by Daniel Crespo
The concept alone of constant running over a long stretch is enough to make novice sports fans look the other way. Many of them don't see the thrill that one would see with other mainstream Olympic events like the 100-meter dash or the 400-meter hurdles.
It's what the distance runners at the University of Arizona live for. They want to run and they love to run. Most student-athletes train by running on the turf at Arizona Stadium, stepping onto the hardwood of McKale Center or stepping into the circle at Hillenbrand Stadium. The UA Cross Country team on the other hand wakes up early in the morning and runs for miles all around Tucson.
Arizona redshirt sophomore Baily Roth understands what it takes from a personal standpoint to compete at the highest level, having a great deal of success before even stepping foot on campus. A native of Atlanta, Ga. but a graduate of Coronado HS in Colorado Springs, Colo., Roth accumulated all kinds of success both at the state and national level. He was a cross country state champion in both Georgia and Colorado, on top of being named his team's most valuable player all four years he competed.
At the time, Roth held the American high school record in the 2,000-meter steeplechase after he clocked a time of time of 5:41 at the IAAF World Youth Championships in the Ukraine. His time of 8:47.04 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase was also an American high school record back in 2014. In 2015, he earned a spot on team USA for the World Junior Pan-American Games after claiming the title in the 3,000 steeplechase at the USA Jr. Championships in Eugene, Ore.
What else would you expect from a guy who took his first steps when he was only four months old and ran his first mile with his father at the age of one.
Roth says that no matter the accomplishments or accolades he earned in high school, it's a fresh start when you get to the college level and it's time to start working towards newer heights.
“When you get to college, it kind of starts over no matter what happened in high school junior year or senior year,” Roth said. “I had a lot of success in high school as far as statistics go and I broke a couple of records and won some national championships, but in the end, I have to measure up against the best in country in the NCAA. You have to refocus yourself on a bigger picture.”
Focus. A facet of competition that is just as prominent if not more so in long distance running than any other sport. Cross country runners use most of their time to prepare for the mental side of competition when they aren't conditioning or practicing. They focus on their times, they focus on their running, they focus on their completion and they focus on improving. No great athlete is ever content with where they are as a competitor, and Roth is no exception. Though he will not be competing in cross country events this year for Arizona, the second year runner will be looking to use this year as a period to get stronger and faster to better his team when his number is called.
Associate Head Coach James Li sees the determination in Roth and can tell that he has the tools, that when polished can lead him to new heights.
“Bailey is very driven,” said Li. “He really wants to be good, and it is very good for any athlete to have that kind of drive. Distance running is not like sprints. You can't go full speed every second.”
Li said that one of the differences between long distance running and other sports is that long distance runners will tend to mature a little later in their careers rather than peak early, and the veteran coach has that vision for Roth.
“Athletes do tend to mature later in this sport,” Li said. “It takes more time to develop. There a lot of good things we can expect from him.”
Roth understands the foresight that the coaching staff has for him. Already a seasoned athlete, Roth is still not where he wants to be at this point in his career, but knows he can get there with the help from his coaches.
“I have a great support staff here with coach Li,” Roth said. “His credentials really made me want to come here and I trust him a lot, and that's a really important relationship that you have to have with your coaches.”
Though Roth is only in college, his vision is not limited to only competing at the NCAA level. He knows he has a long way to go, but has aspirations of running competitively post college after a stellar career at the collegiate level.
“My goal is definitely to go pro after college,” said Roth. “I definitely want to become an NCAA champion. I feel confident in coach Li to get me to that level as well as confidence in myself to pursue that.”
Roth has the mindset of a true competitor, never satisfied with where they are and always looking to improve. If his skillset alone hasn't set him apart, then his work ethic can help put him over the top.
“I have very high self-expectations and self-motivation,” Roth added. “Every day I'm looking for opportunities to better myself.”
Coach Li would expect nothing less from a competitor like Roth and expects good things from the Atlanta native in the near future.
“The sky is the limit for him,” Li said. “We can see that he could be a very good runner, but it's not going to happen overnight. Part of us as coaches is to encourage him and give him confidence. It's not just training, its patience and training for the right mental state.”
A word that neither coach Li or Roth mentioned was “satisfied.” They both know that neither of them can be satisfied with either's progress. Good is the enemy of great and being good is never good enough. Roth understands it all too well and has always made it a point to never be satisfied with where he is as a runner. He has the talent, he has the determination and he definitely has the coaching.
