It only recently sank in that David McNeill was entering his final race as a Lumberjack.
Today, the senior NAU cross country runner will compete in the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., where he'll be vying for the top spot against Liberty University's Sam Chelanga for the second straight year.
Last season, Chelanga set the championship record in 28 minutes, 41.3 seconds, ahead of the second-place McNeill by 25 seconds. Although McNeill exacted revenge by beating the Kenyan twice during the 5,000-meter races in the 2010 indoor and outdoor track championships, he's not overly worried about trying to come in first.
He'll compete and run hard, as he always does, but McNeill's not letting the expectations and pressure get to him. Instead, he remains realistic about his chances as his collegiate career comes to a close.
"It's not my strongest event, but I've got nothing to lose," he said. "Sam Chelanga is the heavy favorite and his 10K time is about a minute quicker than mine -- but I'll give a myself a shot at being in the front."
Instead of worrying about the race this past week, the 24-year-old senior began to contemplate about his past and future in Flagstaff and he's putting ideas together of how to best remember his time as one of NAU's most decorated athletes.
"When I'm done, I'm going to put together some short stories about different moments of my four years and the different people I've met," McNeill said. "It's bittersweet getting to this point. On one hand, it's really exciting to be transitioning to a full-time athlete."
FROM DOWN UNDER TO UP TOP
Despite a successful prep career from his home in Melbourne, Australia, McNeill wasn't the most sought-after running prodigy. NAU was one of his few suitors and his move to Flagstaff was a prolonged 18-month process. McNeill warned former NAU coach J.W. Hardy that he only planned on staying in the country for a year, experience the collegiate lifestyle and head back home to continue training.
Hardy was reluctant at first but eventually agreed to let McNeill join the program.
During that 2007 freshman cross country season, McNeill teamed up with NAU standout Lopez Lomong as the Lumberjacks finished fourth overall in the NCAA Championships and McNeill was the 10th-best finisher.
That experience helped, but it was former NAU runner Astrid Leutert, who became McNeill's girlfriend, that got him to stay in Flagstaff for the long-term.
"That's what kept me here in the beginning but what keeps me here now are the friends I've made over the years and the relationship I've built with Coach (Eric) Heins," McNeill said. "He's as much a friend as he is a coach."
His relationship with his coach is one reason why McNeill plans on staying in Flagstaff after he graduates with his degree in Exercise Science this semester.
"There's a fine line of being a coach and a friend of your athlete but when he graduates and moves on and continues to grow up, I would definitely see him as a lifelong friend," Heins said. "He's very dedicated to whatever he does. Whether it's athletics or academics, he's going to make sure he's successful."
THE PROFESSIONAL RUNNER
Twelve months ago, McNeill couldn't envision himself becoming a professional athlete. Despite his success in both track and cross country, it wasn't until he won two national titles in track this past year that he started to think about taking it seriously.
"Some of the results I've had kind of motivated me to go, 'Well, maybe if I devote all my time to it, maybe there's more to be achieved," he said. "I think the defining moment was after (the 2010 indoor season). Coach Heins and I traveled to Stanford and I ran my 5K (personal record in 13:25.63). After that he said, 'If you keep doing what you're doing, stay healthy and keep progressing, you can be one of those guys that breaks 13 minutes.' It's lofty goal and only five or six people have done it in history. It's not something I'm expecting to do but there's no harm in trying.
"It changed my perspective on things on a little bit. Next year I do want to test it out."
As much success as he's had at the NCAA level, McNeill's experience during October's Commonwealth Games opened his eyes a bit to the road ahead. It had been awhile since he was so far behind the leading runners.
"The NCAA and competition at the international level is completely different," McNeill said. "I'm winning these titles and I'm like, 'This is great. I'm getting good.' and you go to these Commonwealth Games and you come in eighth, you're like, '(Shoot). I've got a long way to go.' But it definitely helps to have those experience while you're in the NCAA so it's not such a big shock when you're out of it."
Despite the uphill battle ahead of him, McNeill's looking forward to having less of a spotlight on him. He likes the idea of toiling in obscurity while climbing the professional ranks.
"There will just be my goals guarding me," McNeill said. "It'll be a pleasant change but at the same time it'll be, in many ways, a much bigger challenge."
SCHOOL, COACHING AND RUNNING
Until he's ready to make the transition, McNeill will stick around Flagstaff and continue to train under Heins. He also plans to become a volunteer track coach with NAU this spring
He other future plans include a Masters degree, possibly at NAU, and a future career in physical therapy.
But his immediate concerns are on testing his professional boundaries while staying in his comfort zone.
"It's tough to say goodbye to it but that's part of the reason why I plan on staying in Flagstaff," McNeill said. "I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to it all quite yet."
He's sure he'll be running alongside Lomong whenever that opportunity arises as both have their sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London.
"We both have pretty similar goals for the next couple of years," McNeill said.
No matter how his running career ends, the nine-time All-American never plans on giving up the sport.
"I don't think I'll ever be done running," McNeill said. "I'll probably be one of those old farts who's still trying to run (personal bests) when they're in their 40s and doesn't get the picture that they're just too old."
Jacob May can be reached at jmay@azdailysun.com or 556-2257.
