Morning Sentinel
Soltan adjusting to college running
BY BILL STEWART
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 09/28/2008

BY BILL STEWART

Staff Writer

Former Winthrop High School athlete Dan Soltan had just one goal he hoped to accomplish for the Lehigh University cross country team this fall.

"The goal was to not get injured, and if I could do that, than maybe I could put up some good times," he said.

Well, so much for goals -- at least that one.

"At the moment I've been kind of injured," Soltan continued.

"I'm having trouble with my left hip. It's an overuse injury that just developed. I just have to rest it a little bit."

And if there's something Soltan doesn't want to do as he tries to acclimate to college competition, it's rest.

"Yeah, it's frustrating," he said. "I have to reevaluate after the injury. Now, the goal is to get healthy as fast as I can. I felt awesome when I got here. I put in long miles, and I felt good through that. Right now, it's frustrating because I'm not training the way I want."

Soltan, who says he expects to compete in the Hawks' next meet -- Friday at the Lehigh Paul Short Run -- opened his collegiate career with impressive performances.

He finished 18th in a season-opening Lehigh Valley Championship meet with a time of 27 minutes, 21.9 seconds on the 3.1-mile course. The following week, on the same Lehigh course, Soltan finished 20th in a meet against Lafayette.

"The first meet I had a decent time," Soltan said, "but I got slower on the second one and it was on the same course. It was a hotter day, but still."

Lehigh coach Todd Etters says Soltan is a big part of the team, but acknowledges the freshman has work to do.

"I think he's going through what most freshmen go through," Etters said. "There's an adjustment phase. Coming from Maine, he ran less in the winter so it's been an adjustment. Those come here a little farther down in the country, they run year-round. We're trying to be patient.

"I'm sure Dan is more frustrated than we are. He's handling the transition well. I expect him to compete for a top-12 spot."

A top-12 finish is significant because each team in the Patriot League can send a dozen runners to its championship meet. Lehigh, in Bethlehem, Pa., was picked by coaches in the preseason to finish fifth in the eight-team league.

"Dan is progressing," said Etters, in his first year as head coach. "I hope we continue to see it."

Soltan, who won the 1,600-meter at last spring's Class C state championship, says the training is more intense compared to high school. He runs 65 miles a week and participates in at least two speed workouts.

"At my peak in high school, I was running 50 to 55 miles a week, but that was in track," Soltan said. "I never went over 40, 45 miles a week in cross country. The training here is a lot different. It's a higher intensity and the workouts are faster. It's a big adjustment, but I really like the school."

Bill Stewart -- 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com

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