Dan Kerley
Steve Woltmann

Men's Cross Country

Cardinal Close-Up: Dan Kerley

Dan Kerley
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(article posted by Jeremy Rushing, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Nov. 7, 2011 -   Dan Kerley may not like to look back, but that's the only way he's able to see his opponents.  The psychology major is coming down the home stretch of his junior season and has already put together a memorable career with the North Central College men's cross country team. 

As a sophomore, Dan put together an incredible campaign. In the six events he competed in, Dan cracked the top 25 five times. His best finish during the regular season came in the Elmhurst College Invitational, where he finished 12th.  He saved his best for when it mattered most, finishing a season-best sixth at the College Conference of Illinois & WIsconsin Championships to earn All-CCIW honors. Dan also competed in the NCAA Division III regional and national championship meets, finishing 24th and 74th, respectively.
 
So far this season, Dan has competed in five events.  He has yet to finish outside the top 10 and turned in a season-best second-place finish at the Illinois Intercollegiate Invitational on Sept. 16.  He placed 10th at the University of Notre Dame Invitational, fifth at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Invitational, and third at the CCIW Championships.  Dan looks to continue his success this weekend as the top-ranked Cardinals look to defend their title at the NCAA Regional Championships in Rock Island, Ill. 

Get to Know Dan Kerley
Q:How long have you been running competitively?
A: Since high school, so probably around 8 years.  A little bit in grade school too.

Q: What do you like most about running?
A: I enjoy that feeling you get when you conquer your own abilities.  Just kind of running against yourself and that self-perfection you feel.

Q: What is the best advice you have ever received in regards to running?
A: Probably to run with my teammates.  Just finding each other and running together.  It makes it more fulfilling and a lot easier.

Q: Did you ever participate in other sports outside of Cross-Country and Track?
A: In grade school I played both baseball and basketball.  In high school I focused on just track and cross country.

Q: What was it like to compete in the NCAA Division III National Championships last season?
A: It was really exciting and fun.  We tried to look at it as a normal meet so we didn't get caught up in all the hoopla and all of the emotion.  But, it was still fun to be out there with the team and run together as a team, it was really exciting.

Q: How did it feel to be on the All-CCIW team last season as only a sophomore?
A: It's an honor, and I'm really glad I got put on that team.  But the personal accolades aren't really my goal so much as the team accolades.

Q: What events do you compete in during the Track season?
A: I run the 10,000 and 5,000-meter runs outdoors and just the 5,000 indoors.  I also run the 3,000.

Q: Is there anyone else in your family that ran cross-country or track?
A: No actually (laughs).  I'm the only one.  My cousin ran track in high school but I'm the only collegiate runner in my family.

Q: Do you have any superstitions on race days?
A: No superstitions, usually just warm up and stretch at the same time.  I really try to get everything synchronized at the same time so every race seems familiar.

Q: What is the best thing about running for head coach Al Carius?
A: I love to hear him speak about the team and speak about qualities that he tries to develop within us.  It's just great to be there under that positive influence.  Hearing him talk is so amazing and uplifting.  There's some mornings where I don't feel as great as I normally am and then when I hear him talk my  spirits are uplifted and he just brings out a better me.

Q: What is the team environment like?
A: The team environment is great.  We're all pretty much friends, we all live together, we all have fun together.  It's a blast just being out there together.  We get up early and run together, we run together in the afternoons.  We spend a majority of the time together so it's just great being friends and having the same bond together.

Q: What is your favorite cross country/track & field memory in your career so far at North Central?
A: My best memory would probably last year at the outdoor National Championships when we are cheering for Mike Spain in the 5k.  On the last lap, he came around with 400 meters left and passed the guy in first place and maintains that all the way through.  I just remember me and all my teammates going nuts for Mike Spain winning the outdoor 5k.

Q: What has been your favorite class you have taken so far at North Central?
A: I really enjoyed Urban Ethics and Religions.  It really opened my eyes to the struggles we have within the cities of America, the problems that we deal with, and how we can combat them.  Not only with just finances and programs but also with understanding, religion and love.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: I plan to either go into an organization and be a human resource manager or I plan to go to graduate school and study industrial psychology and go into human resource management when I graduate there.

Q: Are you involved in any other activities beside Cross-Country and Track?
A: I am on the Focus General Board.  Focus is a student-led worship service held on Wednesday nights.  I am also in Psi Chi, which is the Psychology Honors Society on campus

Q: Who are your role models?
A: Al has become one of my biggest role models.  Another one of my biggest role models is my father, he's been through a couple rough patches and he's pulling through.  As well as my mother.

Q: What is one talent you have that nobody really knows about?
A: (Laughs)  Singing.  I sing at Focus for worship.
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