Contact: Emily Zadny, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302 

March 6, 2018 – North Central College senior sprinter and four-year member of the men's track and field team has always known he was fast. During middle school recess, he loved playing any sport he could, especially any that required speed, because he knew he could win. It wasn't until seventh grade when the Belvidere, Ill. native had the opportunity to develop his skills as a member of the track and field team and it's safe to say that the rest is history. 

"I started out as a short sprinter in the 60, 100 and 200 meter dashes, but when I came into my freshman year of college, I made the decision to focus on the 400," said Nordman. "I committed to that transition at the start of my sophomore year and now I'm here, so I guess it was a good choice!" 

In high school, Nordman decided to join the cross country team as a part of his fall training program, but the fall season did not satisfy his competitive nature. "I was not good," said Nordman with a laugh, "I was a member of the team but I didn't compete. It was definitely more for training than anything else." 

His hardwork paid off and when it came time for Nordman to start looking at colleges, North Central stood out as somewhere he could see himself spending four years in the classroom and on the track. 

"North Central was one of the only schools that reached out to me, so that makes you feel good right there," he said. "I really liked the program and wanted to be a part of the Division III model. My parents liked that model, too, and that it was close to home. They definitely helped me make my final decision. 

"My parents are everything to me—I am very lucky. They come to every track meet—they're even flying down to Alabama for nationals this year! I can't remember the last time they weren't at a meet." 

Nordman's career thus far is something that he, his parents, coaches and teammates can be proud of. He set a new personal best in the 400-meter dash on Jan. 19 at the Cardinal Opener with a time of 50.91 and was a member of the 4-by-400 meter relay quartet that earned sixth and third place finishes, good for All-American honors, at the past two Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships in 2016 and 2017. Nordman also got to celebrate the Cardinals' fifth indoor team championship on his home track last season. 

But with every success story comes a bit of adversity and Nordman has not been an exception. The transition to college running was a challenge and getting used to a new event was not easy. The 400-meter dash was more mentally difficult, Nordman explained, and that took some time to get used to.  

'The 400 is so physically demanding because it's the longest sprint," he said. "You definitely do not want to be thinking about how much it hurts or how hard it is because that is not going to help. You just have to go for it and noYou definitely do not want to be thinking about how much it hurts or how hard it is because that is not going to help. You just have to go for it and not overthink it." 

While he was adjusting to a new event, Nordman also faced another challenge, although one that he can laugh about now. 

"I guess another challenge could be weaning myself off of junk food when I came to college," joked Nordman. "I love candy, but knew if I was going to be a good runner I should probably eat healthier. But I still love candy!" 

Nordman had played soccer, basketball, football, and baseball growing up, so his knowledge in multiple areas meant he gravitated towards sport management as a college major and landed a job in the Sports Information Department, an opportunity that has given him multiple unforgettable experiences and helped him develop new skills. 

"My freshman year, my roommate got a job with the department and talked to Clark Teuscher about hiring me as well," he said. "Since then, I have really enjoyed it and have gotten to do some pretty cool things. My favorite memory was this past fall when I was helping Clark with fall sports and got to travel with the men's cross country team for the regional and national championship. It's really awesome to be around the teams and get to go through those moments with them." 

Following graduation in June, he will continue his education at North Central as a graduate assistant in the department and earning his Masters in Sports Leadership. In the meantime, he will continue to focus on his athletic and academic pursuits but build in time for some of his favorite relaxing activities such as playing Fortnite with his roommates.  

"I'm going to miss my teammates," said Nordman, and it was clear that it was all starting to sink in. "They will still be my friends, but on the track team, that relationship is special because you truly eat, sleep, run, and even live with teammates. You get to be so close with your teammates, so not having them around will take some getting used to!" 

Nordman still has the outdoor season to look forward to with his teammates, but first he will compete as a member of the 4-by-400 meter relay for the third year in a row at the 2018 Division III Track and Field Indoor National Championship on Friday and Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama. The 4-by-400 meter relay preliminaries take place on Friday and the finals for the event wrap up the weekend on Saturday. A link to more championship information can be found HERE.