You may have missed one of the most prolific runners in Tufts history graduate today, because Nate Brigham's gown probably hid his lanky figure. If that's the case, then you missed the anchor of the Tufts' track and field team for four years.
Over four years, Brigham broke three Tufts records, is in the top 10 of several other events, and went to Nationals nine times.
And while Brigham may complete his Tufts academic career when he walks across the stage today, his Tufts athletic career still has one weekend left. Brigham's last race comes next weekend in Wartburg, Iowa at the NCAA Div. III National meet. He will run the 5000 and 10,000 meter races.
Brigham and junior Matt Lacey are the first two athletes in Tufts' track history to qualify for Nationals in two different events. Brigham ran a time of 14:31.39 in the Hillside Relays at Tufts on Apr. 8 in the 5,000, breaking the school record in the event. Later in the month, he ran a 30:14.09 in the 10,000 at Penn Relays.
Brigham's last appearance at Nationals is the end of his four year story with Tufts athletics. Recruited out of high school, Brigham chose Tufts because he thought the program had potential.
"It was an up and coming team," Brigham said. "It seemed like we had a real chance to do some damage on the New England scene. I also liked the balance between academics and athletics."
During Brigham's freshman year, however, he had trouble balancing academics and athletics.
"I just wanted to run," he said. "Balancing is something you get better at over time."
As time passed his grades and his running improved. During Brigham's sophomore year, he finished 11th at Nationals in the Cross Country season.
"It was one of the greatest races I've ever ran," Brigham said. After that, though, Brigham fell into a rut with his races at Nationals.
"I had a bad streak of National performances. I got out there, and didn't run well for five Nationals in a row," he said.
During the rut, Brigham said he found it hard to remember why he ran in the first place. Things turned around at a national meet this winter where Brigham finished eighth in the 5K and found his drive again. Now, Brigham is ready to prove himself on the National stage once more.
Brigham's last trip to Nationals is a culmination of four years of progress. Head coach Connie Putnam said, "He's been constantly getting better. His freshman year he basically was a 31 minute 10K guy."
Brigham said he credits part of his progress to Putnam and the rest of the coaching staff's help.
"Overall my relationship with Connie has been really good," he said, "I know he'd do anything for me."
Along with Putnam, Brigham's teammates have helped his development.
"Tufts cross country and track and field have been like a family to me," he said, "We live together, we eat together, everything."
Especially with this year's emergence of Lacey's prowess, Brigham has used his teammates to help step his own running up a notch. "It's been great to have someone who could push me," he said.
Brigham's teammates have used his running to help their own races.
"He's served as the spark plug for the distance group," Putnam said. The coach also said that Brigham's ability to lead is beneficial for the team, since it takes the pressure off the other runners.
"He handled the leadership role fantastically," Putnam said.
"Nate's basically been my leader for three years now," Lacey said. "He's the guy I tried to train and run with when I first came in as a freshman. He's been the man of the team for three years."
After Tufts, Brigham said he plans on pursuing a future in education. As far as his running career goes, his next goal is the marathon. There are sponsored teams that he could run for, but he said that they would involve a serious commitment.
For now, Brigham said he has his sights set on one last Nationals performance.
"I'm really excited about this year's Nationals," he said. "I haven't had my best race yet, and now I've got the experience to not go out and panic."
