Susan Kuijken
FSU Cross Country Champion
Susan Kuijken, originally from Nijmegen in the Netherlands, is a sophomore cross country champion. Currently, she holds the 2007 NCAA Track All-American in the 1500m, as one of the top eight performers. She is also the 2007 NCAA Track All East Region All-ACC. In 2006, she held the title of NCAA Cross Country All-American, NCAA Cross Country All-South Region, and NCAA South Region Athlete of the Year.
“Susan is the top returning runner on the cross country team and looks to be a leader this year as well. Her positive attitude and work ethic along with a lot of God-given talent have made her one of the best cross country and middle distance runners in the NCAA. Susan's front running and achievements have raised the level expectation for everyone on the team,” declares Karen Harvey, Cross Country Assistant Coach.
Competition in the U.S. is a lot different in comparison to the Netherlands, largely due to the fact that in the U.S. the team is emphasized. There are numerous practices involving the whole team and team scores overall are the focal point, whereas in the Netherlands the individual practices on their own about as much as they would practice with the team, notes Kuijken on the differences between the teams in Netherlands and the U.S.
These differences are simply a matter of culture that Kuijken keenly accepts. “Being an international student is different from being a domestic student because I have to get used to a different country as well as a university,” states Kuijken. “The dynamic of FSU, provides a microcosmic world that makes learning here doubly exciting.” With students from abroad, across the country and from within the state, Kuijken couldn’t be more right.
Kuijken, though an accomplished athlete, makes time to have fun which she believes ought to be the prime factor in anything that you choose to do. Coach Harvey reiterates, “She is one of the few that I have met that is able to separate herself from the sport's intensity when it is just time to have fun and relax. She is very balanced and grounded with her identity, and I believe this part of her character will take her far, not only in the sport of running, but also into the business world.”
Kuijken has hopes of one day winning her first nationals. She also has a website, www.susankuijken.nl, written in Dutch and dedicated to the collection of her stats.