lakes teams made the field this season, a fortuitous down year for the region. The Sycamores could have been a huge cinderella story, but they did not receive one of the final at-large selections.
Schulz can make up for some of that disappointment with a solid performance. Unlike his training, the native of New Albany sees no need for tapering his expectations.
“I’m definitely going for that All-American status just because that’s what I’ve dreamed about,” Schulz said. “I’ve always wanted to achieve what Jordan Fife did [as a steeplechase All-American on the track]. He was from Seymour, and being from that neck of the woods, that was inspiring for me.”
More recently, Justin Kunz has set the mark for Sycamore runners when he finished 76th in the 2006 NCAA meet on his home course.
“Ending my college cross country career on my home course is a great feeling,” Schulz said. “If I’m top 75, I’d be happy. I just want to get out fast. I know the course. That’s going to help me.”
“To do the workouts on your home course, to run and finish all-state in high school, to end it all in Indiana, it’s pretty sweet,” Schulz said.
When Schulz arrived at ISU, he was a walk-on who had only once cracked the top 25 at the cross country state finals. Schulz didn’t make ISU’s top seven as a true freshman, but he needed the experience of racing the big meets at Notre Dame and Pre-Nationals.
“As a sophomore, he made that top 7, then last year he finished in the 50s at the region meet, then this year he’s up to sixth, just a huge improvement,” McNichols said.
Schulz’s 10K time of 31:13.37 at the region meet ranks second to two-time NCAA qualifier Jason Gunn (1999-2000), and his sixth-place finish was the school’s best for an individual.
McNichols was impressed by many of his runners in that race, but especially Schulz.
“He went out strong. He said afterward, he felt like he was out as well as he had been in any race this year. We have some video of him, and it does indicate that he was not overrunning but in very good position,” McNichols said. “The last 2K, he was pretty miserable. Racing the way those guys do, it’s pretty uncomfortable. The training helps them tolerate that pain.”
Schulz’s prosperity in the 10K has developed during his time at ISU.
Former Sycamore standout Antonio McDaniel, now the assistant coach for the IUPUI women’s team, recalls letting Schulz know what he thought of his strength.
“He was doing the steeple a lot, and he wasn’t having much luck with it,” McDaniel said. “I kept telling him by his form and the way he runs, ‘Schulz, you’re a 10Ker, you need to run the 10K.’”
As a sophomore, Schulz placed fourth in the 10,000 on the track, running a 30:28.
“I felt then that I had really stepped up my game. That was a step in the right direction,” Schulz said. “Then it was ‘I can be one of the top guys in the region,’ and now I’m on the national level. Now, I’m getting confidence that I can run with almost anybody.”
College
ISU cross country's Schulz ready to make memories on his home course
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Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process
When you’re a shooter and you’re in a slump, the boilerplate cure is to summon amnesia, forget about your struggles and keep on shooting.
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ISU's Webb wins heptathlon
Indiana State’s Robert Webb captured the heptathlon Saturday at the Grand Valley State Big Meet as he totaled the second most points in ISU history while dominating the event. Webb scored 5,140 points, which is second only to former Sycamore Anthony Bertoli’s 5,189 points in 2008.
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Perfect game: ISU shoots NCAA record 12-for-12 from 3-point range in win over SIU
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‘Frustrated’ Sycamores regroup to face Southern Illinois
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Thomas nets double-double as ISU women end losing streak
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Leonard dominates in first half, but IU, Zeller earn the victory
The first half belonged to Illinois’ Meyers Leonard.
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Sycamores can’t stop Stutz, Shockers
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McWhorter’s fortunes rise with ISU’s
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Johnson dominates again for ISU track
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Indiana State women lose at Illinois State
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ISU women looking to end five-game losing streak at Illinois State
Within a few points in the final minutes, Indiana State had chances to win women’s basketball games at Missouri State and Wichita State last weekend.
But the Sycamores lost for the fourth and fifth straight games, also losing freshman Jessica Valley for the season at Wichita State. The promising backcourt player tore the ACL in her right knee and began strengthening exercises this week in order to make plans for surgery. -
ISU Senior Day game to be televised on ESPN
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It’s on: Sycamores, Bulldogs to play at Hinkle on Feb. 18
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METRO ROUNDUP: Four from Rose receive weekly honors
Four Rose-Hulman athletes earned Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference weekly honors, the HCAC announced Monday.
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Hoosiers reclaim needed offensive momentum
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Sycamores will have to match Aces’ toughness
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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Rose, The Woods post weekend victories
Rose-Hulman relied on a balanced scoring attack and a strong defensive effort to earn a 55-44 women’s basketball victory Saturday over Mount St. Joseph.
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ISU's Stacia Weatherford sets school record in 60-meter hurdles
Indiana State junior Stacia Weatherford set the school record in the women’s 60-meter hurdles, while sophomore Greggmar Swift dominated the action in the men’s 60 hurdles during competition Saturday at the Indiana Relays.
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Rose takes first in Engineer Track and Field Invitational
Rose-Hulman relied on nine event victories, 13 top-two finishes and three school records for a strong performance at the ninth annual Engineer Track and Field Invitational on Saturday.
The men’s squad captured first place honors in a meet that featured two of the nation's top 20 NCAA Division III squads and 12 institutions from seven states. The day’s competition also included 10 meet records. -
Mattox’s 31 not enough for ISU women
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Mattox, Sycamores staying positive on road trip to Missouri State, Wichita State
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IU triumphs
When Indiana’s Will Sheehey left the floor after receiving his second technical foul, the Hoosier fans cheered.
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ISU women nipped at buzzer
Creighton sophomore Carli Tritz — blanketed by Indiana State senior Brittany Schoen — had just two points at halftime Friday in Hulman Center.
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ISU needs to find chip on its shoulder
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