Christiopher “Kit” Mock, class of ’08, excelled academically and athletically at Greensboro College. Not surprisingly, he has continued to excel since leaving GC.
A native of Clarks Summit, Pa., Mock graduated with a 4.0 grade point average. He majored in biology and had a double minor in chemistry and mathematics. The former Presidential Scholar now lives in Greensboro and works in the medical field.
Mock, who holds numerous Pride baseball pitching records, including most starts (41) and innings pitched (267.1). He was selected twice to the USA South second team and made the CoSIDA national academic team.
Yet it was another sport—competitive running—that caught his fancy.
Fitness Interest Started at GC
In April, he competed at the Boston Marathon. The former Pride baseball pitcher clocked a time of 2:52:03. That time was the best among runners from the Piedmont Triad area. The winning time of the race was 2:08:42.
“I got into running during my freshman season at GC,†said Mock. “I discovered that it made me feel a lot better after pitching. I gradually started doing more and more. Former Coach Andy Fleischacker convinced me to do a half marathon in the fall of my senior year and I really liked the competition. I didn’t get really serious about it until after graduation though, and now run 70-80 miles per week.â€
Mock ran three races in the first half of this year and has entered six in the past 12 months. He won the Cannonball half marathon last year, and placed an impressive fourth at May’s North Carolina Marathon in High Point.
“The summer is my offseason for racing and I was a little burnt out after running Boston then the N.C. marathon twelve days later,†he said. “Also, there are very few marathons during the summer because of the heat. I’m still logging lots of miles, but I’ll start competitions back up in September.â€
Recently, Greensboro College Pride Sports Information Director Bob Lowe chatted with Kit Mock. Here is their Q&A
-Are you the type of person who takes on new tasks and excel in most everything you try?
I’m completely a creature of habit and would rather excel at one thing than be mediocre at multiple tasks. If I decide to take on a new challenge, I’m giving it all the effort I can in order to succeed.
-How did Greensboro College prepare you for post-college life?
GC helped me immensely. Most of all, it provided me with structure. I was not the most mature individual leading up to my freshman year, but GC made me balance school, baseball, working out, and my social life. I developed a sense of maturity that I previously lacked. The faculty was very encouraging and really helped me grow as a person. Baseball gave me the determination to succeed. I was always focused, but I had to take it to another level to be successful in college baseball.
-Why did Coach Carlyle not use you on the base paths to steal bases?
Haha. I’m one of the slowest people I know with regards to sprinting. My top speed isn’t very good, but I’m able to sustain that speed for really long distances. In practice, he would assume I was fast because I ran so much, then he would be greatly disappointed.
-What are you doing now in your professional life?
I’m currently working as a medical assistant and waiting to hear back from medical schools. I had multiple interviews with med schools and am waiting to hear. I’m learning a lot working at Urgent Medical and Family Care in Greensboro. While I view it as completely temporary, it has been really helpful in introducing me to the “real world” and in preparing me for life in the medical field.
Kit Mock’s Recent Running Race Results:
-5/2/09- NC Marathon
Time 2:55:13, Place: 4
-4/20/09-Boston Marathon
2:52:03, Pl: 573
-2/14/09- Myrtle Beach Marathon
2:59:11, Place: 28
-11/9/08- Outer Banks Marathon
2:59:07 Place: 9
-10/18/08- Greensboro Half Marathon
1:22:52 Place 1
-7/20/08- Presque Isle Half Marathon
1:29:32 Place: 20
-12/2/07- Run to Victory Half Marathon
1:26:06 Place: 8