BETHLEHEM, Pa. (Oct. 9) – Prior to competing at last weekend's Paul Short Run, the California University of Pennsylvania men's and women's cross country teams partnered with Adams State (Colo.) for an event to raise support and awareness for the injuries suffered by Drew Graham, a highly-decorated distance runner and recent graduate of Adams State.
 
Graham broke his C4 vertebrae last month while taking park in a swim workout in Colorado. In July 2013, he was hired as an assistant cross country and track & field coach at Abilene Christian (Texas). Graham earned All-America status a combined 15 times in his cross country and track & field career at Adams State and claimed three NCAA Division II national titles.
 
Adams State and Cal U both participated in the Drew Graham Kick in the Head Run on Friday evening before competing in the Paul Short Run on Saturday.  The name of the fundraising event was derived from a joke Graham made after a doctor informed him that he wouldn't get functionally back in his legs.
 
Cal U head cross country/track & field coach Daniel Caulfield and assistant cross country/track & field coach Jackie (Pacentrilli) Caulfield are both graduates of Adams State and assistant track & field coach Bryanna Johnson served on the coaching staff at Abilene Christian with Graham last year. Adams State is perennially one of the top cross country programs in NCAA Division II, having won a combined 25 national titles (10 men's, 15 women's) since 1992.

For more information or to follow Drew Graham's progress, please click here.