Guarino Takes Two

Nobody in the history of Fredonia State athletics has ever been able to win back to back National Championships in any sport, then Nick Guarino came along.

Guarino is a senior history major who runs mid-distance for the Blue Devils. On May 27, Guarino took first place at the Outdoor Division III National Championships in the men's 1500 meter race to claim consecutive national titles.

"It was my goal at the start of the indoor season to make nationals and try to get all-American," Guarino said. "It wasn't until Boston during indoor season that my coach and I thought we really had a shot at winning nationals. Winning indoor the way I did, I was obviously going to try and win the 1500 meter in outdoor."

The only similarity between the indoor and outdoor championships was that Guarino came out on top. Guarino smoked the competition in the indoor 1500 meter race, winning by 1.32 seconds. While the outdoor race proved to be a little tougher to win.

"Nick wasn't leading coming around the last lap, he was right in the middle of the pack," said junior pole vaulter Cody Dahleiden. "Then he just kicked it into gear and he was able to just out-kick everybody. That's just what Nick Guarino does; he sits, he waits and then he out-kicks them all."

Guarino also does his part to help out younger athletes.

"As a freshman you look up to the older guys, including their training methods and successes," said mid-distance runner David Ballard, now entering his sophomore year. "Nick is a prime example of this, due to his rigorous training and the drive he brings each day to practice. Nick always encourages the younger guys during their intervals, getting them to push themselves that much harder."

ven after winning back to back national titles, Guarino continues to set higher goals for himself. His expectations for this season include another national title as well as some new goals. Guarino would like to break four minutes in a mile sometime during the track season and get a fast enough time to earn a spot at the US Championships.

Guarino is a hard worker, who is always trying to find ways to improve himself as an athlete.

"I never settle" said Guarino. "Even if I do well in a race I always try to find something that I can improve on. When I achieve a goal I always set my goals higher. If you don't set any goals then there isn't any point in even competing."

The word the two time national champion chose to express his emotion about his accomplishments was elated. "That's always a tough thing to describe but I feel like that's the best way I can describe the feeling" he said.