After qualifying for the NCAA Championships last spring in the steeplechase, Owen Kiely, along with grad student Wes Fuhrman, looks to lead the men’s cross country team to their first NCAA Championship appearance. Today the lovable “Uncle Owie” sits down to talk about running 85 miles a week, pull-ups in the “pit,” and life in his hometown of Athol, Massachusetts.
MB: So Owen, your team is on the brink of having the best season in Wesleyan cross country history. What are you goals for both the team and yourself?
OK: Last season we finished one spot shy of earning a trip to Nationals, and we would definitely like to improve on that. We have a very solid squad with Wes and me at the helm, three solid juniors who are looking strong, and a bunch of other guys who have put in the work to be in the top seven. For the team, the Conference and Regional titles aren’t out of reach and neither is a top ten finish at nationals. I’d like to finish in the top 15 in the country as an individual as well.
MB: What have you been doing to achieve these goals?
OK: The past two years I’ve been running 85 miles a week pretty consistently. I only take four weeks off a year, so my training has been pretty consistent.
MB: You must be pretty durable.
OK: Oh, I’m durable, baby. My stamina is off the hook.
MB: So what happened in your legendary steeplechase race last year at the world-renowned Penn Relays?
OK: Well, I was looking to pull off a big pr [personal record] but just into the race I lost my shoe, so I ended up running the rest barefoot. I was able to hang on for most of the race though. This year I’ll hopefully break 9 minutes at Penn for the steeple, then go for the win at Nationals.
MB: There are certainly some big dogs at that meet.
OK: Well I’m the biggest dog in town.
MB: Yeah you are. But outside of running how do you spend your spare time?
OK: As a neuroscience major I spend a lot of my time working in the Kern lab. We take sections of birds’ brains and analyze them. I guess I also like to cut a rug, paint and pump.
MB: Oh yeah, there is a rumor that you cross country boys are pretty ferocious in the weight room. The football and hockey players know to clear off the bench when you come in.
OK: Definitely. I mean I max out at 185 and I only weigh about 135, and I can do at least one pushup with my third leg.
MB: Lovely. Do the ladies know about this?
OK: Only a select few. But they should know.
MB: Indeed. I also hear that some of you guys are legendary in the “pit,” as your picture attests.
OK: Yeah, we 44 Home guys have pull-up contests every night in our upstairs hall closet or the “pit.” Right now my max is 25, but I can only go up from there. We invite all challengers to the “pit” at any time to come get their whoopin’.
MB: 44 Home? How do you explain the cross country team getting the number one house on campus the past two years?
OK: Good karma. What else?
MB: I hear that you’re also from the infamous town of Athol, Massachusetts, where, correct me if I’m wrong, the bar to person ratio is the highest in the United States.
OK: The rumors are true. Although this year, I’m not the only Atholite on campus, as there’s also a tall drink of water on the women’s basketball team this year. My dad, TK, is usually around campus too and at our meets. He and my mom are our biggest cheerleaders. We also now have Macduff, our new team mascot and attack dog. To be honest Athol is a pretty sketchy place, but it’s near and dear to my heart.
MB: But back to the matter at hand. Your first race is this weekend? Who’s going to be there and what’s going down?
OK: Tufts and Bates, both NCAA qualifiers last year. Probably Amherst, MIT and Bentley will be there as well. This is our first real test. Hopefully we can run as a pack and put the hurt on other teams.
MB: Do you have any other advice for new runners?
OK: Make sure to vary your runs on roads and trails. Check out Wadsworth or our new course along Long Lane, but make sure to stay out of our way. Plus come check out the NESCAC meet, which will be at home at the end of October to see a good show…or at least to see me do a pushup with my third leg.
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