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By Jordan Roznowski • UD Athletics Media Relations Student Intern
Patrick Riley by no means is your typical University of Delaware student-athlete. A four-year track and field and cross country standout and a sociology major, he has more responsibilities than most soon-to-be graduates looking to pursue their careers after college.
Riley has been a huge success on the track, on the cross country course, and in the classroom throughout his career since coming to Delaware from nearby St. Mark's High School.
That success is noteworthy when you consider some of the other responsibilities Riley has had that few other college student even think about until years after graduation.
At the age of 19, Patrick and Gina Riley devoted their lives to each other and were married during their freshmen year of college.
Soon after the marriage came one of the biggest responsibilities in life, their first child, daughter Hallie.
As one of Delaware's most successful track and field and cross country athletes in recent years, Riley has worked extremely hard to stick with his intense training schedule during the off-season and have enough time to spend with Gina, now two-year old Hallie, his family, deliver pretzels every morning for his father's business, K.P. Pretzels, and still attend classes.
"My life is really busy right now, but at the same time, it keeps me going," said Riley, who led the Blue Hen cross country team at the Delaware Invitational this morning at White Clay Creek State Park. "I'm really glad the way my life is set."
Every morning Riley gets up at the crack of dawn, delivers pretzels to schools and businesses across New Castle County, and still makes it to class in the morning and then to practice in the afternoon.
With such a demanding schedule comes a great deal of support.
"I look up to my whole family," said Riley. "They have been there for Gina and I and have supported everything from our marriage, or baby, and my running. My two sisters, Erin (7) and Colleen (20), have also been really supportive and that has made a big difference."
"It's tough when he is training all the time and when he goes away on the weekends to compete, but we support him," said Gina Riley.
The three-time letterwinner uses an extensive and intense training regimen during the summer, and it pays off.
Riley has led the Blue Hens in every race in which he has competed over the last three seasons, a current streak of 22 straight, and has won nine career meet titles. This season he has led the Blue Hens to three meet team titles and placed first individually four times -- at the Towson Invitational Sept. 13, the Delaware Invitationals Sept. 20 and Oct. 18, and the George Mason Invitational Oct. 4.
He finished second at the CAA championship last month, narrowly missing UD's first individual conference championship in 44 years. Riley placed third at the CAA meet last fal and was fourth in 2001.
Jim Fischer, who has served as Delaware's men's cross country and track and field coach since 1982, ranks Riley among the top runners, and hardest workers, he has ever coached.
"Pat is very coachable," said Fischer, who has never had a UD cross country team place lower than fifth at the conference meet in his 22 seasons. "He works so hard. This summer he was running up to 115 miles in a six-day week. He is a real leader by example. He keeps on pushing and pushing and he never stops trying harder.
Riley has a strong belief in religion. For him, Sundays are a day of rest.
"I feel that running is almost like a job to me, so I don't run on Sundays," he said. "I know I don't get paid, but it's still work."
Riley says that the time and effort that is put into a week of training and competition does not stress his family life.
"I like to think that training does not really affect my family life that much," said Riley, who shares team captain duties with Matt Harrell, Mike Sadowsky, and Chris Ward. "Some say my mood changes a bit after my run, but after running 18 miles I guess you can't help that."
Riley, who is also one of the top track and field distance runners in the CAA and was the 2002 outdoor 10,000 meter run champion, has certain strategies he puts to use when preparing for the season.
"When running, I like to focus on something, like music and the surroundings," he explained. "I get a song in my head and run with it. I enjoy running in nature, there is always something different to focus on."
In addition to his 2002 league title, he holds the school record in the outdoor 3,000 meters with a time of 8:38.95 (2002), the school record for a freshman in the distance medley relay, and also owns the fifth best time in Delaware history in the 10,000 meters with a time of 30:39.88.
"Patrick is an automatic win for every race he is competing in," said Fischer of his star runner. "He has put himself into an elite class this year. He sets a great example for our younger runners who see how hard he works and the positive results that come with it."
Riley hopes to keep up that status through this season and even after graduation. He doesn't plan to stop running anytime soon.
"I'm going to miss (competitive college) running after I get out of school," said Riley, looking towards the end of this season. "I wouldn't mind running after school if I could get a sponsor. If not, I think I might just run for fun."
And while most college graduates will be out and about, trying to get accustomed to the "real world" for the first time, Riley will just be continuing the hectic life, full of job and family responsibilities, he has been living for the last four years.
He wouldn't have it any other way.