Junior DeYonte Sullivan is a solid runner for the Dowagiac boys cross country team.

According to his first-year coach Dan VandenHeede, Sullivan can perform much better with a few adjustments.

“(Sullivan) came in with rusty legs,” said VandenHeede, who took over as coach in August.

“If we can get a base on him next summer

so he comes in with some really solid base miles we can then focus on the speed work.

“He’s got the legs and stride and gives it his all. He’s a smart racer and he knows how to pace himself. It’s just a matter of building up his endurance for next year.”

Sullivan said that his offseason consisted of running more miles and competing in more races.

“It was different,” said Sullivan, who began running in the fifth-grade at Steve’s Run in Dowagiac.

VandenHeede said that Sullivan did a little conditioning with the basketball players. Sullivan expects to be playing on the varsity basketball team this season.

“Their idea of a long run is three to four miles,” VandenHeede said. “I’m looking at eight to 10 mile runs and being consistent with that.”

Despite the lack of mileage, Sullivan has still been a consistent medalist in races this year for the Chieftains.

Sullivan just missed being a medalist last Thursday at the Rock-N-Run Invitational at Dowagiac Middle School. Sullivan placed 31st with a time of 18:16. The top 25 runners received a medal at that event, which had 23 schools participating.

“I didn’t do too bad,” Sullivan said about his performance at the invitational. “I PR’d again so that’s good. I had to be about 20 seconds faster to medal.

“We haven’t had a lot of invitationals this year so it was fun to have all these teams. It makes you run faster because everyone is running with you.”

A new running style is paying off for Sullivan, who was also on the varsity cross country team as a freshman and sophomore.

“I’m standing up more,” he said. “My freshman year I always bent over and my back started getting tired and started hurting. I stand up straighter now and it’s easier to keep running.”

Sullivan is one of only seven runners on the Dowagiac boys cross country team, which finished 13th at the Rock-N-Run with 349 points. There are no seniors on the team and four junior with Sullivan and Jacob Peters having the most experience.

“During my freshman year the team was full of seniors,” Sullivan said. “I’ve had to be a leader my sophomore and junior year.

“I just want to do the best I can and I want the team to do the best they can. The past few years we haven’t done well as a team. I want us to place higher in races this year.”