:10 Seconds with Evan Gaudette

For the first time in over three decades, the men's cross country team has come back to Plymouth State University. This team, which last competed in 1980, has a number of underclassmen on the team, but has junior Evan Gaudette (Nashua, NH) as their captain. Gaudette, who is a meteorology major, has been the top finisher for the men's team for two of the first three meets, with his fastest time being 28:43 in the 8k (roughly five-mile) event (which is good for a 5:47 average mile). I spoke with Gaudette about different things involving the team, and it became obvious to me that this team is destined for great things over the next few years.

1.How long have you been running cross-country for?

EG- This is actually my first year running cross-country.  I had run distance track for four years in high school, but I always did other sports in the fall such as golf.  It's pretty crazy that my first cross-country season is in college.

2. How does the cross-country team look for the remainder of this year?

EG- Our team looks good for the rest of the season. I am the oldest runner so we have a lot of young guys working hard and developing well.  We have two freshman right on my heels around 30 minutes which is great.  This year is about development and getting our legs under us for the future and maybe making some noise when we can.  

3.What is your most memorable moment in your cross-country career?

EG- Well my career is very short on an official level, but I would say that the best moment was our first race at the University of New England when our team came in 8th out of 15 in our very first race.  That was a great feeling to see that even in our debut we had a good team.

4. Do you have any superstitions on meet/game-day?

EG-I am not a really superstitious person the only thing that comes close is I have a key that my girlfriend gave me that is good luck that I make sure is on my uniform every race.

5. What was your "Welcome to Cross Country" moment in your career?

EG- So far I would say it was our first hill workout when we went out to Pulsifer hill road in Campton and did repeats up a .4 mile paved section where we gained 400 ft. vertically.  That was intense and really was the slap in the face that this is cross-country, it's going to be hard but if you work at it there will be a great reward too.

6. If I were to look at you Ipod/ITunes/etc. what would be the five most played songs?

EG-I am not much of a music person, but when I do listen it's some good classic rock.  It would probably be Kick Start My Heart (Motley Crue), Pour Some Sugar on Me (Def Leopard), Welcome to the Jungle (Guns& Roses), Thunderstruck (AC/DC), and a little of the beaten track Youth Gone Wild (Skid Row) but pretty much anything from the late 70s and 80s is good with me.

7. This is the first year that the cross-country team is back in Plymouth in over 30 years. Why do you think there was such a long span?

EG- I think there was a lack of interest in the program; that was the reason that it went away.  Then over the years people don't see us as a running school, are having get out there and get people to realize that we now have a program to attract the runners back; and even if you have just been running own your own you are in good enough shape to be on the cross country team.

8. What did it mean to you to be chosen captain of the Cross Country team?

EG- It was a really great honor to be chosen as captain. We have a really young team so I feel that it's my job to help them get into running (even though this is my first season), but also to get them in the flow of classes and college life in general.  It is a great responsibility, but I am glad that I was chosen.

9. How did this team come together exactly?

EG- After much talk about adding the team due to interest on campus, this year was finally the year that the program started back up again.  We knew about this in the spring and found a coach, Dave Severance, who was a former runner here at PSU and he got out and did some recruiting and got us some great young talent. Then we also looked to pull in runners who were already here to join the team.  Then, well, that was it. We got our runners and hit the trails and we have not looked back yet.

10. Looking down the road, where do you see this team being in five years?

EG-I think that in five years we could have a great team.  Back in the 70s we had a strong team that actually went to the Division III championship and I think we can do this again.  Plymouth is a great area to train in with the hills and as the program stays around more people will know of us as a running school and want to come here. We have already had interest from one of the top runners in the state, which is phenomenal.  Getting out and making a name for ourselves as a young program is the key and with our coach I know that we will and PSU Cross Country will be a strong team in no time.