General | 2/29/2016 4:01:00 PM
ALAMOSA, Colo. (February 29, 2016) –His collegiate days may be over but that hasn't stopped former Adams State University great,
Tabor Stevens, from thriving in the running community.
The 24 year old – now fully immersed on the professional circuit – is coming off a third place finish at the USATF National Cross Country Championships held in Bend, Oregon, on Feb. 6
th. Stevens completed the 10K course in 31:57 amongst a field of 59 runners. By placing in the top five, the Cañon City, Colorado, native earned a spot on the United States roster for the Pan American Cross Country Cup to be held on March 5
th in Caraballeda, Venezuela.
"I was pretty intimidated once the race started but I played it safe and just chilled in the back of the lead group. I wasn't doing anything aggressive, just following moves," Stevens said of the Championship race. "I just tried to relax as much as possible throughout."
Stevens opened with a 6:16 first lap and held steady moving forward with no lap exceeding 6:30.
"I was able to pick people off as they started falling off the lead group and at the end of the race I found myself up front," Stevens said. "The last 100 meters I had to battle another competitor and I fortunately saved enough to out-kick him and place third."
His strong finish allowed Stevens to edge fourth-place runner, Donald Cowart, by one second.
Joining the 17-time ASU All-American in Venezuela for the Pan-Am games is roommate Aaron Dinzeo who finished second overall with a time of 31:47.
"I was totally happy he had a performance like that," Stevens said of Dinzeo's runner-up finish. "Now at the Pan-Am meet in a couple weeks, I'm a going to try and even the score? Yes," Stevens said lightheartedly of any battle emerging between the two. "The course in Venezuela might be better suited to my style. I think I might give him a better challenge."
Although he now holds a professional contract with Asics, Stevens still trains and resides in Alamosa.
"I'm still doing the Adams State training system that Coach (Damon) Martin does but I'm doing everything longer, faster, better. Coach just makes it more challenging; it's professional level stuff."
In May of 2015, Stevens placed seventh in the steeplechase at the USA Championships. He followed that in October with a third place cross country finish at the Mayor's Cup with a 8K time of 23:28. Stevens holds high hope that his active professional workload will prep him for a potential spot at the Olympic trials in July.
"That's the big one," Stevens stated.
