LymeLine.com

Community News for Lyme and Old Lyme, CT

Lyme-Old Lyme HS Alum Nick Walker Finishes 9th of New England Entrants in D3 National Championship XC Race

by

Nick stands with LOLHS Cross-country coaches Barbara O’Leary and Bill Raider in this 2011 photo.
Nick stands with LOLHS Cross-country coaches Barbara O’Leary and Bill Raider in this 2011 photo.

11/20 UPDATE taken from Bowdoin College website: Nick Walker raced to a strong finish on Saturday at the NCAA Division III Championship meet at E.P “Tom” Sawyer State Park in Louisville, finishing 47th in the men’s 8k race (25:04.5).  In extremely windy conditions, Walker finished ninth among New England entrants, capping a fantastic senior campaign. He finished just 1:24.5 off the winning pace.

Nick Walker, who graduated from Lyme-Old Lyme High School in 2012 and is presently a senior at Bowdoin College, runs today in the NCAA Division 3 National Championship, which is being held at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky. Last Saturday, he came in 10th place overall in the NCAA Division 3 New England Men’s Cross-country Regional Championship, when he ran the 8K (4.97 miles) in 25:00.01 minutes and, as a result, qualified on an individual basis for today’s National Championship.

Walker’s cross-country career began and developed running the roads of Lyme and at both Lyme-Old Lyme Middle and High Schools, culminating in him becoming the Shoreline Cross-country champion in 2011.

This photo shows the Bowdoin Mens Cross-country team. Nick Walker is fourth from the right.
This photo shows the Bowdoin Mens Cross-country team. Nick Walker is fourth from the right.

He has been running at Bowdoin College ever since and has qualified for the first time for the national championship, an exceptional feat requiring a significant amount of training.  He is co-captain of the Bowdoin team and a neuroscience major.

Nick stands with his parents, Cary and David Walker of Lyme, after a recent race.
Nick stands with his parents, Cary and David Walker of Lyme, after a recent race.
Nick Walker in action at Franklin Park earlier this year.
Nick Walker in action at Franklin Park earlier this year.

Nick’s parents are David and Cary Walker of Lyme and his sister Lucy, who also attended Bowdoin, was valedictorian of Lyme-Old Lyme High School’s Class of 2010.

Today’s National Championship meet in Louisville will be broadcast over the web for all those from Lyme and Old Lyme wishing to cheer on Walker (hopefully!) to victory.

For more information on today’s National Championship schedule, visit http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule

For more information on the Cross-country National Championship, visit https://www.gotolouisville.com/cross-country/

For more information on Bowdoin athletics, visit http://athletics.bowdoin.edu/sports/mxc/2016-17/releases/20161112m6ib7t

Good luck, Nick — we’re all rooting for you!