Lawi Lalang, of Arizona, leads Mac Fleet, of Oregon, around the turn during the men's 1500-meter at the NCAA Track and Field Championship on June 14, 2014, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo by Steve Dykes)

Arizona’s eight-time NCAA champion distance runnerΒ Lawi LalangΒ is one of the most personable and friendly star athletes I’ve ever met. Two weeks ago, a high school cross country runner in Alexendria, Minnesota, sent Lalang a twitter message that asked, essentially, β€œcould you visit our school and help us?” Lalang then flew to Minnesota and spent three days working with the young athletes at Alexandria High. He told a Minnesota newspaper, β€œwhat I usually say is that there is no secret in running. Even in business, in everything, there is no secret. You have to work for it.” Lalang then flew to Tennessee to work with the cross country team at Middle Tennessee State. Good guy.


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