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Larson leads, year after year
By Stephanie Riebe
Collegian Reporter
For five seasons, senior
Steve Larson has led the men's track team by example.
Larson may not be the team's most vocal leader,
but his work ethic has molded him into a nationally-ranked distance
runner.
"Steve has never been the most outspoken
person on the team, yet he always demands respect," junior
Kyle Fujimoto said. "His knowledge of the sport and his
obvious talents have been a blessing to be a part of."
Larson's quiet nature has not held him back
from the success he's had as a runner for the past five years.
His achievements are many, and he holds a title no other Charger
has had: Last year he became Hillsdale's first NCAA Division
II All-American in cross country.
Larson has competed in the NCAA national meet
in outdoor track for the past two years, running the 5,000-meter
race. In February Larson was nominated for Athlete of the Meet
at the indoor GLIAC track competition, an award he won at the
outdoor GLIAC competition his sophomore year.
"Steve continually leads the team by his performance,"
coach Bill Lundberg said. "Having a guy like Steve in the
program for five years is an athlete you really watch to lead
the way."
Larson is spending a fifth year at Hillsdale
to make up for his second track season, when he was redshirted
due to a leg injury.
Instead of cutting back during his final year
in college, Larson has continued to prove himself as an athlete
and a student. Even though he wasn't eligible to run with the
cross country team this season, Larson trained consistently
with the team in preparation for his final track season. He
has also taken on the responsibilities of a resident adviser
in Galloway Hall, and continues to be involved in the One-on-One
mentoring program. A double major in history and philosophy/religion,
Larson has continued to live his final days at Hillsdale to
the fullest.
"Steve's fifth year has been one of rewards,"
Lundberg said. "The team continually looks toward Steve
in his training, his knowledge, his love for his family, and
his desire to help others."
As Larson's time at college draws to a close,
one might think that the competition of running will be the
element of his career he'll miss the most. However, the friendships
he has formed with his teammates are what Larson said he will
miss when he heads to seminary in the fall.
"I'm going to miss not being on a team
with all the guys," Larson said. "After spending so
much time running together, we all have become good friends.
Once you've run a 20-miler with someone, you become closer to
each other."
Fujimoto said Larson has helped him grow as
a runner.
"He has taught me a lot both about training
and about life in general," Fujimoto said. "Just watching
him dominate the conference makes me want to train that much
harder to get where he is."
Larson has made an impact on those he has
connected with on the track and cross country teams "He
is strong in character and has always been a scholar-athlete,"
Lundberg said. "I am honored and privileged to be called
his coach."
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