If you hadn’t heard by now, the St. Olaf Mens Cross Country team won the Division III National Championship last fall. This marked the first National Championship, men or women, by any St. Olaf team in the school’s history.

In September 2014, scores of Cross Country Alumni came back to campus to celebrate this achievement, capped by the annual “Alumni 5K” race. The race coincided with a bona fide competition between St. Olaf and Macalester.  To no one’s surprise, St. Olaf won.  To Macalester’s surprise, the Alumni took second place. The Alums were not at all surprised; distance running has been a passionate St. Olaf tradition going back decades. Most of the Alums continue serious running – and running well.

Many of the historical “greats” were present:

Dr. David Wee ’61 (St. Olaf English department emeritus):  When many of us were students, he was often seen running on campus.  He continues to amaze us all at age 75.

Mark Aggerbeck ’72: former team captain.

Bill Thornton: celebrated cross country coach, who retired after more than 30 years of coaching.

Matthew Haugen ’79: team captain during the legendary “glory years,” and now the head cross country coach at Macalester.

Michael Palmquist  ’80:  the legendary All-American who still holds St. Olaf running records (probably not for long).

David Peterson ’82: another legend, who also still holds running records.

Scott McPherson ’80: the only person to have run every single Alumni race over the past 30+ years (Dave Peterson ties this, but he was not yet an alum when the annual event began in 1980).

There was much talk of the “Glory years” and the exploits of Mike Palmquist, Dave Peterson, and many other notables from the early

 1980s. The focus of the weekend was to remind the current team that they now hold claim to the “Glory Years.”  In another 30 years, everyone will still be talking about them. They may have stood on the shoulders of giants, but they are now the new giants.

Overheard refrain: “Thanks for making us proud!”

The event was organized primarily by former Ole teammate Timothy Cotts ’94, with help from the current coaches Phil Lundin and Dave Griffith.