SC4 cross country runner Glen Davis has a phrase he wrote and placed on his wall: “Undesirable to Undeniable.” Interpret that as you may, but it’s undeniable that Davis is rewriting the athletic history books in his first season at St. Clair County Community College: he has broken the 8K school record multiple times, been named the Michigan Community College Athletic Association’s (MCCAA) Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week twice, and also been awarded the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Athlete Award of the Week - the first athlete from St. Clair County to do so for cross country. It appears these accomplishments are just the beginning of the goals Davis has set individually and collectively with his Skippers cross country team.
“My goals are to win our region coming up and at the national meet go after the national title and try and win it all: I think that would be sweet. As for time, I want to try and run under 25 (minutes),” Davis stated. “Our team is shooting for the top three at the national meet. Right now we are ranked eighth but we all believe that we are capable of much more and have bought into the fact that the only ranking that matters is what's on the results sheet after the nationals finish.”
Davis is no stranger to accolades: he was one of the top runners at Port Huron Northern High School, frequently at the top of his league standings. In his senior year of high school, he ran consistently in the low 16s and dipped under the 16-minute mark in the 5K, earning a trip individually to the state meet while leading the Huskies as a team to qualify. He narrowly missed an All-State medal, finishing 38th in the highly competitive Division 1 state finals.
Initially planning on competing for another university this fall, Davis opted to attend SC4 instead and his decision seems to be reaping many positives. “I ended up joining SC4 late after things with another school didn't work out the way I expected, but a major factor in me coming back to town and joining SC4 was the great opportunity that Coach Andrea and Coach Max had given me,” Davis commented. “It is a very cost-effective option and being able to run with my best friends from high school (Matt LaFreniere and Michael Paoletti of Port Huron Northern) was very appealing to me. Running for a community college is a financially-friendly option and living at home allows me to save money. I feel like too often people overlook the option but it has been great for me.”
While his collegiate career has rapidly soared to new heights, Davis is quick to acknowledge the growing pains that come with moving from a 5K to an 8K race. “The biggest adjustment for me has been staying disciplined in my races and making sure that I try and conserve more,” he admitted. “In high school, I would typically go out super hard and I have learned you can't do that or you will pay the price in the later miles.” Davis also defers to his coaches and teammates before crediting himself for any success and steers the focus back to their collective achievements. “Our team chemistry is getting stronger each week and that's great to see happen. Being able to be with Matt and Mike from PHN makes things a lot of fun; being able to compete collegiately with my best friends is awesome and it's something I think we are going to look back on in the future and appreciate. They are the ones there every step of the way in running and life in general. I don't want what I'm doing to shade their success whatsoever, they are now second and third in school history and our PHN trio is now one, two, and three all-time in SC4 history so they are doing great things as well. It’s a mutualistic effort because we all help each other in different ways every day.”
While Davis still has another cross country season in the fall of 2024, the reality is there are just two years of competition in a community college program versus a four-year institution. When asked what he foresees in the future for himself after SC4, both academically and athletically, Davis had some ideas. “I do have plans to continue (collegiately) after SC4 but I'm not sure where yet. I'm focusing on winning regionals and nationals right now so I will cross that bridge when the time comes”. Giving back to the sport is also one of Davis’ intentions. “I am thinking of majoring in law or secondary education and I want to coach in the future. I had great coaches throughout my running career who have inspired me to be a positive influence in other athletes’ lives (shoutout to Coach Nevado back at PHN). In the future, hopefully, I can introduce them to the sport of running as well.”
SC4 Cross Country coaches Andrea Rheaume and Max Whittredge had high praise for Davis: "Glen is a hard-working athlete. He's always ready to give 100% every day at practice and at meets. He has high expectations not only for himself but the team as well," Rheaume stated. Whittredge echoed the same sentiment: "Glen is the type of guy who finds himself in a position of leadership often, not because he seeks it out or carries himself as such; quite the opposite actually. It's simply because Glen holds himself to such a high standard that it challenges everyone around him to do the same. There is never a question of how much effort he will give day in and day out, it's evident in every run and workout. As a coach, it's the type of work ethic that you look for in an athlete. The impact Glen has had on this team and program over the course of this season speaks volumes about the type of teammate and runner that he is." Whittredge even had a bold prediction about the team's upcoming regional meet: "I have confidence Glen will win. There are a lot of talented guys in the region, some that even have faster times, but at the end of the day, there are no other runners with as much grit and sheer determination as him. And with Glen leading the charge for the Skippers, you better believe the whole team will rise to the occasion as they fight to claim the program's first regional title."
Wherever Davis eventually ends up after his two seasons at SC4, it's undeniable his character and achievements in community college cross country and beyond will be an inspiring new standard for many who follow in his footsteps.
Fast Facts about Glen:
Favorite pro runner - “Noah Lyles: I love watching his races. They bring excitement to the sport for sure”.
Favorite pre-race fuel - "I don't really have a specific food of choice but I do try to load up on as much protein and carbs as I can before a race."
Favorite post-race snack - “Sour Patch Kids. Just ask Coach Max (Whittredge) about that one.”
The Skippers' cross country team will compete next at the MCCAA Conference and the NJCAA Region XII Championship. Both races are hosted by Grand Rapids Community College on Friday, October 27th at Douglas Walker Park. https://www.sc4skippers.com/sports/mxc/2023-24/schedule
Glen Davis named MCCAA Athlete of the Week: https://www.mccaa.org/sports/mxc/2023-24/releases/male_Davis_aow7
Glen Davis named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week:
Glen Davis' stats: https://www.athletic.net/athlete/23644043/cross-country/collegiate
SC4 Men's Cross Country: https://www.sc4skippers.com/sports/mxc/index
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