Panther Profile

Cross Country takes dedication and a lot of training, both of which sophomore runner Thibault Vandenabeele seems to have.  The leader of the pack, who in 2009 gained an automatic berth for the NCAA Championship, will again try to make it to the NCAA Championship for the 2010 season.  Vandenabeele leads a Panther squad that is ranked fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference.

"Fifth is pretty good. I hope that everybody in the team will do a good job," said Vandenabeele.

Having good chemistry will help the team be better, which is something Vandenabeele feels the team has.

"The team spirit is good, we spend many times together, and I feel comfortable with the team and the coaches," said Vandenabeele.

Vandenabeele hopes the team will do well, but also has some individual goals that he wishes to achieve.

"The only goals for me are the nationals and the conference. I want to win the conference whatever the time; it is just the fact of winning. For the nationals, I want to do better than last year, a better time and a better place. The conference is important; the other races are more like a preparation for the conference," he said.

Unlike many runners, Vandenabeele hasn't been competing in races for very long.

"I began to run five years ago in a club; we don't have sports in high school. It is a big change for me; I like the college spirit very much," he commented.

At UNI, Vandenabeele decided to turn his club running into competitive college racing.  The leading runner, who is originally from Belgium, had a great experience at the 2009 NCAA Championship.

"My best memory in cross country is the nationals last year. ... I had no goals, I just wanted to run for myself, trying to not think about the other teams, trying to do the best I can. ... I ran the first mile far behind everybody at the look of all spectators. Finally I finished 90th and I was really impressed of my performance," Vandenabeele recalled.

Vandenabeele loves many sports.  He enjoys climbing, soccer and biking. In sports he likes to see friends and meet new people as well.

He also doesn't have any role models.

"I try to think that they are normal people like me, I don't want to put a barrier between them and me but I respect what they did," said Vandenabeele.

Vandenabeele also had some thoughts on training and eating habits for running.

"I usually eat rice and chicken, no sauce, no vegetable. I drink only water. I don't run too much mileage (more or less 50); I focus more on the quality of training. I also practice biking and swimming once a week. I still like to practice other sports. We do also lifting with the team. It is a good atmosphere," he said.

Vandenabeele's name might seem a little bit confusing to read, however, the Panther runner doesn't mind his confusing name.

"Everybody confuses my name but I don't mind. I'm a shy person and I feel less self-confident in public, so it is better that people confuse my name. It is usually funny and it relaxes the atmosphere," said Vandenabeele.

The Panthers will have their first meet of the 2010 season on Sept. 3 in Des Moines at the Bulldog Classic, hosted by Drake.