Runner Profile: Nathan Potts

Written and media by Jaylen Shelton.


Nathan Potts is a Senior on the Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field Teams. Throughout his four years at Greenville University, Potts has been one of the team’s hardest workers and one of the most consistent runners. If there is a big race coming up, he can be trusted to run and give it all he’s got. His teammates say that Potts is a team player; the past two years he has won the Black and Orange Award which goes to the person who puts the most effort into the team. This means that he helped his fellow players on and off the field, such as calling recruits for the team. Potts does not just do his job on the track though; he has also done it in the classroom. Every year or  so Potts makes the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) All-Academic Team. The awards go to athletes in the SLIAC with a grade point average of 3.5 or above.

Nathan Potts running at Forest Park. Source: Greenville University Cross Country

In cross country Potts had a good Freshman year. He finished in the top seven for a majority of the races. He ran his fastest that year at the regional meet, finishing with a time of 27:56. Potts was the fifth finisher for Greenville in that race. Going into his Sophomore year, Potts improved. He finished every race in Greenville’s top five and ran a time of 26:42. This got him a tenth place finish at the SLIAC Championship. In turn, this also helped him earn a second Team All-Conference Award, which goes to the 8th-14th place finishers. He followed up his Junior year by finishing as Greenville’s number one runner in a few races, and won yet another Second Team All-Conference Award. Though he did not run faster than his Sophomore year, Potts said that conference his Junior year was his favorite race. “That race was special, to run in a pack with my teammates and finishing 6th-11th [and] to win my first conference title was exciting.”

Nathan Potts finishing in an 800. Source: Greenville University Track & Field

In Track & Field Potts has three records and five Christian Nationals (NCCAA) All-American Awards. These awards go to the top three finishers in a race. Potts is a part of the 4×800 indoor and outdoor records and the Distance Medley Relay record. He has been a part of the 4×800 relay that took second indoor his Freshman year, and first his Sophomore and Junior year. In the outdoor 4×800, he was a part of the team that took third his Sophomore year and first his Junior year. His Sophomore and Junior year he finished seventh at the NCCAA in the open 800. Potts has a personal best of 1:54.68 in the 800, and 4:06.05 in the 1500. He also ran the mile in 4:41.

As Potts finishes his Senior year in cross country, he runs his fastest with a time of 26:10. Potts also finished in Greenville’s top three in all races but one. Some of his highest place finishes are 15th at the Midwest Classic, 18th at the H.W. Wright Classic, and 5th at the Bradley Pink Classic. On October 28th Potts lead a group of cross country runners into the SLIAC Conference Race. According to Potts, his goal this year is, “to get a First Team All-Conference Award.” He says, “I’ve been getting Second Team every year so far and I want our team to get their 14th championship for the program.”

For more on Potts, listen to the interview below!

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