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Alex Comerford was a decorated high school runner. At Otsego High School (Michigan), Comerford captured a state championship and a Division II Cross Country Championship. Then, in 2019, Comerford committed to Syracuse, looking to build off his high school success.

But before he could focus on training for his first year with SU, Comerford had his sights set elsewhere. He was going to represent Team USA in the 2020 Pan American Cup in Victoria, Canada.

Now, the Kalamazoo, Michigan, native just wrapped up his five-year career at Syracuse, most recently placing 76th (29:43.7) in the men’s 10k at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. Comerford’s college success traces directly back to his time in Victoria, which he said was one of the most impactful experiences of his life.

“He was at a different level, a leader among the others, always stuck with the plan and never deviated from it,” Otsego cross country coach Steve Long said. “He just wanted to race against the best, he didn’t care if (he) placed first.”

To compete at the Pan American Cup, Comerford first had to earn a spot on Team USA. He competed in the USA Track and Field Cross Country Championships in San Diego, California, where the top six of 68 runners in a men’s 8k race would qualify.

On the day of the championships, temperatures rose past 90 degrees. Comerford remembers having to change his strategy to run amid the heat.

“I really had to adjust on the fly,” Comerford said. “The weather that day really played a factor.”

Comerford placed fourth with a time of 26:41, booking his ticket to the Pan American Cup.

With the event being held a month later, toward the end of February, Comerford began a rigorous training process. What he was about to take part in was unlike anything he had experienced in high school.

To start, Comerford turned to a few of his Syracuse teammates, training with his new teammates.

“Most of my preparation came from training with the guys who competed in the ACC Championships,” Comerford said. “I didn’t have any experience running in college yet, so I learned how to train for an 8k.”

Upon arriving at the Bear Mountain course in Victoria, Comerford noticed some major differences from San Diego. Unlike the straightforward course at Mission Bay Park in California, Bear Mountain contained several uphill treks and was muddy throughout.

Comerford had never run in an environment like Bear Mountain. He knew adapting to this new setting would be a challenge. But he again took it in stride.

“I saw how unique the course was, and that motivated me to prepare for this experience,” Comerford said.

The race contained some of the best young athletes globally, but Comerford wasn’t fazed by the higher level of competition.

“He was always very laid back, he just put his head down and got to work,” Team USA men’s coach Thom Hunt said. “Alex’s personality helped him thrive in the big moments.”

With weeks of training behind him, the race finally arrived. On Feb. 29, 2020, Comerford got his first taste of college-level cross country.

Prior to the beginning of the race, Comerford felt a rush of excitement. He recalled looking out at the mountains towering over the runners, eager to accept the challenge. Comerford, though, was most looking forward to running alongside athletes from his home state of Michigan.

“Being able to share that moment with them meant a lot to me,” Comerford said. “I was friends with a few of them, one of them went to Northern Arizona and the other went to Wisconsin. Reuniting with them while representing the U.S. made it all unforgettable.”

Because of the constant ascents and muddied ground, the race itself proved to be tough. But despite the difficult terrain, Comerford secured ninth place with a 27:54 time.

“Just to have a kid (from) Otsego representing Team USA is amazing,” Long said of Comerford. “He is a local legend here in Otsego.”

With the impressive performance behind him, Comerford knew what was expected of him entering his first year with the Orange. He said his experience with Team USA laid the groundwork for his now-completed Syracuse career.

“The whole journey elevated my focus on cross country here at SU,” Comerford said. “Putting on that (Team USA) jersey for the first time really kicked off my collegiate career.”

Published on December 8, 2024 at 10:14 pm