With his neck-length black hair bouncing at his every stride, Chikara Omine scales the bleachers at Cox Stadium following last Wednesday’s Cross Country practice. It’s been a bitter-sweet season for him.

Omine, a senior accounting major, has been the Gators’ top men’s finisher over the past two seasons, a streak that spans 12 team meets, including last Saturday’s CCAA championships coming in 19th, an improvement from last year’s 23rd-place finish. But Omine’s collegiate career, one that is arguably the best in school history, is in its fourth and final year of eligibility.

“He’s a great senior leader both in terms of on the course, but also as an example to the rest of the team,” said first-year head coach Chris Lundstrom. “He’s definitely an athlete I’m privileged to coach.”

Omine, 22, started running during his junior year at nearby George Washington High School where he starred on the school’s cross country and track teams. Following high school, he attended City College of San Francisco where he continued his career, running on the Rams cross country and track teams.
While at City College, he took a year off from competitive running to concentrate more on school. It was a major turning point that gave him a better perspective on running.

“During that time, I discovered I really loved running,” Omine said. “I felt more depressed without running. Running is what I like to do.”

In Fall 2003, Omine transferred to SF State. He started running 15 miles a day, and even two to six miles before practice.

Under last year’s head coaches, John Johnson and Teressa DiPerna, Omine finished 1st at the Stanislaus Open and 3rd at the USF Invite. He also placed 95th at the Stanford Invitational and 7th at the Gator Invite.

“I still feel I didn’t run as well as I should of,” Omine said. “This year, I felt I put in good summer workouts.”

But with new coaches, Lundstrom and assistant coach Lache Bailey, Omine finished 21st against the expanded field at the USF Invite and 4th at the Humboldt Invite. He also improved to 67th at the Stanford Invitational and 2nd at this year’s Gator Invite by posting a new personal best of 25:36.40 earlier this month.

Omine hopes to end his career with a stronger finish at the Division II West Regional in Bellingham, Washington on Nov. 6. He finished 57th at last year’s event.

“Even after I graduate, I’m going to be an SF State fan,” Omine said. “I would like to come out and cheer them on. Time flies so fast.”