June 23, 2009

Ashland University cross country coaches Nick Cordes and Leigh Daniel share a love for running and each other, and now they are sharing their story with the nation as they compete in the NBC Today Show Throws a Wedding Contest.

The couple, who were distance runners at Ashland and Texas Tech, respectively, met in a post-collegiate Olympic Development Program in Michigan, and felt an instant spark. Dating other members of the program was frowned upon, and the pair's relationship was eventually discovered and they were asked to leave.

Cordes - a seven-time All-America at Ashland -- and Daniel - a two-time NCAA champion at Texas Tech -- were both interested in coaching, and at the same time they left the training program, the men's and women's cross country jobs at Ashland opened up.

"It was perfect timing after leaving the running group," said Daniel. "We both got the positions at Ashland and have been there for four years and love it."

After sharing many aspects of their lives over the last four years - running together every morning and practicing and traveling together with their respective teams - Cordes popped the question to Daniel in February and the couple started planning a wedding.

"We had been working on a wedding date and location, and finally got it set up a couple months after we got engaged," said Daniel. "The following day I saw on the Today Show they were starting to take applications for the wedding contest. I thought we should just sign up for it on whim. We sent in a one-minute video and filled out quite a few long questionnaires, and submitted ourselves."

The couple and their romantic story were picked to compete for an all-expense paid wedding that will be broadcast live on the Today Show on July 15. The winner is voted on by the Today Show audience. Cordes and Daniel are one of just three remaining couples, and will find out if they advance to the finals on the morning of June 24.

The wedding will feature Martina McBride as the entertainment, and will be a vineyard-themed affair. If Cordes and Daniel win the contest, the public will choose all of the other main components of the event.

"America votes on everything after the couple is chosen - the wedding dress, the groomsmen's outfits, the cake, the rings - everything else," said Cordes.

Cordes says the least favorite part of the experience has been the notoriety because he is not an attention seeker, but overall he has enjoyed the ride.

"The part I like the most is we get to see New York City and meet some really cool people," said Cordes. "We watch the Today Show all the time, so to get the chance to shake the hands of the people we see everything, that's really exciting. We don't get to travel very much because we don't make a lot of money, so this has been a real whirlwind for us."

Regardless of the contest's outcome, Daniel says that she's having the time of her life.

"We never thought we would have the opportunity to do this," said Daniel. "It's been a whirlwind of nervousness, but excitement to be traveling back and forth to New York and to be on the show and meet some of the reporters. It's been so much fun."

To read more about Cordes and Daniel's running romance, check out http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31064428/, or to find out more about the TODAY Throws a Wedding Contest read this: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30744331/ns/today_weddings-today_throws_a_wedding. If the pair remains in contention for the big prize, fans can for online for them.