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Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(article posted by Emily Zadny, Student Sports Information Assistant)

May 18, 2015 - For junior distance runner Ken Hoffman, making the decision to run cross country and track and field in college was easy and running at North Central College was a no-brainer as well.

His father had been a thrower in high school and college and helped his son get involved in the sport when he was in middle school.

"He tried putting me into throwing but it wasn't going as well as we thought it would," said Hoffman. "I began running distance running in middle school and have continued it since. It has always been a big part of my life and was definitely something I knew I wanted to continue in college."

When it came time to start thinking about college and leaving his hometown of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Hoffman had a few ideas about where he wanted to spend his next four years.
"I did tours of a whole bunch of schools, but I thought it would be kind of cool going somewhere out of state," he said. "I actually grew up in Naperville so when I came to North Central, it just felt right. The cross country and track programs definitely drew me in as well."

As a member of both the cross country and track and field teams, Hoffman found an event that combined the best of both worlds to run during the outdoor track and field season. The steeplechase, an event that combines seven and a half laps around a 400-meter track with five hurdles and water obstacles each lap, is his favorite event to run.

"I think the steeplechase is a lot of fun," said Hoffman. "It's all about strategy and ties in with cross country well. But it's tough because unlike any other running event, if you run too hard or fast you won't have the energy to go over the hurdles. You can't go out too hard or too easy—you have to make sure you pace yourself.".

Hoffman has been successful this season in the event, claiming the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Conference title at the outdoor championships in early May. He currently holds the fastest time out of all the Cardinals in the event with a personal best time of 9:10.39 recorded on Friday in the Gregory Invitational at North Central.

"I really want to become an All-American in the steeplechase and gain experience going into my senior so that I can improve and run the best that I can," he said.

The family feel on the team creates an atmosphere that breeds success, led by a seasoned coaching staff and athletes who love their sport and school. Hoffman believes that's one of the best parts about being a Cardinal.

"My main role models are my teammates. They are the ones putting in the hard work everyday and that's my main motivation," he said. "Our coaches really help with that as well. [Al Carius] is awesome. It's so much fun to be a part of a team that not only performs well but also a team with the same goal: be the best you can be. When you're surrounded by that mentality, it only pushes you further. That starts with Al: he instills that in us and keeps pushing us to achieve that."

While running is a major part of his life, the actuarial science major keeps himself busy with classes and his internship with the accounting firm Lauterbach & Amen. He also helped start the Actuarial Science Club that took off this year.

"I do a lot of studying," Hoffman said. "Actuarial science is a lot of math and finance classes!"

After qualifying with the 16th-fastest time among NCAA Division III competitors, Hoffman is one of 11 Cardinals gearing up for the National Championships in Canton, New York this weekend. Action begins on Thursday and runs through Saturday.