Indiana University Pennsylvania’s Senior Sean Strauman might be the world’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 State’s Nick Lara who ran a 1:49. He is a four-time all American and has already qualified for this year’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. “I 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 decision” he said. Sean does not only run at IUP, in the fall he participates in marching band along with training and classes. “I enjoy both; you have to get enjoyment out both and a lot of good out of both. I like to be busy” he said. One could consider marching a bit of cross-training. “Helps with breathing and you are constantly moving” he added. As soon as December is flipped to on the calendar and Jack Frost settles in, Sean is back racing the 800m. “I like racing the top athletes in the 800m. You can really learn from them” he explained “I 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.” Sean knows how to play this particular chess match quite well but two particular matches stand out. “Getting second place indoor at the National meet was a real defining moment. I had a reputation of choking” he explained and then added “Then finally running 1:50 in the 800m because really once you get that time it comes easy to do it again or drop below.” He looks forward towards his last year competing at the college level for Track and Field. “I would like to challenge for the National title and break 1:50 indoor, eventually get down to 1:48” he said about his goals individually. “I just want to score as many points possible for the team” he added. Since Sean knows what his plans are next. “I 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 sponsorship” 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 State’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 women’s qualifying standard in the shot-put throwing a 15.05m Minnesota Open MSU Mankato’s Brittany Henderson ran a provisional qualifying time in the 200m running a 25.85. North Dakota State’s Brittany Gigstead and Christine Bruins hit provisional qualifying time in the 800m by running a 2:17.45 and a 2:17.85. Concordia’s Kawaskii Bacon in the 200m hit the provisional qualifying time by running a 22.23. North Dakota State’s Cory Olson hit the automatic qualifying mark by running a 1:53. PSAC west challenge-Slippery Rock Slippery Rock’s woman’s team took the team title with 189.5 points over Lockhaven who had 147 points. Their men’s team also won with 168 points and Lockhaven came in second with 142.5. Indiana’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.