Mark Beams, a 2010 Vicksburg High School graduate, entered his 2014/15 senior season in track at the University of Michigan with high expectations. However, mononucleosis at the beginning of the indoor track season set him back. By the season’s end Mark was able to get back into shape enough to participate in the Big 10 Indoor Track Championship.
In the subsequent outdoor season, his stamina improved. He finished 9th in the Big Ten championship meet and 20th out of 48 in the regional meet in the 10-kilometer run. Mark was disappointed by those results but “very grateful” that he participated in 12 Big 10 championship meets, 4 each in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track during his career at U of M. Mark graduated with a degree in biological chemistry and is now employed in his field in Manchester, Mich. He continues to compete in running and biking events. He will be running this fall in a half marathon in Philadelphia to see if he can achieve a qualifying time for the U.S. Olympic marathon trials.