Junior Caroline Hulden represents a portion of runners that engage in the “you-against-you” battle.
The battle is track and field. While the ‘individual running’ of the sport may seem impossible to most of us, the general studies major from Karlstad, Sweden takes it all in stride.
“Running is something that I have been doing since I was maybe nine or ten years old. It is something that probably has always been in me. I really enjoyed it then, so basically it just escalated into the present day,” Hulden said.
Hulden’s running season in Sweden is a little different from her current one. While the track and field season in America takes place in the spring, her hometown begins its season in the summer due to the cold weather.
“It gets really cold in Sweden during the indoor season which is the winter time. Because of that, the indoor season is much longer than it is here. The only time that we can really begin to run outdoors is in the summer. Even then, there is still a cool breeze,” Hulden said.
While the different running seasons could have had a negative effect on Hulden, she has adjusted to it well.
“The long indoor seasons really prepared me for the summer,” Hulden said. “It allowed me to improve on my techniques and form. By the time summer running came around, I was a better runner.”
Unlike in Louisiana where high schools compete against each other at track meets, Hulden’s meets were held at various track clubs.
“It was kind of different in Sweden because we did not run track in school. We had different coaches who would set up meets for us outside of the school. We had a lot of competition because the runners came from so many different places,” Hulden said.
When it comes to running events, Hulden basically gets the best of both styles. She is a speed runner whose races still require a strong dose of endurance.
She considers herself to be a “speed-distance” type of runner.
“I am not a pure sprinter, yet I don’t do long distance. The 800 meter run is my main race though. I really started out running cross-country races for the fun of it. When I was fifteen, I began to run the 800 and discovered that I liked it. But as I continued to run, I began to like the 400 meter race as well,” Hulden said.
Head track coach Matt Pantusa appreciates the effort that Hulden puts forth both at practice and the meets.
“Caroline is a very good runner and a hard worker,” Pantusa said. “She is one of those runners who reaches their best times on the track because of dedication. I can call her a surprise runner because when we first recruited her, we thought the 400 meter race would be her specialty. We tried her at the 800 and every race she ran in, she improved. All of that reflects her constant work ethic.
Hulden credits much of her running ability to her parents. With their encouragement to stay active, she simply applied it to track and field.
“My parents have always had me and my brother involved in different sports and activities. So basically it was through them that I found out about my running abilities. I really thank them for it,” Hulden said.
Hulden’s experience on the team so far has been a good one. She attributes that to the way the women get along. Senior runner Trina Peters and sophomore runner Shannon Cox thrive off of Hulden’s attitude.
“Running with Caroline has been a really good experience for me. She always works hard and it helps us to work harder. She is a real inspiration,” Peters said.
Cox said watching Hulden do all the important things necessary to succeed rubs off on the rest of team.
“She makes me want to strive to get better. Her work ethic is contagious,” Cox said.
Hulden refuses to take her enrollment at Nicholls for granted.
“I am really thankful to Coach Pantusa for giving me the opportunity to run. I enjoy running here and I just want to continue to improve,” Hulden said.
Hulden posted her best time in the 800 last spring when she ran a 2.12.54. She hopes to improve that time and to qualify for a very big meet this year.
“The Regionals meet in Ohio is what I am shooting for. To qualify, I would need to run a time of 2.10.00. That is my main goal for this semester and I really believe that I can reach it,” Hulden said.