An interview with the fastest Tuba player

January 22, 2008

Indiana University Pennsylvaniaâ€™s Senior Sean Strauman might be the worldâ€™s fastest tuba player. Not that he necessarily runs and plays the tuba. Sean was the runner-up in the 800m at the Division II National Indoor Meet. Strauman ran a 1:50 about a second behind the winner Adams Stateâ€™s Nick Lara who ran a 1:49. He is a four-time all American and has already qualified for this yearâ€™s National Indoor Meet to be held at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

Sean began running like many other runners by first being involved in soccer. He had success in his senior year by finally running 1:57 for the 800m and 49.75 seconds for the 400m. This success led to him wanting to run in college. â€œI wanted to go to Penn. And I applied to Indiana University of Pennsylvania as a safety school. I also applied to West Virginia but they did not have a track program. Penn took some time to respond so I went ahead and accepted at IUP. We have a great coaching staff and I made the right decisionâ€ he said.

Sean does not only run at IUP, in the fall he participates in marching band along with training and classes. â€œI enjoy both; you have to get enjoyment out both and a lot of good out of both. I like to be busyâ€ he said. One could consider marching a bit of cross-training. â€œHelps with breathing and you are constantly movingâ€ he added.

As soon as December is flipped to on the calendar and Jack Frost settles in, Sean is back racing the 800m. â€œI like racing the top athletes in the 800m. You can really learn from themâ€ he explained â€œI really believe it to be the most exciting race in Track and Field. It is like a chess match until that third 200m then it is all about guts.â€

Sean knows how to play this particular chess match quite well but two particular matches stand out. â€œGetting second place indoor at the National meet was a real defining moment. I had a reputation of chokingâ€ he explained and then added â€œThen finally running 1:50 in the 800m because really once you get that time it comes easy to do it again or drop below.â€

He looks forward towards his last year competing at the college level for Track and Field. â€œI would like to challenge for the National title and break 1:50 indoor, eventually get down to 1:48â€ he said about his goals individually. â€œI just want to score as many points possible for the teamâ€ he added.

Since Sean knows what his plans are next. â€œI interned at a tax firm and I really did not like it. I do not want to go into the workforce right now. I plan to go into the MBA program and then run Cross Country in the fall. If my running continues to improve hopefully a sponsorshipâ€ he said.

Races of the weekend of Jan. 18-20 Here is a brief recap of Division II for this weekend there are plenty more race results and you can look at them at http://ustfccca.cstv.com/

Super Eight-Bemidji State University
Bemidji Stateâ€™s Joe Remitz met provisional standards in the shot put throwing a 17.03m and throwing 17.99m in the weight throw. His teammate Sheena Devine met the womenâ€™s qualifying standard in the shot-put throwing a 15.05m

Minnesota Open
MSU Mankatoâ€™s Brittany Henderson ran a provisional qualifying time in the 200m running a 25.85. North Dakota Stateâ€™s Brittany Gigstead and Christine Bruins hit provisional qualifying time in the 800m by running a 2:17.45 and a 2:17.85. Concordiaâ€™s Kawaskii Bacon in the 200m hit the provisional qualifying time by running a 22.23. North Dakota Stateâ€™s Cory Olson hit the automatic qualifying mark by running a 1:53.

PSAC west challenge-Slippery Rock
Slippery Rockâ€™s womanâ€™s team took the team title with 189.5 points over Lockhaven who had 147 points. Their menâ€™s team also won with 168 points and Lockhaven came in second with 142.5. Indianaâ€™s University Chris Gardner won the 55m and qualified with the time of 6.36.

*So, my grammar is horrible this coming from all the comments I get about my grammer. If anyone would like to volunteer to proof read and edit this column for me, please leave a comment below.

Post a Comment

#11	BH February 4, 2008 at 8:27pm Enjoyed this article...Always good to see a little cross training! reply
#10	Sarah_x January 25, 2008 at 8:25am Your grammar isn't that bad. These people are uptight. Gr. reply
#9	Cara Hawkins January 22, 2008 at 9:45pm http://www.trackshark.com/blogs/TimGoldsack/952/Interveiw with Sean Strauman world's fastest Tuba player.html This is the trackshack article-completely different quotes and everything. I actually found this article after I interviewed Sean but it is very good. reply
#8	This Article January 22, 2008 at 9:26pm Was written last year on trackshark with the same title reply
#7	Cara Hawkins January 22, 2008 at 8:38pm haha..thanks... reply
#6	Watts_x January 22, 2008 at 8:24pm First you need to spell grammar right. reply
#5	Roman_x January 22, 2008 at 3:43pm wish i could run that reply
#4	Cara Hawkins January 22, 2008 at 1:18pm S'Mac-if you would like to take the time to edit this please do, I would love to find an editor. reply
#3	Lmctrack2010_x January 22, 2008 at 11:19am "and i got a job following fat people around with a tuba" reply
#2	S'Mac January 22, 2008 at 10:55am But poor grammar. Ugh. reply
#1	David W January 22, 2008 at 1:57am Good Story reply