MOSCOW, Idaho – The NCAA allows four seasons of competition for its athletes, to be played over no longer than a five-year stretch.  And yet, somehow, every now and again there's an athlete who just feels like he's been doing it forever.
 
That's Nathan Stark.
 
"Nathan embodied what it means to be a Vandal," said Director of Athletics Rob Spear.  "He has maximized his college experience here by being so involved and engaged in being a leader amongst all of our student athletes."
 
He has followed the rules.  He has been in Moscow for just five years and only competed for four.  But his impact on the program and the University transcends that.
 
Stark is, by all accounts, a Vandal through and through.  He was the SAAC president for a spell.  He competed in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field.  If you played another sport here, he was at your games (most of them, if not all of them).  And above all, he actually cared.
 
"I think everything happens for a reason," Stark said.  "I believe that we're called to serve and to help others.  I think my faith plays a big role in that I wanted to show up here and make the most of my college career.  I wanted to make the most the opportunity and the blessing that it is to have a college education and to see more than just the athlete side of it.
 
"I think this was a wonderful opportunity to come here and make friends, but also to make an impact.  I don't know if I had a clear vision at the time of what that was going to be.  I think that the coaches and the leaders here within the athletic department and on campus also played a role in shaping who I was."
 
And now, with his Idaho career winding down to its end, Stark has the chance to do something that has eluded him thus far: compete at the NCAA Championships.
 
"Going into this year I knew it was possible.  At the end of last year I saw that I was right there on the cusp.  It wasn't really on my mind too much, I was really just focused on the process every single day of what I had been doing normally.  I tried not to get overexcited about thinking about Nationals or even conference.  I just thought about what I needed to do every day to get better."
 
Stark will hit the track on Friday to compete in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field First Round in Austin, with the top finishers advancing to the National Championships in Eugene.
 
"Giving the best that you can in everything that you do to really live out and see the potential that is there.  I never wanted to leave a practice able to say 'I could've done more', that's something I learned in basketball.  In track and field it's a little bit different because you don't want to red-line every single time, but I didn't want to leave Idaho and look at the people and say 'I could've done more' in their lives."
 
Check back with GoVandals.com on Friday for an in-depth look at why and how Stark chose the steeplechase as his go-to event.
 
To stay current on all Vandal Athletics visit GoVandals.com, or follow the Vandals on Twitter, @Idaho_Vandals.
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho track and field/cross country by following the team on Twitter @IdahoTrack.