This spring, the GoDutchmen.com LVC Cross Country Blog will be running, pun intended, a series entitled, “Running Across the Globe,” which chronicles the experiences of four student-athletes studying abroad in various locations. The range of topics will be rather free-form in nature, covering some of what they come across on foot while they are running but also focusing on some of their other study abroad adventures including their academic experiences and what it is like to be immersed in a completely different culture than what they are used to. We hope you’ll enjoy these blog entries as a means of taking in some of what a student-athlete at LVC can experience while studying abroad; jumping into a new environment in an attempt to expand their horizons and what they know about the world around them
Junior captain Brad Sweigart will be studying abroad in Berlin, Germany. Brad will be staying with a host family and studying at Freie Universität. Brad ran as the team’s number one or two runner all season and posted the team’s best time over 8000 meters in 26:45 at the Paul Short Run.
Junior captain Jenn Cronin, an NCAA finalist and the USTFCCCA Mideast Regional Runner of the Year,will be studying abroad in Valladolid, Spain. Jenn will also be staying with a host family and studying at Universitas Castellae. Additionally, Jenn ran the team’s best time over 6000 meters in 21:39 at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships, also a school record.
Sophomores Tiffany Frederick and Katie Sharkey will be studying abroad in Hamilton, NewZealand. They will be living at and taking classes in the University of Waikato. Tiff, a middle distance runner, performed as the team’s number 4 runner at the MAC Championships, where the team had their best finish in school history. Katie, in her first season of collegiate XC, had a great year and steadily improved throughout as well as having a huge impact on team morale.
Please be sure to check in from time to time to catch all of the great experiences that these four are sure to have!
