As the only senior on the Oregon men’s cross country squad, the roles of captain and leader have fallen into Jason Hartmann’s lap.
But it’s not like he’s complaining.
“He doesn’t say much, and when he does, it’s pretty powerful,” teammate and roommate Brett Holts said. “He leads by example. He’s more casual, more laid-back. He’s not so outspoken with the team in general, but he makes it known what’s expected of you.”
Hartmann will run his last collegiate cross country race Monday, marking his fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championships.
“I’d like to make it my best one,” Hartmann said. “I just want to walk away from the last experience, with the team and with me, seeing the fruits of our labor, and walk away happy.”
Hartmann is a two-time All-American in cross country. He finished as the top American freshman at the NCAA meet in 1999, placing 37th and earning an All-American honor. One year later, he improved his finish, moving up to 35th, earning his second All-American honor.
After missing a third honor by 10 seconds last season, finishing 50th, Hartmann has the opportunity to become the eighth Duck to win three or more All-American honors.
Jason Hartmann has led the Oregon cross country squad since coming to Eugene from Rockford, Mich.
“Having (Hartmann) there definitely helps me,” redshirt sophomore Ryan Andrus said. “When he’s there it’s a reference point I’m familiar with. He’s a great runner that’s been running at a high level for a while. He’s fully capable of having his best nationals finish.”
Andrus has finished just behind Hartmann in this season’s Pacific-10 Conference Championships and Western Regional Championships.
When it was time to choose where he would be going to college, Hartmann had his pick of championship-caliber schools. As one of the top-five prep distance runners in the country, he heard from many schools, all wanting him to join their cross country programs.
Hartmann narrowed it down to two: Oregon and Wisconsin. Oregon head coach Martin Smith was in his first year as the Ducks’ head coach, having just completed a 15-year stint at Wisconsin. He left the head coaching position to his assistant coach, who had also run under Smith at Wisconsin.
“The Wisconsin coach learned from Coach Smith, so you might as well learn from the teacher,” Hartmann told the Emerald in 1999, his freshman year.
“(Hartmann)’s someone you really enjoy coaching in practice,” Smith said Wednesday. “He really enjoys the process of coming to practice every day, and I receive a lot of energy and positive reinforcement from that attitude and attention.”
Through his positive outlook, Hartmann, a native of Rockford, Mich., has been able to handle being far away from home. He has found family out here through
the team.
“(Smith) is a guardian for me out here,” Hartmann said. “He makes me feel like I’m a part of his family.”
Hartmann also travels with Holts, who is a junior, to his family home in Oregon for Thanksgiving, as well as weekend getaways.
“I sometimes think my family loves him more than they love me,” Holts said.
Hartmann’s family has a lot to do with why he’s in Oregon. He has only been seriously running since the 10th grade, when his parents helped him weigh his options. Hartmann’s dad told him he probably had a better future in running. Previously, 6-foot-3-inch Hartmann had only been running to stay in shape for basketball.
His career at Oregon started strong, as Hartmann won the Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year award in 1999. He finished 15th individually in the Pac-10 meet and 16th in the regional championship. The Oregon men finished sixth in the NCAA meet, with Hartmann finishing third out of the Duck squad.
In 2000, the Oregon men finished second in the Pac-10, led by Hartmann’s runner-up finish. He also finished second at the regional meet, while the team finished fourth and earned an at-large bid for nationals.
Last year, Hartmann emerged as a leader, placing first for the team in all five meets he ran. Individually, he took sixth in the Pac-10 championships and third in the Western Regional.
Hartmann also runs on the Smith-led track and field squad in the winter and spring seasons, where he has two years of eligibility left. His events include the 1,500-meter, 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races.
While serious on the course and on the track, Hartmann is a laid-back guy.
“He’s very unpredictable,” Holts said. “When you hang out with him everyday, there’s something new and there’s something fun.”
Hartmann is a follow-your-opportunities kind of guy. The elementary education major wants to be a third grade teacher, and also wants to continue running.
“Third grade is the grade to get through to (children),” Hartmann said. “I hope the opportunity (to continue running) presents itself, but I can’t just rely on that.”
Hartmann commented on being a role model in his classroom, and it wouldn’t be the first time he has been a role model.
“Jason has become a big brother to me,” Holts said. “He’s always positive and willing to help out.”
Mindi Rice is a freelance writer
for the Emerald.