Runner excels in classroom

Many college students have a hard time managing their time. Many try to find the balance between studies and free time. Freshman Mindy Peterson is no exception. However, she has honors classes and a cross country schedule to deal with. And she has done both of these things very well.\nPeterson is one of the top runners for IU's cross country team. She has placed no worse than third for the team in all six of the races she has run in this season. With practices and classes, finding the time to do the things she wants isn't always easy.\nPractices range from sprint drills to long runs to lifting weights. Weekends don't even offer time off.\n"Basically you don't have much free time," Peterson said. "I'm either running, in class, studying, eating or sleeping."\n Peterson has to study often. She is enrolled in the Honors program. She spends 20-25 hours a week studying outside of class. She attends study tables for the freshmen runners at least twice a week. Still, she manages to be in bed before midnight every school night.\nHead coach Judy Bogenschutz considers Peterson to be the total student athlete.\n "Her outlook is different than other people her age," Bogenschutz said. "She is probably one of the most mature 18-year-olds I've ever met. She is concerned with her studies. She doesn't let people sway her decisions."\n Peterson came to IU along with 10 other freshmen in the cross country program. Peterson said that all of the freshmen get along really well. Fellow freshman runner Amber Miller is happy that Peterson is here at IU.\n"She is a great person all-around," Miller said. "She encourages us as freshmen not to sell ourselves short just because we are freshmen. She is very supportive. She has a strong work ethic and that rubs off on people."\nPeterson said that even though she has been running well, she doesn't think of herself as a leader.\n"I feel like a freshman," she said. "I don't feel confident enough to lead, but I'm not a follower either."\nBeing a freshman, Peterson looks to many of the older runners for guidance.\n"I look up to all of the girls for different reasons, but I look up to (junior) Allyson Hammond the most because she has been to Nationals," Peterson said. "I look up to (sophomore) Audrey Giesler because she always knows what to say. I look up to (sophomore) Becky Obrecht by watching what she does in her running."\nPeterson has plans of possibly running in the Olympics, but for now she is focusing on her running at IU. She had hoped to place in the top 15 at the Big Ten Championships this past Sunday in her home state of Illinois. She ended up placing 16th. She also hopes to go farther than that.\n"My main goal is that I want to go to Nationals, but it really doesn't seem that far away," she said. "Maybe not this year, but definitely next year"