Peterson pushes to new heights

Running nearly 50 miles per week while taking summer classes is not normal for the average college student.\nBut while most of the IU campus was home during the summer recess, junior Mindy Peterson stayed in Bloomington to focus on her upcoming cross country season doing just that.\nPeterson was an Academic All-Big Ten selection and IU's top finisher in every race during the 2002 season except for the Big Ten Championship. She ran a 6 kilometer personal record at the 2002 NCAA Championships with a 20:55 and was training this summer to prepare for the 2003 season.\n"All of the experience from last year is going to be very valuable for me this year as I race in Big Tens, Regionals and then NCAA's," Peterson said. "I think that the experience of nationals will be very beneficial to all of our runners."\nPeterson's workout partner for most of the summer was fellow teammate and senior Audrey Giesler. Not only did Peterson and Giesler train this past summer, but they have been training together since Peterson's freshman year. Peterson feels their relationship has been crucial to her success and development.\n"She is very valuable to not only me, but also our team and the many other people whose lives she has impacted," she said.\nCoach Judy Wilson said getting Peterson and Giesler to run together on race day as they do in workouts is key, but Peterson needs to realize that she has great potential.\n"If she can have the same approach to a race as she does for a workout mentally, she'll be top 20 at nationals this year," Wilson said.\nGiesler, who finished with a 21:03 in the 2002 NCAA Championship, said that she and Peterson are able to push each other's limits. Both look to provide the one-two punch that will help to lead IU back for a repeat appearance at the 2003 NCAA Championship.\n"The greatest part about running with her is that I never feel like we're competing against each other," Giesler said. "I feel like we're just pushing each other to be as fast as we can."\n-- Contact staff writer Steve Slivka at smslivka@indiana.edu.