Senior cross-country runner Greg Rogers admittedly had a rough start to his athletic career at Eastern.

Rogers said he felt as though he was constantly in a rut and that he did not mesh with the existing team.

“I can tell you from experience that feeling like you don’t belong on a team is one of the worst feelings, and it inspired me to work harder for my teammates and coaches,” Rogers said.

Last year in his junior season, he finally found his place on the team. He said last season was the first time he felt like a contributing force for Eastern.

Rogers also said knowing how he can impact the team has caused him to continually make steady improvements to his performances.

“I think I have matured a lot as a teammate in that I no longer want success just for myself,” Rogers said. “Running for this team has made me push that much more because I want us to do well as a group.”

The relationships he has developed with his teammates have become a large part of his life, too.

Rogers said he and his friends recently started playing a video game called “Five Nights at Freddy’s” as a group and have formed a fantasy football league online.

Along with working toward the success of the group, Rogers motivates himself this season by remaining engaged in every moment and staying hungry for success.

Rogers admitted he felt he has yet to reach his full potential this season but is looking forward to the team’s next meet at Bradley University to show off his fitness and ability.

On meet days, he starts with a 15-minute run to keep his legs loose.

Throughout the day, Rogers stays hydrated with water, but before the race, he likes to drink coffee.

When Rogers arrives at the course he lies down in the team “camp” site and visualizes himself running the course.

“This helps me tame my nerves and gain confidence because the mind can’t tell the difference between a dream and reality if you’re really good at visualizing,” Rogers said.

This season, Rogers has placed within Eastern’s top-five finishers in two of the team’s three meets.

Outside of cross-country, Rogers enjoys playing the guitar, watching comedy movies and cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals. In his free time he likes to read and go fishing.

For Rogers, being a member of the Eastern cross-country team means taking life-long friendships well beyond college.

“It means going to their weddings, running together after college, and going on vacations with them,” he said. “It’s a very special thing when a group of people get together and share their love of the same sport.”

Kaitlin Cordes can be reached at 581-2812 or krcordes@eiu.edu