Gene's Blog: Track trio's motto, "Don't Stop Believing"

June 22, 2009

They came… to St. Thomas.

They saw… an opportunity.

They conquered... and won two relay national championships.

If only it was that simple.

In reality, the four-year careers of Tommie track and field sprinters Joe DeFrance, James Ewer and Pat Jager have been anything but a breeze.

Their four-year journey could best be summed up by a Journey song: "Don't Stop Believing."

All three runners overcame serious injuries over the last four years and helped St. Thomas win the 4x100 and 4x400 relays last month at the NCAA Division III Championships in Marietta, Ohio.

The Tommies’ 4x100 meter unit of Ewer, junior Sam Moen, DeFrance and Jager ran a school-record time of 40.75 in mid-May, then made Minnesota history with their victory in the NCAA finals in a time of 40.76. The quartet became the first men's track and field team from the Gopher state to win an NCAA relay championship.

Three hours later, Matt Griswold joined Ewer, DeFrance and Jager to win the 4x400 in 3:10.60, a new school record and a Marietta stadium record. In the process, they also got the ultimate in MIAC bragging rights. St. Thomas, Bethel, Hamline and Gustavus placed a remarkable 1-2-4-5 in that race with just 02.12 seconds separating those five teams.

The relay sweep powered UST to a third-place finish in the team race -– the program’s best NCAA placing in 16 seasons. The Toms finished just one point out of second place and only seven points behind champion UW-Oshkosh.

NCAA bronze trophy

Coach Steve Mathre’s Tommies received 10 points for each relay win and another 19 points in four individual races. Senior Brian Sames took third in the 800 meters in 1:51.69; Griswold took fourth in the 400 hurdles in a career-best 52.57; Jager placed fifth in the 400 meters in 47.98; and senior Kyle Brandon placed fifth in the 1,500 meters (3:54.44).

Senior Phil Bastron also earned All-America honors as he ran on the 4x400 unit in the prelims.

“It was great to win those relays with some of my best friends and to finally see what we could do when we were all healthy at the same time,” DeFrance said. “We have all worked really hard to be healthy and running fast at the end of the season, and it was awesome to see it pay off. James, Pat, and I have been running together for the last four years, and it was a perfect way to cap off the career.”

“Starting out as a freshman, I never thought I would be in a place to win an NCAA title, but it couldn't have happened with a better group of guys,” Jager said. “In the 4x100, we set a school record with three members of our relay making it onto the St. Thomas all-time top 10 list in the 100-meter dash. That was a great accomplishment in itself, and the national championship just made it that much sweeter.”

“We stuck with it since freshman year, and all our hard work paid off,” Ewer said. “Everyone wants to be an individual national champion, but I think the feeling is much better when you can share a team championship with your best friends.”

Injury woes

The grind of indoor and outdoor track practice and competitions take their toll on the mind and body. There was never a question of whether DeFrance, Ewer and Jager had the talent and drive to be All-Americans and chase NCAA titles. But the numerous injuries they endured left them wondering if they would see happy endings to their careers.

“What I'm most proud of is how these guys have managed to stay focused, engaged and improve each year, and battle through injuries,” Mathre said.

“At times you want to quit,” Ewer said. “You get so close to performing at your best and then an injury puts you back. Then it's so discouraging to have to sit back and watch as everyone else is competing and getting better, and all you can do is wait and watch. Joe and I have had hamstring problems since freshman year, and it's great to see what we can do when we are both healthy.”

“Having missed so many meets throughout the past four years, it was great to finally see what can happen with a healthy season,” DeFrance said. “Hamstring injuries aren’t something that you can just ‘tough out.’ It takes a lot of time and patience to come back at 100 percent. Looking back on all of my time spent rehabbing is not something I enjoy, but it was a great feeling to see that work pay off. I definitely learned some good life lessons along the way.”

“I've been battling injuries all throughout high school and college,” Jager added. “I've had hints of success here and there throughout my career and always knew I could step up to the next level if I stayed healthy. It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but it was just amazing to see what all of us could do together.”

Coming back

Jager plans to seek a medical hardship and return to compete in 2010 for a fifth season. He said the victories provide even more incentive.

“I was lucky enough to compete with some of my best friends and it really leaves me hungry for more,” Jager explained. “I couldn't be happier for the way James and Joe finished out their careers, but Sam and I have one more season of track left and have high expectations going into next season. It’s my goal to make it back to that same place, and give myself the same opportunity to succeed next year.”

Mathre said the victories strengthened St. Thomas’ reputation as an elite national program.

“We've had a steady national presence in the relays for many years,” Mathre said. “We’ve been ranked first in the 4x1 and 4x4 at different times along the way, and finished as high as second and third before. Winning both national titles in one year sends a strong message that what we have at St. Thomas is working, and that we have the athletes to run with anyone in the country.

“It’s a special distinction to be the first track and field team from Minnesota to win national relay titles. It proves that sprinters can run fast in our state and at St. Thomas. Our goal every year is to get relays and individuals into the national finals. Now with the seal broken, our guys know what it takes to finish at the top.”

St. Thomas joined the 2004 UW-LaCrosse squad as the lone Division III teams in the last 14 seasons to sweep the 4x100 and 4x400 relays in the same national meet.

Jager became the first Division III male to anchor both relays to first in the same meet. He finished the indoor and outdoor seasons with six All-America honors.

“The quality and depth of our sprint group has served us well,” Mathre said. “Having consistently strong relay teams is about having five to seven top sprinters, not just four.  When you have depth it creates opportunities, and everyone contributes to keep pushing the team forward toward its goals. Our national relays teams in the past, and certainly this year, were not just about four guys running fast -- but multiple athletes in different combinations. I think of Greg Dowe on our indoor national 4x4 team; Chris Bradford on our 4x100 team; and Phil Bastron who filled important roles on both and helped qualify our team into the finals before Matt Griswold led the team off in the finals. It was certainly a five- man effort to the national 4x400 title right up to the end.”

Memorable season

The bronze trophy at nationals, coming on the heels of a fifth-place NCAA outdoor finish in 2008, puts UST in the top one percent of nearly 400 Division III men’s track and field programs. The Tommie men have now recorded 10 top-three team finishes at nationals over the last 26 years, led by the 1985 indoor championship.

The relay sweep put the icing on a splendid 2009 season for Mathre’s team:

--The Tommies also swept of the conference indoor and outdoor team titles for the 21^st time in 25 seasons and have won 48 of the last 52 MIAC meets contested.

--St. Thomas also broke eight school records indoors and outdoors;

--UST had a pair of top-three relay placings at the Drake Relays;

--UST had 23 provisional or automatic qualifying marks into the two nationals meets;

--UST had 10 different athletes receive All-America honors in 10 different indoor and outdoor events.

--Mathre was named regional and conference Coach of the Year, and Tim Springfield was named the National Assistant Coach of the Year.

--Bastron also was voted a CoSIDA Academic All-American.

“Statistically this was a great season,” Mathre said. “I took a moment last week to list out all that was accomplished. The list just didn't seem to end. This type of year builds on an already strong foundation for the entire team and for all event groups. It reminds us all of what's possible.” 

PHOTOS: Above, Joe DeFrance hands to Pat Jager in the prelims; James Ewer passes to DeFrance in the 4x400 finals; the winning 4x100 team of DeFrance, Sam Moen, Ewer and Jager; Matt Griswold in the 400 hurdles; and below, the Tommie athletes and coaches with their third-place NCAA trophy. Photos by John DeFrance.