Bryce Catlett’s last outdoor season

Lucy Stumpo, Contributing Writer

“Boogity, Boogity, let’s go race,” VCU’s top runner recalls his cross country team cheering him on at the 2017 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship, when he secured a No. 12 spot as a sophomore.

“Being able to go on the podium at conference and accept a trophy was a really rewarding moment,” senior Bryce Catlett said. 

Two weeks later, Catlett faced the best college runners at the NCAA Southeast Regional, where he finished just outside the top 50. 

Catlett started running when he joined Osbourn Park High School’s cross country team his freshman year. He decided to join the team so he could meet new people and to keep himself in shape for baseball. Catlett quickly realized his new found love for running. 

“I kind of like running a little more than baseball right now … just the ability to go out there, run and be free,” said Catlett, as he recalled back to how he felt at the time. 

Soon after he decided to take a break from baseball and channel all his energy towards running. 

“After his first season he fell in love with the team and the comradery,” said John Catlett, Bryce’s father. “That following sophomore year he set goals to really excel in his running.”

During his senior year of high school, Bryce Catlett had reached out to a few universities to inquire about joining their cross country teams. Nicole Cook, VCU’s director of cross country, was the first to get back to Bryce Catlett, securing him a spot on the team. 

Catlett’s potential to be the best on the VCU team only made his determination and performance grow more. 

“He’s a really good example of what happens when you’re self motivated,” Michael Villagomez, a former teammate of Catlett’s, said.

During his second season, Catlett’s training ethics and will power made him stand out on the team. No matter how early, rain or shine, Catlett always made sure to get a run in, according to Villagomez. 

“That is the epitome of Bryce and his running,” John Catlett said. “He might not finish first but he’s not going to be out trained.”

Following his impressive sophomore season Bryce Catlett became a leader of the cross country team and was consistently VCU’s top runner. 

“It’s just cool to see where he’s gone from freshman year, coming into the leader he is now,” Villagomez said. 

Although he was doing very well after his sophomore season, he started to feel the pressure of always needing to be the best. Catlett said he constantly fights the stress of not only beating his previous times but also the responsibility of motivating the team.

“Cross country and track in general is probably 98 percent mental, and then the other two percent is physical,” Cook said. “I think that Bryce has done a really good job with … getting himself to the level where he needs to be mentally and physically, so he’s able to compete with the best of the best athletes.”

Catlett just finished his last outdoor cross country meet. With track season coming up next semester, he said he will continue to work on improving.

“I enjoyed and made the most of every little moment this season from practice to race,” Catlett said. “I’m excited to take a little break and head into track season with something to prove.”

With only one more semester left at VCU, Catlett said he plans to continue to keep up with his running after graduation and has a future goal to run a marathon.