The drive that propelled Wesley Curles to keep going on long training runs when he felt like quitting still serves him well.
A first-year student at the University of Alabama-Birmingham's medical school, Curles completed a decorated career for Auburn's cross country and track and field teams in May, graduating in biomedical sciences with a 3.96 GPA.
"The main difference that I've noticed in medical school is that, instead of splitting my focus between academics and athletics, it's pouring it all into school," said Curles, a graduate of Auburn University's College of Sciences and Mathematics. "I'm able to run, but just treating that as extracurricular and free time. It absolutely served me well."
The self-discipline Curles developed on the Plains helps him manage the challenges of med school.
"I think the grind is different, but it's very similar," he said. "It's a lot of the same muscles, the same willpower that you use and it's a very familiar feeling."
Curles returned to Auburn for this past weekend's Homecoming game after a busy week of tests for what he calls "an enormous honor and completely overwhelming."
He was the recipient of the Cliff Hare Award, given annually to a senior student-athlete for academic and athletic success as well as leadership, integrity and courage. Curles became just the second track and field recipient of the award, joining Randy Hudson, who was honored in 1989.
Curles, who plans to practice pediatrics or family medicine, finished fourth in the mile at the 2017 SEC Indoor Championships and fifth in the 1500 meters at SEC Outdoors as a junior. Twice, his teammates voted him team captain.
"I don't think any of those achievements would have been as fun if it were just me," he said. "Relationships, primarily with my teammates, especially the distance group of the track and field team. That's what lasts.
"I was expecting close relationships with my teammates, but I think the relationships with the faculty and the coaching staff. Those were some of my favorite people that I've met. Distance coaches, teachers and advisers. That was something that was definitely a surprise. That's what I remember and enjoy looking back on."
A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Curles earned an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, received the 2017-18 SEC Brad C. Davis Community Service Award, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award from President Steven Leath, and was a Rhodes Scholarship nominee.
"Looking back on it now, I'm able to compare my experience at Auburn to what I expected and it exceeded every expectation and dream," he said. "And I'm just overwhelmed with thankfulness."
Cliff Hare Award Winners
Year Athlete, Sport
1958 Jimmy Phillips, Football
1959 Lloyd Nix, Football
1960 Henry Hart, Basketball
1961 Ed Dyas, Football
1962 Don Machen, Football
1963 Layton Johns, Basketball
1964 Mailon Kent, Football
1965 Billy Edge, Football
1966 John Cochran, Football
1967 Bobby Beaird, Football
1968 Marvin Tucker, Football
1969 Al Griffin, Football
1970 Connie Frederick, Football
1971 Alvin Bresler, Football
1972 Pat Sullivan, Football
1973 Mike Neel, Football
1974 Benny Sivley, Football
1975 Bobby Davis, Football
1976 Rick Neel, Football
1977 Gary Schatz, Swimming
1978 Marvin Trott, Football
1979 Jeff Gray, Football
1980 Charlie Trotman, Football
1981 Ambrose "Rowdy" Gaines, Swimming
1982 Edmund Nelson, Football
1983 Mark Dorminey, Football
1984 Randy Campbell, Football
1985 Gregg Carr, Football
1986 Rob Shuler, Football
1987 Yann Cowart, Football
1988 Rodney Bowman, Swimming
1989 Randy Hudson, Track
1990 Win Lyle, Football
1991 Geoff Answini, Swimming
1992 Chad Muilenburg, Football
1993 Karekin Cunningham, Football
1994 Stan White, Football
1995 Jay Waggoner, Baseball
1996 Patrick Nix, Football
1997 Wes Flanigan, Basketball
1998 Dameyune Craig, Football
1999 Casey Dunn, Baseball
2000 Mathew Busbee, Swimming
2001 Jeff Somensatto, Swimming
2002 Estevam Strecker, Tennis
2003 Ben Nowland, Football
2004 B.J. Jones, Swimming
2005 Caesar Garcia, Diving
2006 Doug Van Wie, Swimming
2007 Steven Segerlin, Diving
2008 Jay Moseley, Golf
2009 Glenn Northcutt, Golf
2010 Jordan Anderson, Swimming
2011 Dan Mazzaferro, Diving
2012 Corey Luckie, Baseball
2013 Ashton Richardson, Football
2014 T.J. Leon, Swimming
2015 Frazer McKean, Diving
2016 Justin Youtsey, Diving
2017 Joe Patching, Swimming
2018 Wesley Curles, Track