Brian Woods finished first from the Whitman men’s cross-country team at the Sept. 8 Lewis & Clark Invitational. The men’s team finished third overall.

Woods, a senior co-captain, has been running cross-country since his first year at Whitman. His times at the Northwest Conference Championships have continued to improve since his first year, though “my biggest improvement was from freshman year to sophomore year since I was used to running 5K races and college races are 8K,” said Woods.

As a co-captain, Woods tries to lead by example but recognizes that running is an individual sport.

Woods usually runs about seven miles a day as part of cross-country practice. Practice runs include a Bennington Lake run, the Farm Loop through Robinson Ranch Road and the golf course run. “My favorite run is the golf course because it is grassy and shaded, but a lot of people on the team hate it because we run it so much,” said Woods.

Woods likes the racing part of running. “I like running, getting outside and relaxing, but I do the miles for the racing. I like the competition and trying to beat other people,” said Woods.
Before every race, Woods puts on his racing shoes while listening to “What You Know” by T.I. to pump himself up.

As a chemistry major, Woods enjoys the structure of athletics with academics. “I’m better at scheduling homework when I know that I have to be at practice at a certain time,” said Woods.
Beyond academics and cross-country, Woods has worked as a chemistry tutor and this semester will work as an IM football referee. Though he has played on IM football teams in the past, this is his first year as a referee. Woods participates in the spring semester track club and is a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon. This semester on Wednesday mornings Woods co-hosts a sports talk radio show on KWCW with another cross-country captain, senior Eli Asch.