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Justin Cook | The Roanoke Times

Radford High School cross country runners rally around Vijay Guruswamy before the Three Rivers District meet at Camp Alta Mons. Radford coach Mike Carrow describes Guruswamy as "the type of person that likes to fit in with a lot of different people and doesn't limit himself to one group of kids — but it is mostly Vijay being Vijay."

| Chuck Altizer

Special to The Roanoke Times

SHAWSVILLE -- Before the Three Rivers District cross county meet on Wednesday afternoon, several fans were asking. "Where was Vijay Guruswamy?"

He hadn't disappeared and he wasn't late, he was simply "being Vijay."

Described by his coach as bubbly, Guruswamy was in the middle of his pre-race routine that includes talking to anyone and everyone he knows before engaging in his warm-up exercises that feature both traditional and non-traditional stretches that make people wonder what in the world is he doing.

And all this has to happen in his trademark gold and black plaid shorts.

"I have to wear the gold short -- they are very lucky," Guruswamy said after his fourth-place district finished helped the Bobcats to second place in the team standings. That advanced them to the regional meet Nov. 5 at the Botetourt Sports Complex.

"Warming up, stretching, doing flips, talking to people, listening to music ... that is how I warm up and how I get my focus."

His coach explained his routine befits a good kid that gets along with a lot of people.

"It seems like he has a girlfriend at every race," Radford coach Mike Carrow said. "He is the type of person that likes to fit in with a lot of different people and doesn't limit himself to one group of kids -- but it is mostly Vijay being Vijay."

Guruswamy may act like a politician talking to his constituents off the race course, but on it he is all business and that has produced rewards for him and his teammates.

This season, Guruswamy has shown marked improvement from his all-state sophomore season.

He has chopped about a minute off his times this season on the same courses he ran a year ago and has become a force to be reckoned with, especially during stretch time of the race.

During the district championship, he came around the final turn in seventh place before turning on the jets in the final straight away to take home a comfortable fourth earning an All-District spot.

"He's got a great kick and a lot of speed," Carrow said. "Last year, he made the all-state team and I think that put a little fire in his belly to do better this year."

The fire showed in his summer workouts.

Guruswamy logged 90 miles a week in training while working on his strength to help his power on the hills.

"I practiced my butt off," he said. "I focused on running all summer and pushing it up the hills.

"It helped me so much and motivated me so much to make all-state last year, so I pushed myself through track and the summer workouts to get ready for the season."

Next up for Guruswamy is the regional meet.

Radford will compete with the Floyd County Buffaloes, who won the district meet, as the favorites to capture the Region C event.

Guruswamy figures to be right in the middle of the Bobcats' push to capture the title. He also figures to be in the middle of a conversation somewhere.

"I just love running," Guruswamy said.

"I love the way I dress. I love to talk to people. I am who I am."