Friday, November 9, 2001
Hawaii Pacific cross country star Christian Madsen says he tries to run as fast as he can because he doesn't want to get his rear-end kicked when he goes back home to Denmark. HPU’s Madsen eyes
top 10 national finishBy Brandon Lee
blee@starbulletin.comNo, the high school bully isn't laying in wait for him, but a spot on the Danish national team possibly is. And after his collegiate career, Madsen hopes to have improved enough to be able to hold his own with the very best in his country and the world.
For now, Madsen is more than shouldering the load for the Sea Warriors. The course-blazing junior has won six individual titles this year for the Pacific West Conference champions. His most recent win came last week at the West Regional Championship, which earned him region Male Athlete of the Year honors and a spot in the NCAA-II National Championship meet at Slippery Rock, Penn., on Nov. 17.
"His form is almost perfect at all times," said coach Vien Schwinn of her pupil. "He's an incredibly dedicated runner and he's always mentally prepared."
Earlier this year, Madsen didn't have much company when he ran, as he regularly beat his closest competitors by spans nearing two minutes for a 10K race. That wasn't the case at the regional (where he won by only three seconds), and it will definitely not be the case at nationals, where he will face his stiffest opposition of the year.
"Hopefully in the top 10, that would be a big goal," said Madsen, of where he hopes to finish next weekend.
According to Madsen, the runners from Western State College (Colo.) -- winners of the last two national championships -- are the favorites to take both the individual and team titles. That is the school that Madsen ran for as an All-American in 1998, taking 16th at nationals that year before transferring to HPU. Western State has several New Zealanders with national team experience, including Michael Aish, who ran the 10,000-meter race at the Sydney Olympics.
"I've run better than I expected this year," Madsen said. "(But) there's not much luck in running. (Aish) and some of the others are just in a league of their own."
For now, maybe, but for the Games of 2004, don't doubt the Great Dane's determination to join them.
Saturday's results West Region
Championship
At Bellingham, Wash.Men 10K
Team standings (top two, followed by PacWest): 1. UC Davis; 2. Cal State Chico; 9. Hawaii Pacific; 14. Brigham Young-Hawaii; 15. Hilo; 16. Chaminade; 18. Montana State-Billings.
Individual top 5 PacWest: 1. Christian Madsen, HPU, 32 minutes, 7 seconds; 45. Buck Stone, Chaminade, 34:14; 50. Kyle Briggs, BYUH, 34:23; 53. Abdeslam Naji, HPU, 34:39; 59. Chris Larson, HPU, 34:50.Women 6K
Team standings (top two, followed by PacWest): 1. UC Davis; 2. Humboldt State; 10. Hawaii Pacific; 15. Brigham Young-Hawaii; 20. MSU-Billings; 21. Chaminade.
Individual top 5 PacWest: 1. Nina Christensen, HPU, 21:37; 2. Lisa Blomme, HPU, 21:57; 5. Sayuri Kusutani, HPU, 22:02; 37. Alyson Zollinger, BYUH, 23:37; 51. Amanda Mauldin, BYUH, 23:59.
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