Thanks, Cal Pac, Warriors for an Unforgettable Day

By Brandon Petersen

I have clinical depression. 

I describe it as having a perspective that is skewed toward the negative, in how I see myself, in how I think others see me, and in how I perceive normal, day to day events. 

It's nothing to be afraid of. 

I manage my mental health ably through medication and therapy, but even those things don't always stop me from blinding myself to life's silver linings. 

Good days aren't easy to come by, especially recently, as our country nears the midterms and our cultural discussion — and behavior — has turned dark. 

I never thought I'd see our country so consumed by anger, violence and hate. 

Neighbors who don't acknowledge each other, families split apart at the dinner table. Gone are the days of compromise, replaced by a new era of fear.

It feels like all the media and our political leaders want to do is segregate us into teams of red and blue and sit back and rake it in while we destroy each other. 

All of it is just exhausting — mentally taxing — and we all go through it, no one can escape it. 

I say all of this to set up the backdrop of what was without question, the best day I've experienced in years, Friday in Fresno at the Cal Pac Cross Country Championships. An unexpected gift that produced in me a sense of optimism I hand't felt in far too long. 

Consider this my love letter to the sport of Cross Country, and a note of appreciation to the conference, which put on a perfect show.

The Fall-kissed setting was gorgeous. Fresno's Woodward Park features lakes surrounded by century-old trees shedding their autumn leaves as flocks of geese fly overhead.

As I stepped onto the scene Friday morning around 8:30, an hour before the women ran the 5K, I quickly found a group of Warriors — Cross Country coaches Vanessa Kellems and Tyler Blanchard, and Will Smith, Westcliff's assistant athletic director of Operations.

Smith looked at me like I lived on Mars when I told him I enjoyed the four-hour commute to Fresno. I had woken up at 3 a.m. and left at 4:30 to miss L.A. traffic, and he didn't understand why I didn't just fly with the team the day before. 

I'll tell you why: There are things you can only appreciate on a road trip.

At 5:30 a.m., I was climbing to the pinnacle of the Grapevine, 4,000 feet above sea, when a bright flash lit up the pitch black.

It was a meteorite, piercing our atmosphere and blazing across the sky.

Normally a shooting star appears white, but this flaming rock was so close, it streaked a brilliant line of blue, its radiant flames visible to the naked eye. 

It's a one-in-a-lifetime moment you're sure to miss while munching on peanuts at 30,000 feet.

My jaw dropped, and I took it as a sign — something good was going to happen at the Cross Country meet. 

Boy, was I right. 

Upon arriving, Cal Pac commissioner Don Ott greeted me with a smile, and I met UC Merced's Andrew Mitchell for the first time. He's a big fan of our SID, Chase Dodge, and our media staff. But the appreciation flows both ways — Mitchell emceed the championships wonderfully over a music bed featuring all the classics — I caught myself singing along more than a time or two. 

Every team in the Cal Pac was present, and I have to say, it's really cool to be so close to so many runners from so many different schools — schools we are now abundantly familiar with at Westcliff. Embry-Riddle, chief among them — the class of the league when it comes to Cross Country. 

It was an interesting juxtaposition, seeing the Eagles' huge and talented squads lined up next to our newcomers. But also evident was a certain amount of respect in their gazes back, knowing full well that Kelvin Kiptoo could win the entire thing if he runs his race. 

The vibe was inviting, and there was a ton of crossover discussion between runners from different programs.

When it was time for the Cal Pac Values Statement, I stood there listening, and although I've heard it many times, today it hit differently. 

I truly appreciated the words, and felt proud to be a part of a conference that promotes life-enhancing values, strives to do right in the world, and rejects all forms of discrimination. 

Then my attention turned to our teams. First was the women. 

I only recognized about half of the group, and I was baffled.

"Is that Razzan Kotarche?" I thought. "Doesn't she swim? And she plays water polo. Now she's running? What doesn't she do?"

"Wait a minute, is that Karen Granados? I thought she was event staff this season. I helped her with a camera a couple of weeks back."

Then my gaze turned toward the men's team.  

Finally a familiar face — Kiptoo, I wasn't going crazy. 

But why was he standing next to Cam Snyder? Shouldn't he breaking ankles and handing out dimes?

Why was Abel Rendon there? He's a high-jumper. They run like 20 yards.

For a moment I considered approaching Kellems and informing her she must have picked up the wrong busload of athletes before heading to the airport. 

But as it turns out, all of these Warriors from other programs were here for a reason. 

"The team did an amazing job today," Kellems told me afterward. "We had seven individuals who had never competed in a cross country race, let alone train as a runner.

"They were athletes from other sports here to support the cross country program." 

You see, Westcliff made history Friday in Fresno. 

This was the first year that the Warriors fielded two full teams at the Cross Country Championships. 

And even though there were so many newcomers, all of them managed to impress. Every single Warrior that left the starting line Friday crossed the finish line. 

"The team goal was to finish the race," Kellems said.  "Not only did they do that, but they showed out too. We are so very proud and thankful for our Westcliff Warriors from basketball, softball, water polo and swim and dive to step up in crucial time for the team."

I also had a chance to talk to coach Tyler Blanchard, and his words were simply inspiring. 

"Today's conference meet was absolutely outstanding," he said.  "The overall atmosphere was nothing I have felt before. There were no deep, intense rivalries that made you despise another team. 

"It was a friendly, loving, yet challenging environment. 

"Seeing the athletes start off clueless about the other schools, focusing on themselves and all nerves about being able to finish the race, then finishing the race with a smile and with a new-found love for running, as well as friendships built amongst other teams was the best feeling."

I'll be honest, it's been many, many a Sunday since I've found myself inside of a church. 

But the enduring lesson I learned back in the day rubbing elbows with the Almighty, was to love other people. To be selfless, and kind, to everyone you meet. To be empathetic, forgiving, and unwilling to hate. 

When I woke up this morning at 3 a.m., my first instinct was to hit the snooze. 

But I didn't do it. 

Something was urging me toward Fresno, California. 

Something I didn't expect to find. 

Love. 

In the form of different people from different parts of the country with different thoughts, beliefs, and definitions of success — all with a collective goal — to win, but not only that, to compete with class, and with respect always for one another.

It was a beautiful day.

And, for the first time in forever, I felt hopeful.

Thank you, Cal Pac. 

Thanks, Warriors. 

…

2022 Cal Pac Conference Results

Women's Race (5K)

The Champ — Josephine Gregory, Embry-Riddle (18:21.10).

Our Champs:

Giuliana Galetto Reza (25:06.74)

Macarthy Sobonya (25:25.39)

Karen Granados (25:39.40)

Razann Kotarche (29:46.56)

Alana West (30:45.64)

Alexandra Juarez (33:52.17)

Men's Race (8K)

The Champ — Jonathan Chavez, UC Merced (25:25.88)

Our Champs:

Kelvin Kiptoo (27:24.18)  — All Cal Pac Academic

Emmanuel Cheruiyot (30:15.30)

Jonas Koturenka (32:12.39)

Cameron Snyder (37:49.57)

Abelardo Rendon (41:47.83)