CRR Bill Farquhar has been named the new Dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Delaware, effective on November 1. Farquhar follows in a growing line of Creek Road Runners who have assumed high-ranking positions within the academic leadership of the First State’s flagship educational institution. With Farquhar’s new position, two of UD’s colleges will be led by Creek Road Runners, the other being CRR Bruce Weber, current Dean of the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics.
These two academic leaders are also fast. Both were regulars in the teams that Creek Road Runners fielded in recent years past in the Delaware 4-Person Marathon Relay, including its winning marathon relay team in 2018.
CRR Eric Jacobson insists that this is “more evidence that UD leadership considers CRR membership and 5K times when selecting deans and [other high-level administrative positions].”
Other UD leaders among Creek Road Runners have included CRR Charlie Riordan (former Vice President of Research, Scholarship and Innovation) and CRR Tom Apple (former Provost), both of whom were on the chemistry faculty.
“Bill Farquhar is the ideal person to build on the College of Health Sciences’ momentum and strong reputation as we develop new opportunities and innovations,” said UD president Dennis Assanis. ”A nationally respected researcher and scholar, he also brings a deep knowledge of our college and our University that will serve him well in this important role.”
From 2011-17, Farquhar served as chairperson of the College of Health Sciences’ Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology. A fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology and fellow and vice president of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), he also served on the Board of Directors of the Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology and co-chaired ACSM’s World Congress on the Basic Science of Exercise and Vascular Health.
Our two Webers (no relation), CRR Andrew Weber and CRR Bruce Weber each ended up with a top-ten finish in this year’s edition of Newark’s annual Main Street Mile, a straight-out dash from the east end of East Main Street to the Deer Park.
Andrew, the younger and faster Weber, was the top masters runner, finishing 5th overall in 5:07.5. Bruce, the elder Weber, came in 10th overall and won the 60-69 age group in 5:37.4. Conditions may not have been the best for these two speedsters, but they came through nevertheless.
For you nostalgia freaks, check out the results of the initial Main Street Mile, held way back in 1986. Yes, several Creek Road Runners were doing their thing back then, and the competition level was of a higher caliber than what it is today, though there are definitely more people who are running in 2022. Click on the image for a close-up view and note the results from the eight CRR participants.
We were all younger and faster back then.
In another event, held back on September 18, CRR Bruce Weber and CRR Bill Rose finished 7th and 11th overall, respectively, in the Ramsey’s Farm 8.3-mile trail race. Weber’s time was 1:04:56, and Rose’s was 1:11.37. They took 1st and 2nd in the 60-69 age group.
Here’s a video of CRR Sam Parsons displaying his speed on the track, stepping down to the 1500m distance at a professional race in Germany and setting a new personal-best time by about a second. The USA runner in the race, Craig Engels, was Parsons’ roommate during his freshman year at N.C. State. Parsons has had quite a successful year on the track (see related stories below the photo). Click on the photo below to launch the video.
Though he’s only half German, CRR Sam Parsons, son of CRR George Parsons and CRR Christina Parsons of Newark, was Germany’s gem in the 5000m race at the European Championships in Münich on August 16.
Finishing 6th out of the 25 competitors from all over Europe, Parsons, who clocked in at 13:30:38, bested his last month’s World Championship finishing time by 15 seconds. Unfortunately, as in the 5000m at the Worlds in Eugene, Ore., he couldn’t hang late with Jakob Ingebrigsten of Norway, who took the European title as well.
Parsons finishing 6th
In the stands and cheering on his son during the evening’s race was German-born and -raised Christina, a good local runner in her own right.
Parsons’ mom Christina (in white hat) cheering on her son
This race capped a successful running season for Parsons, who trains professionally with Boulder, Colo.–based Tinman Elite. In high school he had run for The Tatnall School in Wilmington prior to a stellar collegiate running career at North Carolina State.
> Check out the video of the race with Parsons sightings as indicated below (times approximate). 5:00 – Sam looking around mid-race, taking it all in, enjoying himself 9:58 – more Sam 12:40 – Sam moving up on the outside 12:55-13:01 – Sam and Jakob Ingebrigsten running together 15:20 – Sam hitting the bell lap in 6th place 16:17 – Sam finishing 18:09 – Christina cheering
CRR Sam Parsons, the Newark native who ran for The Tatnall School and North Carolina State, recently competed for Germany (his mother’s home country) in the final of the 5000m at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. He is the son of CRR George Parsons and CRR Christina Parsons.
Leading up to the Worlds, Parsons’s training had been good. While in California in May, he had run a 5K personal best of 13:21.17. And just two weeks prior to his trip to Eugene, he had broken his own mile best by running a 3:55.81. Back in April, Parsons thrilled hundreds of local track enthusiasts at The Tatnall School track by becoming the first ever to run a sub-4 mile on Delaware soil (see Parsons conquers Mile Challenge).
Parsons before the race
So, it seemed Parsons was ready. In past Olympic trials and at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, he had come close to being in a final, but this was a special opportunity for him.
Fast forward to the 5000m semifinal #2. Parsons was competing for a spot in the final with the likes of the always-prominent Kenyan, Ethiopian, and Ugandan runners, as well as Norway phenom Jakob Ingebrigsten, who had just placed second in the 1,500m final. Another local runner in that same race was Charter School of Wilmington and Harvard standout Kieran Tuntivate.
Parsons ran a smart race, staying with the lead pack through most of the race. Though he lost a bit of ground in the final laps, he placed 9th in the semi with a finishing time of 13:24.5, which was good enough to qualify for the final. As he crossed the finish line, a big smile appeared on his face, as he knew instantly that he had made it.
Parsons finishing strong in the semifinal to qualify for the final
“I’m the happiest guy in Hayward right now,” Parsons said. “Not too happy I won’t be able to go to the Wild Duck the next two nights after that; I certainly was banking on that. But final on Sunday, I think that’s a little bit better.”
Besides his parents, at least one other Creek Road Runner, CRR Dave Schultz, and his son Ben were at Hayward Field to cheer for Parsons in person.
That was Thursday night, July 2nd. Just three days to rest and prepare for Sunday night’s final.
Parsons on the starting line at Hayward Field
Unfortunately, the final did not go according to plan for Parsons. He and British runner Marc Scott stayed in contact with the lead pack, but, as the race sped up in the final couple laps, both runners were seriously gapped. Parsons ended up finishing last in the final in, what was for him a disappointing, 13:45.9. Last in the final in this case, though, represents 15th best in the world!
CRR Mark Deshon recently had the opportunity to interview Parsons about his experience, and here’s what he had to say.
How would you assess your effort in the final? You looked in good shape until late in the race, when the pack pulled away from you and the Brit.
“[It was] definitely one of the hardest races I’ve ever run. Basically, with 800m to go, I just bottomed out, completely just wiped. Definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”
How difficult was it to gear up for a bigger race just 72 hours after having run a 13:24?
“[This was my] first time ever running two 5Ks in such a short timespan under so much stress and tension…in an arena like that. There’s nothing more motivating than getting your ass kicked at a higher level to want to figure out how to run…and be successful at that level.”
Did you and Kieran Tuntivate discuss anything before your qualifying semi? It seems he wasn’t able to keep the fast pace.
“I did see Kieran. We texted back and forth a little bit before the prelim. He was still optimistic going into the prelim. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a great day…. We talked about the field, what the race was probably going to be like, and talked tactics a little bit.”
Give us your impression of having been on the world stage in Steve Prefontaine’s signature race on his hallowed ground.
“Steve Prefontaine was my hero…. He really made running cool for me. It definitely was a full-circle moment for me. To have been watching Without Limits [the classic movie about the 1970s Oregon Olympian] before essentially every big high school race to then running on Hayward Field, where half those races in the movie were, was definitely surreal for me, and I cherished every moment there, without a doubt.”
What was the atmosphere like in that stadium?
“The atmosphere was crazy. I’d never quite run in a stadium with 50,000 people like that,…sold out, just yelling and screaming…. There was so much love. I heard ‘Sam, Sam, Sam’ so many times as I was going around the track. So, that was really special to have kind of like a pseudo–home field advantage there.”
What interesting off-track stuff did you do while in Eugene?
“I got to know [reigning Olympic 5000m champion] Joshua Cheptegei [the Ugandan who finished 9th in the final]. He lived in the same hall [as I did], and we got to drink tea together before the race…. He was very proud of me for making the 5K final…. It was really special to talk to, quite possibility, the greatest distance runner of my generation like that. That was really special, and he’s a kind, kind soul. I actually got his race bib also after the 5K final, so that will be a great memory I’ll always get to have and cherish.”
U.S. runner Grant Fisher ran well in the final, placing 6th in a time of 13:11.65, less than three seconds behind Norway’s Jacob Ingebrigsten, who took the gold medal in 13:09.24.
Parsons, who typically trains in Boulder, Colo., with professional club Tinman Elite, is now in St. Moritz, Switzerland, prepping for the European finals, to be held on August 16. He admitted, “It’s not quite like the White Clay Creek trails, but this’ll do just fine for the next month.”
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