Sullivan leads Keelhaulers in Cal Pac Championships

Junior Isaiah Sulivan was the head of the Keelhauler pack at the Cal Pac Championships in Angwin, Calif. Monday morning in a four-team race with Embry-Riddle, UC Merced, and host Pacific Union.

Sulivan (30:49.8) stepped foot first for the men's cross country team with second-place Trevor Hodges(31:00.4) and third-place Harry Bragg(31:21.7) behind him. Seniors Oliver Chen (35:34.2), Jacob Flores (37:59.2), and Leonardo Jefferson (39:45.6) ended their collegiate careers yesterday.

For the International Business & Logistics major Sulivan, who is studying remotely this semester and traveling from his hometown in Stockton, Calif. due to covid, he placed 14th overall. Mid-race, he was faced with the difficult challenge of falling while turning the corner. That didn't stop him from finishing strong and gathering himself back up on track with help from his teammate Trevor Hodges, who helped him set the pace again on a course he's had success with many times before.

"That course was going to be uncomfortable regardless," said Sullivan. "but it was great to be familiar with the course in order to recognize where to pick up and where to begin our kicks. Or in the words of Nora Anastasi, where to 'cash-out'."

Cal Maritime (32:50.9) finished third behind Embry-Riddle (26:48.7) and UC Merced (28:31.5). Pacific Union placed fourth with an average time of 39:21.8.

"It was definitely an unfortunate thing to experience, it's not every day someone gets injured in a cross country race," Sulivan added. "but all credit for that race has to go to Trevor Hodges. From the gun, we were pushing the pace, and he was definitely the motivating factor for me to try and hop back onto our tempo. Finishing 1st for our team is a cool feat, but ultimately it's the thought of my teammates that is pushing me to get across that finish line."

This season was different from others given the unparalleled circumstances and impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The Keelhaulers had just two races this season featured in the spring this time around rather than the original fall session. Both races were in Angwin, Calif. at Pacific Union College for the PUC Invitational last week and this Cal Pac Championship race on Monday.

"Every single year I always say it was the best year of cross country. That is not a lie," said the Saint Mary High alum. "Each and every year is so unique since different people come and go. The team dynamic will always sway from year to year, but it's the core values of family and giving a max effort each and every day that strings us closer as a team."