April 17, 2007

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

by Andrew Irvine, WWU Sports Information intern

With the success achieved over the last seven months, Western Washington University distance runner Anthony Tomsich is already being compared with the school's all-time best. After a relatively quiet freshman campaign, Tomsich burst onto the scene as a sophomore.

"I've had a feeling about Tony (Tomsich) ever since I first met him," said Western head coach Pee Wee Halsell. "The success he's had this year doesn't surprise me at all."

After placing third individually to help the Vikings win the men's title at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships last fall, Tomsich ran the anchor leg on a Viking distance medley relay which placed second at the NCAA Division II National Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 9. Then early in the outdoor track campaign, he broke the school 5,000-meter record that had stood since 1993, posting a time of 14:32:44 at the Stanford Invitational.

Tomsich credits a better work ethic for his success.

"I felt that my training would pay off and so far it has," he said. "Last season was my first full year of training, so I was looking to make significant changes."

Tomsich said he initially ran 50 miles per week but has gradually worked his way up to 70-80 miles.

"This year he came in thinking he wanted to be one of the top runners and set his goals and expectations much higher," said Halsell.

Maintaining a regular training schedule as a prep was difficult for Tomsich, who attended West Valley High School in Fairbanks, Alaska, where the frigid winters cut the track and cross country seasons short. Even in the summers, Tomsich said running was hard because forest fires left the air full of smoke and made training difficult.

No longer having the tough Alaskan climate to deal with, Tomsich said maturity has also played a major role in his improvement. With consistent rigorous training, his times have dropped, culminating with his school record in the 5,000 meters that puts him high among the provisional qualifiers nationally.

"The outdoor record was definitely something I wanted to go for," Tomsich said. "It takes some pressure off. Now I can just worry about racing."

With two years of eligibility remaining following this season, Tomsich has plenty of time to break more records, but right now he is looking toward the NCAA II National Outdoor Championships in late May. He got a taste of the national stage during the indoor season when he helped Western move up from fourth to second during his final leg in the medley relay.

"Success can breed success," Halsell said. "I think going to the national indoor opened his eyes and now he wants to go again."

Halsell, who is completing his 20th year as the Vikings' coach, says Tomsich is one of the best distance runners he has seen.

"He's breaking barriers and leading his teammates in the process," Halsell said. "They're thinking, `if Tony (Tomsich) can do it, I can do it,' and it's becoming contagious."