Nightingale emerges as distance front-runner

Imagine running 85 miles in one week — that's a marathon every two days. Now imagine running 85 miles a week, 50 weeks a year, in addition to shouldering a Princeton-sized workload. If your body could somehow survive — and not just survive, but propel you to victory after victory over your peers — you'd begin to understand what it's like to be junior All-American cross country runner David Nightingale.

Unlike most competitive college runners, Nightingale didn't become serious about running until his sophomore year of high school. According to the men's cross country and track head coach, Fred Samara, when Nightingale arrived at Old Nassau, he was a good runner, but not an extraordinary one. Somewhere between high school and this season, however, Nightingale developed into one of the best long-distance runners in the nation.

"He's probably surpassed his expectations and certainly our expectations, as far as his career has gone," Samara said.

A politics major from West Hartford, Conn., Nightingale says he spent his senior year of high school deciding between Princeton and Brown.

"While I liked each school, Princeton ultimately won me over with its strong academic reputation, beautiful campus and winning tradition in cross country and track," he said.

Nightingale has played an important role in continuing that tradition. Just this November, he traveled to Terre Haute, Ind., the perennial site of the NCAA Cross Country National Championships. He finished the 10,000-meter race 39th out of 250 runners, in 31 minutes, 43.8 seconds. The junior considers that race the highlight of his career. A year earlier, he had finished 89th on the same course. This year's high finish also earned him All-American status.

"To be an All-American, you have to run against the best cross-country runners in the world, because the top 10 or 15 guys are international," Samara said.

This impressive accolade came only weeks after Nightingale placed third individually at Heptagonals — the Ivy League cross country championships. As the top Princeton finisher in the event, Nightingale played a crucial part in defeating rival Columbia and securing the Ivy title for the Tigers.

Right behind Nightingale in that race was senior captain Paul Rosa.

"Dave is just a really tough runner. He's a rock when it comes to racing," Rosa said of Nightingale. "You know going into a race that you can always depend on him. Especially in cross country races, you need to put as much trust in the six other guys out there with you as you do in yourself."

Off the track, Nightingale considers himself to be an easygoing person. Samara agrees, adding that his star excels in both running and academics. Last year, he was named to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team.

"He's a very conscientious and dedicated student, really the epitome of what a Princeton student-athlete should be, both on and off the track," Samara said.

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For Nightingale, though, his demanding schedule isn't an issue. Instead, he focuses on the positives.

"I'm fortunate to have a solid crew of guys on the team to run with, who make it a lot easier to run so many miles. We have some great personalities on the team, and every run I go on is sure to be entertaining."

Nightingale begins indoor track competition in January as the defending outdoor track Ivy League champion in the 3000m. This season, he looks poised to repeat last year's performance in the 3,000m and is a contender for the Ivy title in the 5,000m. One thing is for sure: whatever he accomplishes won't go to his head.

"He is very unassuming," Samara said. "You wouldn't know that he's an All-American."

After graduation, the Connecticut native plans to continue running and hopes to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Trials in the 5000m. But Nightingale can still look forward to three more semesters as a Tiger, as well as an opportunity to lead the cross country team to another Ivy League title in 2007.

"I think that the team will be in very good hands when he takes over [the] captainship next year," Rosa said.