Cross country runner Philip Primeaux has been a major contributor for the LSU men’s team in his senior season and has managed to run away with his most accomplished individual season as a Tiger.
Although Primeaux has been the top finisher for the men’s team in five of six meets this season, one of his most significant contributions to the program is his willingness to help the underclassmen and his ability to set a positive example for them.
“This year we had a group of older guys finally coming into their running careers and a talented group of freshmen,” Primeaux said. “The more we could bridge the gap, it would help us get better.”
Primeaux opened the 2014 season by finishing in second place at the McNeese Relay with junior teammate Travis Pope. When the team traveled to the Rice Invitational, Primeaux also led it to a fifth-place finish after an individual finish of seventh place.
Primeaux’s best performances of the season came at the LSU Invitational and the McNeese Cowboy Stampede. At the LSU Invitational, he secured his first victory as a Tiger. Primeaux went for his second consecutive individual victory at the McNeese Cowboy Stampede, but he finished one spot off the lead after Tulane freshman Moses Aloiloi edged him out.
Freshman runner Jack Wilkes said Primeaux took him and his fellow freshmen under his wing in the first week of workouts and taught them the ins and outs of the sport at the collegiate level.
An important lesson Primeaux taught the underclassmen is that they should be hurting after one of coach Khadevis Robinson’s rigorous workouts, or they are doing them incorrectly.
“One of the biggest things it helps to know as a freshman is that you’re going to be tired, hurting and sore, but that is OK” Primeaux said. “When I was a freshman, I couldn’t believe what the upperclassmen could do as far as work load. So I told the younger guys, ‘Hey, don’t be worried if you’re tired or hurting.’ I think that helped them out.”
Wilkes said he saw Primeaux’s improvement from freshman to senior year and hopes following in Primeaux’s footsteps will render him the same results.
Wilkes gets the most out of workouts by emulating Primeaux and trying to keep up with him in the meets to ensure a top finish.
“[Primeaux] is the person that I know is always going to do what needs to be done,” Wilkes said. “If I’m anywhere near him, I know I’m doing the right thing.”
Senior runner Andria Aguilar said a portion of the team’s success this season can be accredited to its cohesion, and Primeaux’s relationship with the freshmen is a large proponent of the newfound unity.