Fuller Competes in the 2021 NJCAA Region III Cross Country Championship

CANANDAIGUA, NY - The Cannoneer harriers closed out their season Saturday at the National Junior College Athletic Association Region III Cross Country Championships hosted by the Finger Lakes Community College. The meet included 60 athletes competing over the 8K course. The challenges of the course were compounded by the heavy rains over the previous night and morning. The rain turned many sections of the course into ankle deep water troughs or greasy slick mud areas. Sophomore Christopher Fuller (Felts Mills, NY) was the only athlete representing the Cannoneers at the championship. Fuller, a former high school football player for the Carthage Comets, racing in only his fourth 8K race, covered the distance in a personal best time of 35:09. That time was almost three minutes faster than his previous 8K time (37:51). 

 

Fuller's time placed him 37th overall on the day, by far his best performance of the season, a season in which he also played for the Watertown Red & Black semi-professional American football team. Coach Chris Ummer: Chris is one of the most hard working and mentally tough student-athletes I've ever had the pleasure of coaching. His ability to push himself in a race to and past the limit is what separates him from other runners. At 5'5" and 160 lbs Chris' physique is a long way from ideal for distance running, but Chris put in the miles, never missed a day of practice and competed with the very best runners in our conference and region every week this season. His success this year doesn't come from my coaching, but from his own drive to be the best he can be. Successful cross country athletes are those that are willing to suffer, Chris does that as well as anyone.