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Status: Junior

Home State: Michigan

Years on the club: 3        

College: James Madison

Major: Social Relations and Policy

Jonathan Sollish
Ustina Shives

Status: Graduated Runner

Home State: Michigan

Years on the club:  4       

College: Social Science

Major: Psychology

In addition to the club, Ustina has been a research assistant, an Engineering Assistant Aid, and a Student Alumni Development Aid. Ustina is also very into photography. Though she is always fighting injuries, Ustina said that her favorite running season was cross country.        "My favorite part of the club is being able to meet people and maintain friendships that last a lifetime. I met my best friends through the club, and through injuries, finals, break-ups, and ultimately graduation, we stuck together. This team is a family."

Jonathan's favorite events are the 4x4, 1500m, Mile, 5000m, Cross 5k, road 10k, and ½ marathon. Aside from running, Jonathan plays IM basketball. Jonathan's other interests include Ryan Squanda, Lucas Bowman, traveling, watching movies, and lifeguarding.  

   "During the mile at the Penn State meet last year, I realized that I had probably taken it out too hard. Right around halfway through, Lucas passed me. We began flip-flopping positions, and I was behind with about 75 meters to go. We both began to kick and I ended up beating him by less than a second. We crossed the line laughing. It is this great moment that shows what running club is all about. But, most importantly, I beat Lucas."

 

Donvee is one of the few field event members on the club. He did high jump in high school and currently tied for the club's record jump at 1.68 meters for the indoor track season. When he isn't training, Donvee works on his League of Legend skills. His other prominent interests include Xbox Live and "women."

   "Being a primary field event badass has not at all made me feel excluded or looked at differently [from the other members], like I feared it would. Instead, I feel welcomed to the family of field event bros, as well as to the run club. I would most definitely suggest run club if you like working hard, running hard, and playing hard."

Jacob is a distance runner on the club. His favorite event is the half-marathon and prefers to race any distance that is farther than the half mile. In addition to running with the club, Jacob has run two marathons, including the Boston Marathon. Though he spends a lot of time running, Jacob is well-versed in other sports, and could, for example, talk about soccer for hours.

   "When I was in 6th grade, I had ambitions to become a star football player. And at the time, I actually was pretty good compared to my peers. But then 7th and 8th grade happened and I realized that I actually wasn't any good at football. So I began running, but mostly because I just didn't want to become fat. I eventually fell in love with the sport which has now become one of my passions. It only made sense that I would want to surround myself with other people at MSU who share a similar interest. So I joined this club, and it has been terrific."

Status: Sophomore

Home State: Michigan

Years on the club: 1         

College: Lyman Briggs

Major: Pre-Vet

Donvee Burks
Jacob Young

Status: Sophomore 

Home State: Minnesota

Years on the club: 2         

College: College of Engineering

Major: Computer Science

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Check out these past Featured Members! If you're interested in being a Featured Member, please email us at msurunning@gmail.com.

Ali Stano

Status: Sophomore

Home State: Michigan

Years on the club: 2         

College: James Madison & College of Arts and Sciences 

Areas of study: Comparative Cultures and Politics, Spanish, and Arabic

Status: Sophomore

Home State: Ohio

Years on the club: 2         

College: James Madison

Major: International Relations

Status: Senior

Home State: Michigan

Years on the club: 3         

College: College of Engineering

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Status: Junior 

Home State: Oregon

Years on the club: 3         

College: James Madison

Major: Political Theory

Ali has many interests in addition to running distance events for the club. She loves being outdoors and being environmentally friendly. Ali also paints, is into photography, and enjoys learning about food, nutrition, and cooking. Ali considers herself a "travel junkie," as could be made apparent by her majors.       

   "I decided to join rc because I love to run socially, and I figured I could make it less intense than xc in high     school. It was one of my best decisions freshman year! I met a ton of hilarious, down to earth people and have improved as a runner more than I ever thought I would (finishing my first half marathon with rc was an amazing experience I won't forget ) I also want to say that the club is special. At first I was intimidated and thought that I wouldn't fit the club because a lot of the runners are very experienced and fast. I didn't think I could catch up and run with them. I was coming off of iron deficiency and I didn't have my full energy. But I remember the first day I went to rc and I ran with Megan, Christina, and Val. They made me feel welcomed and the club has never stopped doing that. This summer I'll be coming back from two surgeries and will be in poor running shape, but I know that the team will be there no matter how far and fast I can run."

Annie is notorious on the club for her baking skills. From homemade cookies to monkey bread, she never fails to please the hungry members with sweet treats. In addition to baking, Annie enjoys rowing, triathlons, her dog, and knitting. Her favorite events are cross country, discus, and the half-marathon. Annie is the social coordinator on the club, and has a lot of fun in store for these upcoming seasons.

   "I think that social events are important because you get to see another side of people. When running, it isn't always easy to get to know everyone because of the many different paces, but the social events allow us to really touch base. From past social events, I have come to find some of my best friends. Girls/guys nights are always a favorite of mine. I get to bond with the girls that I wouldn't normally talk to because their running pace is way faster than mine. From the social events, I have also had some of my fondest memories. One time we ran through a river on a fun run, and that ended up being one of the best runs that year!"

Jaaz's favorite events are the 400m, 800m, and 1500m runs and the 4x400m and 4x800m relays. In addition to the club, Jaaz is a part of the MSU Pondering Society. He also really enjoys Cheez-Its.

   "My favorite memory is actually two races in one. First, running the 4x4 with the guys at Nationals was awesome because the 4x4 is just the best race ever invented. But then as soon as we finished, I had an even better time watching our other team run the relay with a hot dog for a baton (and eat it on the last leg--that's just ridiculous) and the entire stadium was yelling for them. I really can't think of a better way to close out a season than that."

Andrew was a 2009 and 2011 junior olympian for the decathlon. For the club, he races the 400 meter dash and 400 meter hurdles. Andrew holds some of the club track records and was All-American for the NIRCA 400 meter hurdles. Additionally, Andrew works in MSU's Orthopedic Biomechanics Lab on projects related to footwear and prosthetics research and development. He enjoys soccer, sailing, and MSU athletics.

   "I joined running club to make new friends with a shared interest and to compete in various track and field events."   

Status: Junior

Home State: Michigan

Years on the club: 2         

College: Broad College of Business

Major: Finance

Status: Senior

Home State: Michigan

Years on the club: 4         

College: College of Arts and Sciences

Major: Journalism

In addition to the club, Phil is involved with the bird watching club, Spanish club, and Greenpeace--a student organization fighting for university sustainability. Outside of these organized groups, Phil enjoys biking, climbing trees, video games, and learning random facts. His favorite events are the 400 meter dash and the 800 meter run.

   "[My favorite memory] would be Spartan Grand Classic two years ago when I got my career PR 5k at my home course, Cass Benton. The things that made it memorable were my high school friends standing at the two mile mark saying 'start running now!' and then being outkicked by Lucas at the very end. I do like track better than cross, though, because I'm better at it."

An interview with Ryan Squanda:

Interviewer: "What is your favorite memory of running club?

RS: "I can make people do really stupid things--I don't know why they listen to me. One time, I literally made like 40 people run through the Red Cedar River. It was amazing."

Interviewer: "How did you accomplish that?"

RS: "I said, 'You guys, we're going to do this thing today. It's to commemorate Chase Taylor. It's Dreamweaving with Squanda. And we're going to run across this river.'"

Interviewer: "And you said that there were 40 people that followed you?"

RS: "Yeah, it was absurd."

Interviewer: "Were they really new members?"

RS: "Yeah, they were incredibly new. They--"

Jonathan Sollish: "Ryan Squanda is an eligible bachelor. Any single women who would like to give Ryan Squanda a call, call him up. Find him on Facebook. His Twitter is @squandaryan. He is sports editor of the State News."

RS: "My other interests include Jonathan Sollish and Lucas Bowman."

Interviewer: "So can we go back to this Dreamweaving thing for a second?"

RS: "Dreamweaving! It's one of my favorite pastimes."

Interviewer: "Can you give me a direct definition of this Dreamweaving?

RS: "You just lead people on this adventure run. You run through rivers and forests and jaywalk. You're just stupid."

Interviewer: "And then have their dreams been weaved?"

RS: "Yes, you just kinda weave in and out of places. You can ding-dong-ditch houses--"

Jonathan Sollish: "Squanda has dreams of a very attractive Lutheran--Lutheran?"

RS: "I am Lutheran"

Jonathan Sollish: "Lutheran girl. So if you're Lutheran, even better for Squanda."

RS: "I hit ninth in the order of my church softball team."

RS: "That's it. That's all. I don't have anything else to say."

Jaaz Catterall
Phil Baeza
Ryan Squanda
Andrew Crechiolo
Annie Grove

Ryan's favorite events are the chocolate milk mile and the hot dog 4x400 meter relay. In addition to the club, Ryan is the sports editor of the State News and is the figurehead of the Squanda Squad.  

Have a Twitter? Follow Squanda @squandaryan Follow the Squad @SQUADrun13

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