UT Martin Cross Country Runner Gets Surprise Gift at Conclusion of OVC Championship Race

UT Martin Cross Country Runner Gets Surprise Gift at Conclusion of OVC Championship Race

By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin

MARTIN, Tenn. - Shannon Wall was dead tired. After completing the 5k course at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships at Vaughn's Gap Course at Nashville's Edwin Warner Park in a little under 21:30, The University of Tennessee at Martin senior cross country runner was reeling and anxious to see if she had qualified for the next step in her career - the NCAA Regional Championships.

Little did she know that the "next step" would take on a whole new meaning just minutes later.

With the possibility of her collegiate cross country career coming to an end hanging in the balance, Wall was guided by a cluster of family and close friends towards her boyfriend of four years - Brandon Dicorato of Chattanooga. What happened next was a moment that brought on a flood of emotions from Wall, Dicorato, and several other onlookers - the true beginning of the "next step" - an engagement proposal.

"As soon as I was able to catch my breath, Brandon professed his love for me with tears filling his eyes," said Wall, a three-year letter-winner at UT Martin under head coach Gordon Sanders. "Before I knew it, he was down on one knee pulling out a gorgeous engagement ring."

Wall then began to cry before accepting the proposal, although her and Dicorato's eyes weren't the only ones who were moist at the moment. A group of complete strangers and fellow runners from other OVC schools had huddled around and witnessed the entire proposal.

"Many people we did not know came to congratulate us and see the ring," Wall said. "Brandon sure did announce to the world how much he loves me - which is something he always told me he wanted to do."

Not knowing the proposal was coming, one can only imagine the wide range of emotions in such a short span of time that Wall experienced. The Cordova native surely felt gratification of completing the race, anxiety to hear her final placing, confusion on why she was being rushed off to the side to be with Dicorato, shock once she figured out the proposal was a reality, and pure joy and excitement when she realized she would be spending the rest of her life with her boyfriend of four years.

"I did not get any hints (the proposal was coming)," Wall said. "I really did not think he would propose until this coming summer or maybe the first of the year. He did very well with catching me off guard."

The two met at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where Wall attended her freshman year and ran cross country. They became immediate friends before Sanders offered Wall a scholarship to come across the state to UT Martin.

"I took Coach Sanders' offer knowing I would never get anything like that from Chattanooga," Wall said. "It was extremely difficult to leave Brandon behind and start a new page in my life. Little did we know it would be the beginning to a wonderful journey."

While most long-distance relationships are severely trying on the two souls, Wall kept strong and lived by a motto that Dicorato told her when she made her decision to come to UT Martin.

"Brandon has always told me, 'I just keep my eye on the prize and know that times may be tough now but when I get to be with her all the rest of my days, then it will all be worth it,'" Wall said.

The strong relationship endured several trips back-and-forth between the two cities over the last three-plus years, as the two often burned Interstate 40 and Interstate 24 for the 296-mile trek.

Chattanooga seems to be the logical destination as to where the two will continue their relationship, as Wall plans to move there this summer for an internship in an occupational therapy setting. Once she completes her internship, Wall wants to attend occupational therapy school in the fall of 2010 at UT Chattanooga, while Dicorato is planning to start his master's in education this coming spring at UT Chattanooga.

"We don't have an exact wedding date in mind, but we know it will be in the next two years," Wall said. "We are both very excited and can't wait to be in the same time zone, zip code, area code and city."

For now though, Wall will focus on obtaining her exercise science degree at UT Martin, while also taking part in the NCAA South Regional that will take place in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Amidst the excitement over her impending engagement, Wall learned that herself and three other Skyhawk runners qualified for the regionals that will take place on Nov. 14.

Engagement aside, all in all it's been quite a year for Wall, who led the UT Martin women's squad in all six cross country meets in 2009.

"My running career here at UT Martin has been one I will never forget," Wall said. "It has put a lot of stress on Brandon and I at times, but he has been very supportive and understanding of my busy schedule."

Amongst the middle of the circle where Dicorato proposed to Wall on Saturday was Sanders, who couldn't be any more proud of what Wall has become since he offered her a scholarship back in 2006.

"Shannon is a very grounded girl," Sanders said. "Brandon is very grounded as well and that was proven by their long-distance relationship. I'm glad Shannon ended her cross country season this way - she has been a leader from the get-go. It's good to see these two have solid plans for the future."

For Wall, the coach who found her in Chattanooga as a freshman four years ago has served as a great motivator and friend.

"I have really enjoyed running for Coach Sanders," Wall said. "He does make me run a lot of mileage throughout the week - 50 miles - but I have learned that it will help me in the long run. I have dropped over a minute off my personal best time in the 5k since I have been here, ran a 10k on a track, and this past spring I did my first steeplechase.

"I am looking forward to running track for coach in the spring. Coach and I both strongly believe that I do have some big personal best times to reach."