Marathon Men

With Spring here, the days are getting longer. Of course with finals coming close, some days will be REALLY long, but congratulations go out to current Red Men Adam Van Huis and 2002 grad DJ Hessenthaler for finishing the inaugural Wisconsin Marathon today (congrats also go out to DJ's wife and former Lady Red Chera for finishing ahead of both in her 1/2 marathon).

Adam finished in 4:06:51, calling it a great experience. He was out holding 8:30's for the first half and then 10:00's after that.

DJ finished in 5:29:51, the operative word being finished. Writing on his Facebook he said the race was "Horrible. It was too hot and I got dehydrated. First 16 miles were doing great. Last 10 I felt like death. Almost gave up completely for a while. "

BUT he didn't, much like John Stephen Ahkwari. Don't know who he is? He ran for Tanzania in the 1968 Olympics. Midway through the marathon, Ahkwari fell and dislocated his kneecap. He didn't quit though, he finished last - but he finished something 17 others didn't. When asked why he answered, "You don’t understand. My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me to finish."

Oh man, less than ten weeks until I undertake a 50 km run.

Backstrokers Getting Hitched

Well whaddya know? Nathaniel Chapman ('06) looking very Lerch-like at the left got the girl and last weekend he got married. It was the second of a pair of backstroke weddings.

This is a far cry from the catatonic high school senior who on his visit did nothing but stare at the television while I extolled the virtues of Carthage College and Carthage swimming to he and his Mom.

There was a great turnout by swimming alums - Henry Somers, Ivan Manolov, Tim Dodson, Chris Illing, Roberto Jorda-Cid and many more that I'm sure I've missed. It was the second alum wedding Not bad for a guy who helped put Carthage swimming on the map with:

• Eight-Time All-American Awards
  
• Four-Time Academic All-American Selections
  
• 2005, 2006 CoSIDA/ESPN All-District Selections
  
• 2006 CCIW All-Academic Award
  
• 2005 Falduto Carthage Athlete of the Year Award
  
• 2006 Simmons Carthage Career Achievement Award
  
• 2006 CCIW MVP
  
• 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 All-Conference Selection
  
• 2003, 2005 Carthage Swimming MVP
  
• 2006 Carthage Swimming Most-Valuable Teammate (His Favorite)
  
• Not to mention about a dozen broken school records

Oh and the previous holder of Carthage's backstroke records? Well, that person would be none other than DJ Hessenthaler ('02) who enjoyed his own wedding to Chera LaCourt. In fact for a couple of years, DJ would come back for the alumni meet and smoke Chappy in th 50 backstroke.