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Show sports Sports editor: Brandon Rodak - Phone: 626-7983 Kennedy driven by passion for work By Robby Duncan sports wrher-Signpost Few people expected great things from Nute Kennedy when he began his collegiate career in track, but after an outstanding freshmen year people began banking on his success. When Kennedy first committed to come to Weber State University, he didn't know at what level he was about to be running on. He graduated from Evanston High School in Wyoming in 1991 and felt he was destined for greatness. Kennedy realized that Wyoming wasn't a hot bed of great runners, so he decided to come to WSU because he heard it offered an outstanding track program. "When 1 got here I worked really hard. 1 felt that I had a great coach and great teammates to follow and carry me through the hard times," Kennedy said. Kennedy made his presence known during his first year in the cross-country season by running on the varsity team who placed fourth in the national championships in Tucson, Ariz. He also took home All-Conference honors indoors by running a 4:08 mile. It was during the outdoor season that this star began to rise. Kennedy ran 8:48 in the 3000-meter steeplechase which qualified him for the NCAA and the U.S. Junior National Championships.He went to NCAA, but failed to make it out of the trials. At the Junior, however, he won the national championship and went to the Junior Worlds, but didn't make it out of the semi-finals. He also ran 3:46 in the 1500-meters during the summer while on the : i. 1 Nathan Kennedy Junior national team. This placed him third on the all-time list here at WSU. Following all this, Kennedy served an LDS mission in Southern California where he continued his passion for hard work. He was slightly disheartened, however, when he returned and didn't pick up right where he left off. "With all of the good things I did as a freshmen, I had a lot of pressure from outside sources, not to mention myself, to do well, and it was a little frustrating at first," Kennedy said. It took some time, but with hard work and coach Hislop's help, Kennedy is finally running up to where he wants to be. He had a good cross-country season this past fall running as the No. one runner and placing high enough to run at the NCAA as an individual. He took 50th place, just missing AU-American status. He has high goals for the remainder of the outdoor season. "The first thing I wanted to do this year was qualify for nationals. I also want to run the best I can for the team at the conference meet, be- m r ' i.'-r"'- t ; 7-: -" m. I ' - 1 """""" ' - -. j i ., - - . , , 3 WSU's Nathan Kennedy is intent on keeping up his record-breaking performances with continued determination. cause we have an excellent chance of winning the championship. But most of all, I want to get that All-American award," Kennedy said. Kennedy also has plans of winning the national championship. He knows though that he will have to beat Pascal Dobert of the University of Wisconsin the fastest returnee in the race. "Pascal has set the standard for perfection this year, and I know that he will continue to run well. But as long as I keep working hard, I think I could beat him at nationals. He may be the best, but that's why we race it out. Anyone can win on any given day. As long as I run my race I know I have a shot at winning," Kennedy said. Kennedy has come to the point in his racing career in which he feels he can set a per-, sonal best every time he steps onto the track. So far, he has run 8:46 in the steeplechase and 3:44 in the 1500-meter. Both times are provisional national qualifying marks. He has also run a 1:50 in the 800-meter, lowering his old personal best by two seconds. He leads the conference in both steeplechase and 1500-meter and is near the top of the list in the 800-meter. PJ2LB and RJBA scorGDord Thursday April 30 games, Boston 11 National League Atlanta 12 Detroit 8 Anaheim 2 Cincinnati 3 Milwaukee 4 Winning pitcher: Colorado 11 Winning pitcher: . Winning pitcher: Hammond (1-0) Chicago 5 Danny Neagle (4-0) Justin Thompson (2-2) Winning pitcher: Oakland 11 Kevin Ritz (3-3) Colorado - 11 Texas 6 Cleveland - 9 Chicago. 5 Chicago 2 (6) Winning pitcher:. San Francisco 6 Winning pitcher: Winning pitcher: Taylor (1-1) Pittsburgh , . 1 Kevin Ritz (2-3) Bobby Witt (5-0) winning pitcher: Wednesday, April 29, Mark Gardner (2-1 ) Los Angeles 7 Toronto 1 NBA Playoff games Philadelphia 5 Kansas City 0 Montreal 8 Winning pitcher: Winning pitcher: Chicago 96 Houston 6 Hideo Nomo (3-2) Roger Clemens (4-0) Washington 95 Winning pitcher: High scorer: Carlos Perez (4-1) American League Baltimore 12 Michael Jordan, 28 points Minnesota 3 St. Louis 6 New York 3 Winning pitcher: Portland 98 Florida 2 Seattle 2 Wayne Kamieniecki (2-0) Los Angeles 90 Winning pitcher: Winning pitcher: High scorer: Allan Benes (3-2) David Wells (2-1) Shaquille O'Neal, 29 points 'Fitastic' offers aerobic fitness for everyone By Brandon Rodak sports editor-Si'gHposf For Tuesday's 50 sweaty participants in Weber State University's "Fitastic" aerobics program, working the body to the extreme for better overall fitness seems to be the goal in mind. Young and even younger participants put their stamina and energy on display in WSU's HPEC. They gave new meaning to "Sweatin' to the Oldies." Participants were led by aerobics instructors in 10 different fitness stations. Stations included ftve cardiovascular exercises and five exercises for toning of the body's muscles. Exercises such as step movements and boxing helped the athletes fulfill their ultimate goal, elevation of the heart rate. Other activities such as the use of the resist-a-ball were used for toning. Also new activities such as the 32-count step program where one foot leads before the other on the step boxes. Sherry Dusenberry, lead aerobics instructor, believes that the "Fitastic" event is a good opportunity "to promote the program and let the community lcnow what we're all about." "It also shows off our facilities and makes people aware of the talent of our instructors," Dusenberry said. According to Dusenberry, the entire WSU corps of instructors are CPR certified and most are aerobics instructors with professional certification from a local fitness or athletic club. Some also train with Kristi Brooks of the Cardiax gym located in Roy. Freshman Kiki Bune, aerobics instructor and WSU cheerleader, is one of the professionally certified instructors. Bune endured an eight-week certification course offered by Total Fitness, 550 25th Street, which cost $150. Next she had to pass a practical exam that cost her an additional $150. As a result of passing the tests, Bune became an instructor certified by the American Fitness Association of America (AFAA). Bune enjoyed the variety of the workouts offered at the "Fitastic" event. . "They the participants get See Fitness page 9 |