Alumni Feature | Max King
The Crater Alumni Newsletter is proud to profile another outstanding Comet, 1998 graduate Max King.
Max fondly remembers his days at Crater. He recalls “the experience of being part of a close knit team in cross country and track are among my favorite memories.” Max continued reminiscing as he harkened back to Friday night football, roaming the halls “with no real destination” and avoiding a wrestler or two who used cross country as an avenue to get in shape for winter bouts. “I am a rare case in that I enjoyed high school more than I did college.”
Upon graduation from Crater, Max was faced with a choice afforded only a small number, Cornell or West Point? His choice, Cornell, was unlike West Point in that “I could have a bad day and life would go on.” Max pursued and was granted a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Ithica, New York-based Ivy League institution. “Cornell was probably the most difficult four years of my life.” Time for anything other than academic pursuits was minimal, “However, I wasn’t about to give up running. Running was the outlet which enabled me to succeed at Cornell.”
Max ran Cross Country and Track during his 4 years competing for ‘The Big Red’. He qualified for the NCAA Championships three times. His junior year afforded him an opportunity that escaped him during his days at Crater. “I did not qualify for state in Track and Field in High School. I missed the opportunity to run at historic Hayward Field in Eugene” (site of the Oregon state Track & Field Championships). By qualifying for nationals his junior year (as he did 3 times while at Cornell) Max was able to run on the famous venue at U of O which has hosted numerous national and international competitions. The highlight of Max’s days competing at Cornell came his senior year, while competing in the grueling 3,000 meter steeplechase; he achieved All-American status.