Folders |
Chris Bendtsen 10kPublished by
By: Elliot Denman Not even close. But, someday, he’s determined to prove himself one of the fastest men in the Big Apple. Consider him off to a good start in his chosen path. On the one hand, he finished “only” 14th in the 10,000-meter run, first major men’s final on the program of the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He finished ahead of just two others. On the other hand, the majority of the men who completed the 25-lapper ahead of him at Sacramento State University’s Hornet Stadium were professional, virtually full-time racers with no major concerns in their lives other than tomorrow’s workout plans and yesterday’s “splits.” You know, such distinguished performers as Galen Rupp, the Nike-backed 2012 Olympic silver medalist, American record-holder (at 2:44.36), and after his 28:12.07 triumph at Hornet Stadium a six-time USA champion; Chris Derrick, another Nike man, ex-Stanford star, and runner-up to Rupp in 28:18.18, and Brooks-sponsored ex-Oklahoma State man Ryan Vail, third over the line in 28:26.02. Etc., etc. Still, Chris Bendtsen is the kind of guy who is the essence of his sport. Nobody’s paying Chris Bendtsen to run. Nobody gave Chris Bendtsen a free ride through college. And it’s pure speculation if Bendtsen will ever make a buck out of running. But he obviously loves the running game and is intent on staying in it for quite a while. He’ll keep running because he loves running. For Chris Bendtsen, these are all the right reasons and motivation enough. His dossier is already excellent – if not world class. A recent graduate of Princeton University, the Wolcott, Ct. product was a two-time Ivy League champion (cross country in 2012, the outdoor 5,000 meters in 2014), an NCAA All-America at 10,000 meters, and a celebrated member of the Tigers’ ground-breaking 4xmile relay championship team at the 2011 Penn Relays. It’s clear – he’s a Tiger ready to be unleashed on the running world “I have a job in New York working for a marketing research company,” he tells you. “It’s called E-Marketers, but I’m not going to stop running now by any means. “I know I can do a whole lot better than I’m doing now. Definitely. “There are so many great running opportunities in New York, and year-round. “This was my first (outdoor USA) Nationals and I know I didn’t run very well. I got a cramp and it was really tough for me. But I did run pretty well at NCAA Nationals two weeks ago (placing ninth in the 10,000) and that was encouraging, kind of my season highlight. “Tonight, I was in the same race as Galen Rupp, but I don’t know if you could say I was running against him, I don’t know if you could call it that. “It was an honor just to step on the line with these guys. These guys are my heroes, the guys I look up to. It was cool to be in the same race. “I know I didn’t perform well at Nationals. “But there’s always next year and the year after that.” That was spoken like a true student-athlete, a guy who looks every day, every race, every life experience as a key element of the lifelong learning process. As Galen Rupp was learning, Chris Bendtsen was learning, too. |