Beyond the Stride (Ep. 28): UNC Ace Colton Sands on Breakout Year & Learning From Ethan Strand, Parker Wolfe 🏆🐏

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On this episode of Beyond the Stride, Colton Sands joins us as him and his UNC teammates prepare for the NCAA XC Championships!

Sands talks about leading a younger roster, building team consistency and the lessons learned from past teammates, including training alongside star runners Ethan Strand and Parker Wolfe. The Tar Heel veteran also shares how the mentorship of Coach Chris Miltenberg has shaped both his running and personal growth.

Looking ahead, Sands discusses his goals for the NCAA XC Championships, including chasing All-American honors and what success looks like for the team. He also previews the upcoming track season and his long-term aspirations, offering insight into the mindset, preparation and dedication required to compete at the highest level in NCAA distance running.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:55 Qualifying for NCAA XC

1:50 Filling in Wolfe/Strand gaps

3:08 Breakout year

4:20 2025 XC season

5:20 Racing w/ Tomer Tarragano

6:30 Learning from Wolfe & Strand

7:55 Stepping into leadership role

10:09 Coach Chris Miltenberg

11:53 Training & living in Chapel Hill

12:53 Who's stepped up on the team

13:58 Lessons learned at UNC

15:11 Goals for NCAA XC Championships

16:43 Goals for indoor track season

🗣️ Hosted by Lauren Cawley

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