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SAU and
Cross Country team play host to world's best
By Amanda Lambert
Over the summer, St. Ambrose was host to 35 elite athletes ready to compete in one of the most prominent races in the United States, the Bix7.
It was the 32nd year of the Bix7, and was filled with adrenaline, and one of the most exciting events the Quad-Cities has to offer.
“It was really nice that Ambrose offered to host this event, and have these elite athletes
stay on campus,” St. Ambrose head cross country coach Dan Zeimet said. “The athletes
really enjoyed staying on campus, it was a big difference from a hotel, which is what they are used to.”
From July 27th to July 30th these athletes trained on courses that every on of Zeimet’s XC runners would also train on, from around campus, to the 10 mile long, Duck Creek Bike Path.
Some of the world’s best runners made their homes in the St. Ambrose for a week, living
in the townhouses. A number of times throughout the day the runners would go for a workout, trolling the streets of north Davenport, usually with a running “tour guide.”
Zeimet served as host to these elite runners, taking care of the athletes and helped
make them feel welcome. Sometimes to an extreme extent.
While taking some of the Romanian women to dinner, Zeimet toured the Quad-Cities before finally settling on Pat McGuire’s for a steak and potatoes lunch.
Zeimet surely thought this year was by far the best.
“Some of the cream of the crop athletes were here, and I was given the opportunity to take care of them and show them around Davenport, it was a really great time,” Zeimet said.
One of those “creams of the crops” was 1st place finisher, 19 year old, Lawrence Kiprotich who finished the 7 mile race in 32 minutes and 13 seconds, the 10th fastest time in Bix history.
Not only was Kiprotich a mentionable name, but Meb Keflezighi was also a participant. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Keflezighi became the first American man since 1976 to win an Olympic medal in the men’s marathon, where he received the silver medal.
Two other athletes participated that are well known within the Quad-Cities because they have participated in the Bix races since 1980 and 1986, Bill Rodgers and Joan Benoit-Samuelson. Rodgers who was a US Olympic Team member in 1976 and Benoit-
Samuelson who won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics.
“It was really just unbelievable to be part of this and be able to meet these incredible running legends,” Zeimet said. “Hopefully St. Ambrose will be the host of elite athletes for years to come.”
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