ORANGE PARK - Pittsburg State University cross country finished as the 11th best program in NCAA Division II last year after the national championships with one member of the team, former …
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ORANGE PARK - Pittsburg State University cross country finished as the 11th best program in NCAA Division II last year after the national championships with one member of the team, former Orange Park High cross country and track state qualifier John Bear, Jr., working hard to return to compete in his final season as a red shirt senior.
"It's a brutal sport; college cross country," said Bear, noting two other Florida runs for Pittsburg which is in Joplin, Missouri. "I ran cross country, track-1500, mile and 800 at Pittsburg."
Bear, who has been at Pittsburg since a stellar career with Florida State College-Jacksonville, has been steadily dropping his times not just in cross country, but on the track. Pittsburg is the NCAA Div.II Indoor and Outdoor National track champions.
"I see our guys at Pittsburg and what they do to get better," said Bear. "If you can survive and stick through the process, it teaches you a lot. I know two guys that were standouts in high school, but lasted two years in college."
As a senior for the Orange Park High Raiders, Bear was part of a seven-runner contingency of state cross country runners in 2018; Bear (26th in 3A), Ridgeview's Joel Nesi (29th in 2A), Keystone Heights Alex Guy (31st in 2A), Oakleaf's Dylan Nelson (20th in 4A), St. Johns Country Day School's Matthew Stratton (SJCDS, 8th in 1A) and Fleming Island's pair William Livesay (63rd in 4A) and Kameron Wallizada (74th in 4A) that created a county-wide atmosphere of running prowess.
All seven of that 2018 class continued into college cross country and track; Bear-Pittsburg; Nesi-Flagler; Guy-Florida Southern; Nelson-Troy; Stratton-Florida; Livesay-South Florida and Wallizada-North Florida with great success and improvement.
"That was a great group of guys," said Bear. "We trained together throughout the seasons. I just saw the Fleming Island team doing hills and waved at them."
Bear wants to continue that legacy in his final season at Pittsburg.
"I'll finish with a master's in biology," said Bear. "I'm increasing my mileage and doing this track workout twice over the summer. I've run with Matthew, Will and Joel this summer and it's always good to get with them."
Bear noted that the transition to college running is simply "a grind."
"Everything at Pittsburg is all about the Gorillas," said Bear. "Being a Gorilla is a big deal in that town even with garbage cans having the Gorilla on them. We take a lot of pride in being the school called the Gorillas, the only Gorillas in the country."
Bear noted his time drops have come from his strength running with more knowledge coming from the Gorilla program; 4:17 for a mile.
"Would have liked a sub-4:10," said Bear. "I got there doing a 4:25. It's a grind to get to that 4:05 mark. It's talent, plus grind, plus a little luck to stay uninjured."
John Bear File
College Bests
5K (XC) 16:36.1 (FSCJ)
8K (XC) 27:18.5 (FSCJ)
Pittsburg
800 1:55.68 March 2024
Mile 4:18.50 Jan. 2024
1500 3:59.48 March 2024
8K (XC) 27:25.9