Desire, talent spark runner

Coach Marshall Goss said he hates to watch sophomore distance runner Eric Redman run. He runs with an awkward stride that looks like he is catching himself with each step rather than a typical runner's smooth stride.\nBut Goss said that when Redman runs, he can't take his eyes off him. \n"He doesn't fit the mold of what you usually call a talent and that's a person who has a lot of rhythm," Goss said. "Eric doesn't have a lot of that rhythm, but he masks that with desire and his ability to put out a great, great effort."\nGoss said Redman is a talented runner, even if it is not apparent in his natural running gait. His greatest talent comes from the effort he has put out in his desire to become a great distance runner. \n"It's his will to win and his will to compete that makes him successful," Goss said. "He'll give you everything in every race."\nAs a prep runner at North Central High School in Indianapolis, Redman was among the top distance runners in the state. He earned all-state honors as a junior and senior in cross country with a seventh place finish his senior year. He also took third place in the mile his senior year.\nRedman made a splash as a freshman last year after redshirting cross country and indoor track by qualifying for the finals in 1500 meters at the Big Ten Championships. His top time in 1500 meters for the season was 3:53.7.\nHe continued to improve during cross country this fall and in indoor track, and now coach Goss said he's ready to surprise even more people.\n"Our goal for Eric this season is to be all that he can be," Goss said. "What it is that he can be is a very good miler. We'd like to see that from him."\nEven with all that Redman has accomplished, he is still retains his high school label as an overachiever. Goss, however, said that with the performances Redman has shown, he has managed to shed himself of that label and gain respect as a top distance runner.\nThis season Redman plans to return to the finals in the mile at the Big Ten Championship meet and help his team compete for a title by scoring points in the event.