Grant Hewit and Jim O’Brien dashed through the streets of Pamplona, Spain, in their Princeton Tiger lacrosse shirts as massive bulls barreled down behind them.

The event became just one more adrenaline rush in the lives of these two lacrosse captains and best friends. In fact, before they joined each other on the college lacrosse field, it appeared they were destined to be friends.

‘Jimmy and I went on recruiting trips together before we even knew who each other was,’ Hewit said. ‘And now we’ve been hanging out ever since freshman year.’

The two will travel with their Princeton teammates to the Carrier Dome to face Syracuse at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The friendship between Hewit and O’Brien – who have started two games between them this season – stretches beyond sports. In fact – from bull-running experience to their Irish heritage – it stretches all the way to Europe.

The two spent a semester abroad in Ireland in one of the most exhilarating experiences of their lives. Though they had some exciting adventures, Ireland was not just wild times.

They both received a first-hand look at the tension encompassing Northern Ireland, including the intensity of the feud between Catholics and Protestants. O’Brien was astounded by a wall in Belfast that divided a Protestant and Catholic area of the city. While passing this partition in their taxi, they were cautioned by the driver that it was not a safe idea to leave the cab.

An experience like this has had a powerful effect on both Hewit and O’Brien. The two have chosen two aspects of the conflict in Northern Ireland as their senior thesis topics. Hewit was even able to personally interview Gerry Adams, president of the conservative party Sinn Fein.

Of course, their most celebrated experience took place not in Ireland, but in Spain. Since the moment they discovered they were going to Europe, Hewit and O’Brien had been planning to run with the bulls during the holiday of San Fermin.

They even mapped out a strategy for the course. The plan, though, quickly slipped their minds when the colossal bulls were let loose. Moreover, O’Brien jumped to a head start and ended up leaving his buddy behind.

‘We had a plan, but after the rocket went off (announcing the bulls to the gate) and the bulls were off, the plan went to hell,’ O’Brien said. ‘When you hear the bulls behind you, you don’t have time to be a good Samaritan.’

Nevertheless, both made it safely into the bullfighting stadium at the end of the route, although Hewit barely dodged one bull by inches. O’Brien searched for his missing comrade he had lost in the melee and was surprised to have Hewit leap on to his back. They proceeded to celebrate their thrilling experience before responding to the numerous nervous voicemails left by their parents.

Their experience has inspired a legend back at campus, and has even inspired fellow teammates to follow in the seniors’ footsteps at Pamplona. The two might have inadvertently sparked their own Princeton tradition – a ritual that might not sit well with Princeton lacrosse coach Bill Tierney.

‘I was not informed of their plans until after they ran,’ Tierney said. ‘When I finally found out, one part of you is so angry, and one part of you says, ‘Cool, how did it go?”

In spite of the events in Pamplona, Tierney is proud of all Hewit and O’Brien have accomplished over the years. He feels the tri-captains have already brought the lacrosse team back to respectability after last year’s poor season.

Still, Hewit and O’Brien have one more goal in mind, a goal that they know will bring them an even greater rush than the ones they experienced in Europe.

‘Every year we’re dedicating a season to winning an Ivy championship. We’re letting ourselves down and our class down if we didn’t devote ourselves to going there.’ Hewit said. ‘And, of course, it’s still an attainable goal to win a (national) championship.’

Published on April 5, 2006 at 12:00 pm