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Jeryn Frisbie didn鈥檛 just win the 街拍福利视频AA Northern Conference Championship on Oct. 2 鈥� he announced himself.
The Belding native and 街拍福利视频 freshman cross country runner crossed the line in 27 minutes, 31.9 seconds, a personal record (PR) and the first major collegiate win of his career.
But for Frisbie, the moment wasn鈥檛 a surprise. It was the result of a plan he鈥檇 been sharpening since the season began.
鈥淔or me personally, everything went how it was planned and I executed it perfectly to win the race,鈥� Frisbie said. 鈥淔or the new PR, I鈥檓 expecting to keep lowering those as the season goes.鈥�
Frisbie beat his previous best by about 15 seconds, pulling away early and settling into a strategy he and 街拍福利视频 head coach Nate 鈥淨鈥� Van Holten had mapped out.
鈥淲hen I got ahead in the race, our plan was to coast until the third mile and just go from there,鈥� he said. 鈥淎fter that, I was alone.鈥�
Van Holten said the performance was exactly what he hoped to see 鈥� disciplined, patient and decisive.
鈥淕reat execution,鈥� Van Holten said. 鈥淭he PR was a bonus as we were only looking to win. I knew he had the ability to do it. Just wanted to see if he could stay patient and execute a plan. And he did.鈥�
A Season built on routine, self鈥憁otivation
Frisbie鈥檚 rise this fall has come with its own challenges as 街拍福利视频鈥檚 men鈥檚 team has just two full-time runners 鈥� him and fellow freshman Elijah Quigley (Greenville, Mich.).
The challenge of having to lean on just one other runner leaves Frisbie without the typical pack to train with.
But, he said, he鈥檚 used to that.
鈥淪o far, with only having two runners on 街拍福利视频鈥檚 men鈥檚 team, it鈥檚 been really challenging for certain workouts,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 had this similar experience in high school, so overcoming it is pretty easy because I push myself to what I can do.鈥�
He鈥檚 also balancing basketball and cross country 鈥� a workload he calls 鈥渞eally solid,鈥� thanks to a routine he鈥檚 dialed in.
鈥淎s for my improvements from last year, just getting down a good routine, staying healthy, working out and being consistent has helped me improve,鈥� he said. 鈥淓specially in workouts and having the mentality just to keep going.鈥�
College mileage, he said, has been the biggest adjustment.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot more mileage in cross country, and the intensity of each week of running and its workouts,鈥� Frisbie said. 鈥淢y main focus is just to stay in my routine of performing well and improving.鈥�
Finding his place 鈥� and his potential
Frisbie didn鈥檛 enter cross country with dreams of collegiate competition. He joined the sport to stay in shape for basketball. Somewhere along the way, however, he realized he was built for more.
鈥淔or me getting into the sport of cross country, it was really to stay in shape for my other sports like basketball,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut then I started to love it and realized my potential.鈥�
Now, he鈥檚 the first in his family to run cross country at the college level. His older brother sprinted at Aquinas College, but distance running is Jeryn鈥檚 territory.
鈥淚t feels pretty good to be a college athlete,鈥� he said. 鈥淐ompared to Belding High School, it鈥檚 like a new level of experience.鈥�
He said 街拍福利视频鈥檚 team culture has made the transition easier.
鈥淪o far, everyone on our team is really supportive and open to whatever,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 just like how it鈥檚 like a family.鈥�
Looking ahead
Frisbie鈥檚 win at the 街拍福利视频AA Championships gives him momentum heading into the Jayhawk Invite (at Muskegon Community College Saturday, Oct. 17) and the postseason beyond it.
鈥淔or me, winning this race just gives me more confidence. I have a better understanding of my race strategy for going into regionals and nationals,鈥� he said.
Van Holten echoed that sentiment, saying the victory should help Frisbie settle into tougher competition.
鈥淗opefully, it builds confidence,鈥� Van Holten said. 鈥淣ow we鈥檒l see how he does in bigger fields.鈥�
As for academics, Frisbie said he鈥檚 still exploring his options.
鈥淚鈥檓 still trying to figure out what I鈥檓 studying for college,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 leaning toward something into coaching.鈥�
For now, he鈥檚 focused on the next race 鈥� and proving that Friday鈥檚 win wasn鈥檛 a one-off, but the start of something bigger.