William Battle III & Caroline Bryant
Staff Writer & Editor-in-Chief
Despite a short-spanned season and an ankle injury, junior Christia Giller was named Sunshine State Conference (SSC) 2024 Men’s Cross Country 2024 Runner of the Year.
According to FSC Athletics, Giller is the 10th in program history to earn the title, the last being alumnus Mason Jones in 2021.
Giller has not only been the top Moc all season but has not finished behind an SSC runner. FSC Athletics states. He was named Runner of the Week three times, set the fourth and third-fastest program 8k times and finished first at the SSC Championships.
Most recently, he placed second in the Division II South Region Championships, not only paving the way for the men’s team’s fourth-place win but for a Giller entry into the 2024 NCAA Division II Men’s Cross Country National Championships in California.
Giller’s humbled by his successful season, crediting 2024 SSC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year Matt Levassuir for his performances.
“Coach Matt is the reason I am as good as I am today,” Giller said. “I think if you told me in high school that I’d be running the times I am right now, I think I would’ve just laughed. He’s a solid coach. He’s definitely a hard coach who will challenge you and work you very hard. I think that’s the reason we’ve been so successful is because of him and his training, so I have a lot to be thankful for.”
While he didn’t get to race as much as planned, Levassuir’s coaching and Giller’s glass-half-full mentality helped him stay on track during times of uncertainty.
“One thing I learned in my years as a runner or as an athlete, in general, is that not everything is going to go your way, there will be bumps in the road and slight hiccups during your training,” Giller said. “When I heard the news of Hurricane Milton hitting and impacting our season, I can definitely say I was frustrated that we missed Chicago. But, we then pivoted to a meet in Alabama and so even though it wasn’t what I wanted, I was fit, I worked hard all summer. Sometimes you just have to be pragmatic even if that means having to change plans last second to better fit the situation.”
His mindset aided his program 10k record break of 30:38.3, where FSC Athletics states Giller ran 20 seconds faster than previous record holder Eric Walker. Walker set the record in 2006.
With the numerous titles Giller has earned all season, he shares that he attempts to keep his titles of “Christian Giller” and athlete separate.
“I try not to put my identity in being an athlete,” Giller said. “I think it’s a good thing to compete for something bigger than yourself, whether that be for God, your family, your country, or something bigger than yourself. I think that’s the key to being a great athlete, just knowing already that you’re a human and have intrinsic value outside of being an athlete, and so I use that to better myself and make myself stronger.”
His approach to the sport and victory are sure to be working, hoping they continue to reign over his performance at the national championships on Nov. 23 in Sacramento, California.
