Marquette University Athletics
Barth To Receive McCahill Award
2/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Susan Barth will receive the 58th annual McCahill Award at halftime of the Marquette- Southern Miss men's basketball game on Saturday. The postgraduate award is based on achievement in athletics, scholarship and service to the university. Established in 1946, it has been given each year to a student-athlete who has graduated and in the opinion of the athletics board, best meets these qualifications.
The award was established by the McCahill family in memory of Captain Robert L. McCahill, a student-athlete who played football and 1942 graduate of the college of liberal arts. After college he was drafted by the Cleveland Rams then entered the Marine Corps as an officer. He served his country as a para-marine throughout the South Pacific during World War II, earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, and gave his life in 1945, in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
This year marks the 58th presentation of this prestigious award that was established with the help of Marine Colonel William P. McCahill, Robert?s brother, also a Marquette alumnus, with undergrad and Masters Degrees in Journalism, and who was also a student athlete as Captain of the MU Track Team. After Colonel McCahill?s death in 1999, Marquette University officially renamed the award to recognize the lifetime accomplishments of both Captain Robert and Colonel William McCahill.
The following was published in the Feb. 4 edition of Barth's hometown paper, the Bluffton News-Banner. The article was written by Paul Beitler.
??? After an illustrious collegiate cross country and track career at Marquette University, Bluffton High School graduate Susan Barth will be receiving the highest honor bestowed upon a student-athlete by the university.
??? Barth, who is now doing clinical studies as part of her doctorate in physical training, will be honored Saturday at a reception prior to receiving the McCahill Award during halftime of the Southern Miss and Marquette men?s basketball game.
??? The McCahill Award is named for Capt. Robert L. McCahill, a former Marquette athlete who gave his life in World War II.
??? Barth, 24, who graduated from Bluffton in 1999, has a bachelor of science degree in exercise science and will receive her doctorate in physical therapy in May. ?
??? ?I feel very honored to have been selected,? said Barth, who is the daughter of Elaine and David Barth of Bluffton. ?I have known a few of the recent past recipients and they are people I greatly admired during my earlier years at Marquette. I am very humbled to be recognized with them.?
??? One afternoon, Susan came home from class and there was a message on her telephone answering machine to call Athletic Director Bill Cords.
??? ?I couldn?t figure out why Mr. Cords would need to talk to me,? Barth recalled.
??? ?I was really surprised, when he told me I had gotten the award. It was very unexpected.?
??? At Marquette, Barth set records in the indoor 5,000-meter race and the outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meter races.
??? She was a member of the three Marquette teams which won Conference USA championships.
??? Barth was a conference champion in the 5K indoor and 10K outdoor in 2001, champion in the 3K indoor and 5K outdoor in 2002, and champion in the 5K indoor in 2003.
??? The Golden Eagles cross country team advanced to the NCAA nationals three times during her career and Barth also qualified for the 2001 indoor track nationals in the 5K.
??? She also was Conference USA freshman of the year in cross country and indoor track.?? ?
??? ?I loved running in college,? said Barth, who will be moving to the Detroit area in August to join the Hanson-Brooks Distance Project. The Distance Project is an organization which allows a runner to pursue a livelihood while continuing to train for competition. It is a way to develop one?s individual talents.
??? ?I feel very lucky and I thank God very often for giving me the ability and opportunity to run at Marquette,? added Barth. ?I got to meet several very neat people and see states across the country. When you run with people, you get to meet them on a new level, even runners from other teams. I love how you can race like strangers and really compete, and then be friends and cool down together after the race is done.?
??? Barth is very endeared to her family and has spent many years raising and showing goats as a member of her Wells County 4-H club.
??? ?I really want to make it clear how much I have appreciated the support of my family and the Bluffton community,? said Barth. ?You all have been a big part in making my running career what it has been. You all are one of the most precious blessings God has given me.?
??? With the tremendous support of her parents and relatives who made some very long road trips to watch her run, Barth has many cherished memories.
??? Her sister, Becky, made a huge Marquette flag to put up at the team?s camp or in the stands.
??? ?Stepping onto the track or course was a little less scary at big meets knowing I had my ?support team? up in the stands,? said Barth.
??? She recalled the first meet that her parents were not able to attend.
??? ?We were competing in Maine. I was upset before the race, but the girls stepped in and made me feel a lot better (even though I was just ?the freshman?),? Barth explained.
??? ?Maybe they just wanted me to run well, but knowing them I seriously doubt that had anything to do with it.?
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