Freshman Establishes Himself as One of Fastest Runners in Men’s Cross Country History
Freshman Mason Klopp is already making big headlines for the Waynesburg University men’s cross country team.
As a junior in high school, he qualified for states.
At a young age, Mason asked his mother about which sport he would be good at participating. She guided him to track. After his seventh grade year, Mason did not know if he wanted to do track at all.
“I was really bad during my seventh grade year,” Klopp said. “I was contemplating on not running track again my eighth grade year.”
Running cross country was new to him, but the following year he got into the groove and did fairly well.
“I progressed a lot from my freshmen year to sophomore in high school,” Klopp said. “My times were one of the best on the team.”
As he ran more and more races, he got better over time. That brought attention upon him from Waynesburg University’s head cross country coach Chris Hardie.
“After his junior year, we started to take notice of him,” Hardie said. “He fell off our radar, but after making a visit to Waynesburg with his family we kept our eye on him and were able to get him. I think what attracted him the most, was the family atmosphere we have with our team.”
Klopp said the atmosphere was a big reason why he chose Waynesburg, but what also what attracted him the most was coach Hardie.
“I received loads and loads of letters not only from the athletes on the team but from other current students,” Klopp said. “Coach Hardie really seemed to care about my well-being, and that made me decide on this college.”
Klopp said he is enjoying his independence as a freshman and the small size of the campus.
“Waynesburg is not a big campus so it made it feel more like home,” Klopp said. “Being able to see teammates throughout the day really help team cohesion.”
During the season, Klopp posted a personal best and all team freshman best in the 8K with a time of 27:12, which puts him as the third fastest runner all time at Waynesburg University.
“His progression over the season was quicker than I expected,” Hardie said. “With a three-week transition period from outdoor to indoor, we will take that time to let him rest and recoup his legs from the long season he has had.”
As for a cross country runner, they use the indoor season for training. They also mentally and physically prepare the runners for a bump in the road that lies ahead. Hardie said they would still keep the training at a high level but still let them recoup the best they can.
Time management is vital for success as a student-athlete, said Klopp.
“Being able to manage my time, helps me to relieve the pressures from the course load and my teammates counting on me throughout the semester,” said Klopp.
During the season, coaches had one way of managing the athletes’ bodies without even being there. They had the athletes log their food every day to be sure they would perform at the top of their game every race.
“I had minor sores and knots throughout the season,” Klopp said. “The athletic trainers here at Waynesburg University did their best to keep us in tip top shape for the upcoming events. Logging my food has made me realized how much better I perform throughout the season, and I am able to stay mentally and physically ready.”
The coaching staff does a good job from both sides, helping the student athletes prepare during the week for upcoming meets. The future for Klopp in the cross country program will be challenging, according to Hardie.
“The training will be intense so they can get back to where they are now, for next year,” Hardie said. “[Klopp’s] teammates are as good as him, so they will feed off each other throughout the off season into next year.”
Klopp hopes to continue his freshman year success into his sophomore season next year.