Bucknell Bison: Loyalty in a speeding Hyundai

Say what you want about senior distance runner Billy Hild – and really, who DOESN’T have an opinion on our sometimes grumpy/always hard-working oddball? Call him whatever names you would like – and trust me, there have been many adjectives used to describe our local hero. But never, ever, ever, EVER question the kid’s loyalty to our track program and to our school. Both loyalties were on display in a big way in the past 24 hours.

After a gutsy 10km race last week at Colonial Relays – 25 laps that bruised both his body and his ego, but not his old coach’s pride in his efforts – there was not a chance in hell that Hild was racing this weekend at Bucknell (especially given his checkered history at Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium). But there he was on Saturday afternoon and evening, cheering on his teammates and his best friends. And there he was in the wee hours of Sunday morning, speeding back to Poughkeepsie in a Hyundai with a quarter-million miles on it (no, REALLY) so that he could work the Admission Open House on campus – one of the most important events to ensure that the future of the college is strong.

Speaking of loyalty – riding back with him was Marist Running Alum Kathryn Sheehan. Kat made the trip to Bucknell to run the 10km last night, just a few weeks removed from her killer half marathon in NYC. She did not tell anyone about a knee issue that has been bugging her. She put the pre-wrap on and hoped for the best, but clearly something was amiss. However, she gamely set the perfect pace for Michelle Gaye, calming Michelle’s nerves that she could, indeed, bang out 88-second laps through the night. Kat dropped out at 5km, leaving Michelle to fend for herself over the last 12.5 laps, something Michelle did with courage and toughness.

Kathryn did not have to race, did not have to make the long trip to the middle of nowhere in Pennsylvania. But she did. Hild did not have to embark on a 7-hour round trip to the middle of nowhere in Pennsylvania. But he did. Loyalty in a speeding Hyundai in the middle of the night. Much appreciated by us all.