The RoundHouse | 11/1/2024 9:33:00 AM
By Paul Suellentrop
Adrian Diaz Lopez is happiest when running long distances. When injuries took that joy for almost two years, he substituted loading drinks on the bus, food runs and cheering for teammates.
He did so much teammates nicknamed him “Sherpa,” for the famous mountain guides.
“All year, when he’s not competing, he’s at the meets working pole vault for hours,” Wichita State distance coach Kirk Hunter said. “He continually told us last year ‘Work me as much as you can, because I have to contribute somehow. Tell me what I can do to help.'”
Diaz Lopez is running again, although the injuries to his foot limit his training and fitness. He ran his first cross country meet of the fall on Oct. 18 at Bradley and placed 41st. He finished his first complete race since 2022 with a time of 24 minutes, 32.30 seconds in the 8-kilometer race.
On Friday, Wichita State competes in the American Athletic Conference Championship at Clapp Cross Country Course. The women’s race begins at 4:05 p.m. with the men’s race at 4:50.
While struggling through the injuries, Diaz Lopez drew inspiration from his parents. Maria, his mother, died in 2016 from cancer. Javier, his father, is a cancer survivor.
“The last time I saw her – I came back from winning a cross country race – and she told me ‘You’re the best runner and I know you can be the best,'” he said. “She is watching me, and she knows that I can do it.”
Diaz Lopez, a junior from Cazorla, Spain, felt compelled to contribute to the team when not running to pay back what he gets from the track and field. His injury problems began late in the 2023 indoor season. He competed sporadically that spring. He did not compete in 2023-24.
“Wichita State has given me everything I need to succeed,” he said. “I can always help with my experience running and in life. I can help the help the trainer, the coaches, the team. I’m injured, but they are taking care of me. I like to give everything for my people.”
He credits Wichita State with improving his academics – he carries a 3.6 grade-point average and will graduate in December with degrees in business administration and marketing. Then he will work on his master’s degree in business analytics. While his goal is to run professionally and make Spain’s Olympic team, he plans on returning to Cazorla to continue his family’s restaurant business.
“Running changed my life,” he said. “Running allowed me to come to the U.S. Running allowed me to have a really good GPA.”
A year ago, teammate Yared Kidane needed reassurance when he couldn’t run for Wichita State in 2023-24 due to eligibility issues. He strongly considering leaving school and returning to Sweden. Diaz Lopez helped convinced him to trust Shocker coaches and stay. Kidane, who ran against Diaz Lopez in junior college, is Wichita State’s top runner.
“Good teammate,” Kidane said. “When he told me everything was going to be all right, everything was all right.”
Diaz Lopez aims to finish in the top 15 in the meet to earn all-conference honors and add that to a ninth-place finish in 2022 with a time of 24:12.8. In 2023, he volunteered to run the 10,000 at the AAC outdoor meet for the first time that season. While shorter distances are his specialty, he finished second to help the Shockers to the team title.
“You can tell when they’re passionate,” Hunter said. “He’s somebody you would never count out. It’s Adrian. You don’t count him out.”
Diaz Lopez is excited to wear the yellow jersey that the Shockers traditionally wear in championship meets. He has worn that jersey in three AAC meets as a Shocker and earned all-conference honors each time. He is excited to run at home in front of fans and teammates.
“On Friday, I’m ready to give everything that I have,” he said. “I don’t know what’s going to be next. Every race I try to finish with everything. Be empty.”
Pre-meet at Clapp! ✅ pic.twitter.com/C349eWmKw5
— Wichita State T&F/XC (@GoShockersTFXC) November 1, 2024
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
