Transitioning from a 5K to a 8K distance while racing against larger universities in the formidable Southeastern Conference can be daunting to a runner new to collegiate cross country.
However, with only slightly more than one year of collegiate experience apiece, the sophomore duo of Jenner Kizer and Kyle Rewick has paced the Commodores throughout the fall season.
With an underclassman-laden squad, Vanderbilt features a freshman recruiting class of four runners, alongside sophomores Kizer, Rewick and Casey Howards. Seniors Thomas Davis and James Kasten round out the 10-man team, with Bram Chisholm as the sole junior runner.
Kizer and Rewick have been able to mature over the course of last season and this summer, as they are consistently leading the pack of Commodore runners both on the course and in practices.
“Thomas Davis has been carrying a huge workload for us the past few years,” said head coach Steve Keith, in his fourth season with both the men’s and women’s squads. “We’re still a real young team, and it’s been nice to have the sophomores step up.”
There is no doubt that Kizer has stepped up this fall. In fact, the sophomore has been the first Commodore to cross the finish line in each meet this season, relying upon his determination and focus.
“I put in the time every day at practice, but it’s just having that confidence and pushing myself to succeed,” Kizer said. “I know my body is capable of the running, I just have to mentally focus.”
Guiding the squad to a fourth place finish in September’s 5K Belmont-VU Opener, Kizer finished 14th, with a time of 16:15.37. Rewick followed right behind, crossing the finish line in 16:18.38, for a 16th place finish.
Two weeks later, Kizer’s midrace movement allowed the sophomore to complete the 8K race in 27:19.56, as he rounded out the top-20 finishers in the Commodore Classic. Davis and Rewick were the second and third finishers for Vanderbilt, as the Commodores took home third place honors.
“I always try to run toward the middle — I’m not really a fan of running too fast because I find myself falling off,” Kizer said. “We try to group up as a team, and slowly, push past as many other runners as possible.”
Over Halloween weekend, the Commodores were put to the test against fellow SEC competition. Leading Vanderbilt in the SEC Championships, Kizer ran for a 45th place finish, as the men totaled 282 points on the day and were edged out of ninth place by Ole Miss.
“It’s fun to go up against SEC teams, knowing that they are big schools and probably have a lot more funding,” Rewick said. “You just have to go in thinking that you’re going to do the best that you can.”
With the NCAA Regionals looming in the near future, Kizer, Rewick and the rest of the squad are preparing for the culmination of their fall season.
“Development is the key — you have to be patient and get the work in,” Keith said. “The strength and endurance doesn’t occur overnight.”
