For Affolder, pride in the U.S. uniform runs deep

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Noah Affolder strode through the halls at Carlisle High School draped in Team USA swag for a full week leading up to Christmas.

He knows how that probably looked to his classmates, but he didn’t care.

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“I wore a different outfit every single day,” Affolder said. “Some kids at school probably thought I was a total tool. I didn’t care. I was all eyes forward.”

Affolder will represent the U.S. for the first time in international competition Saturday at the Great Edinburgh XCountry International Challenge in Scotland. He’ll compete in the 6-kilometer junior men’s race along with fellow preps Sam Worley, Finn Gessner and Seth Hirsch, in addition to college freshmen Conor Lundy (Princeton) and Kenny Vasbinder (Columbia).

For Affolder, the idea of racing and representing the country carries profound weight. His family has deep roots in the military. His father, Jason, is 20 years into an Army career that has caused the family to move 15 times. Jason Affolder also served in Afghanistan. His mother, Brandyn, was an Army reservist.

“It’s phenomenal to wear the Team USA jersey,” Noah Affolder said. “My parents are happy I get to represent the country. My dad knows that what he’s done in the military is why my wearing the uniform feels so special.”

Affolder, who is competing for his third high school in three states, is committed to Syracuse after graduation.

The Great Edinburgh race comes less than a month after he placed sixth at the Foot Locker national finals in San Diego. Affolder was the pre-race favorite, but didn’t run up to his usual standard, slowed slightly by a tender hamstring.

“Getting sixth at Foot Locker was kind of a punch in the throat,” Affolder said. “That’s not what I had trained for, for six years. I know that God has his plan and no matter how hard I tried, He’s going to prevail.”

Affolder got interested in the Edinburgh trip after talking to former Arcadia High star and Colorado freshman Philip Rocha at the conclusion of the 2015 Foot Locker race. In preparation for the possibility of making the trip, Affolder renewed his passport and made it clear to the team selectors that he was interested.

But after finishing sixth in San Diego, Affolder wasn’t sure he’d get the call.

“I was a little skeptical and really anxious,” Affolder said. “I knew the guys who were trying to go and I thought I had a pretty good chance of making the team. But I also knew they were watching more races than just Foot Locker nationals.”

Affolder said the Edinburgh trip should not affect his goals for indoor track. His workouts are structured toward running indoors, with an emphasis on helping Carlisle compete March 10-12 at New Balance Nationals Indoor in the 4x800 and distance medley relays.

The race Saturday in Scotland is about wearing the U.S. uniform and getting some well-earned mud on it.

“This is a great opportunity,” Affolder said. “It’s icing on the cake and the last present under the (Christmas) tree.”