Track | Sang-Bender back from injury, aiming for NCAAs once again
By Heather Crowley
Posted: 4/24/08, 11:53 PM EST Section: Sports
Chris Fox knows one of his star runners, Nana Sang-Bender, well. So well, in fact, he's comfortable making guarantees - even with Sang-Bender nursing an injury.
"She's not at the top of her game right now," said Fox, the Syracuse track and field head coach. "She missed three to four months of running, but that didn't seem to bother her. But in the next three weeks you'll see her so some big things. She will qualify for (NCAA) regionals."
Fox's prediction isn't much of a stretch, though. Sang-Bender, a junior distance runner, has qualified for the NCAAs every year in both the track and field and cross country seasons. The native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will continue her quest to make regionals once again this weekend as Syracuse travels to Philadelphia for the prestigious Penn Relays, which will host more than 15,000 athletes.
Fresh off months of rehab, Sang-Bender turned in a time of 4:31.44 in the 1500-meter run last weekend at the Larry Ellis Invitational. That time was good enough to qualify for the Big East and IC4A championships.
It was impressive enough to surprise the SU coaching staff, considering it was her first race since the cross country season. But that's not what Sang-Bender has in mind as an ultimate goal.
"Nana is very driven and doesn't need to be motivated," Fox said. "She's a goal-orientated and a tough, tough girl. She has a little injury, but everybody does at this level of the sport. Anyone who does it at the level she trains is going to get hurt sometime."
Although coaches may not need to motivate Sang-Bender, she finds ways to keep herself on track with her competition. She always has something to strive for and is perpetually chasing a goal - a trait that may stem from her journey to Syracuse.
In 2001, Sang-Bender moved nearly 6,500 miles to Syracuse from her home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The transition was a difficult one at first. Sang-Bender admitted it was well worth it for the running experience she has gained.
"She's not at the top of her game right now," said Fox, the Syracuse track and field head coach. "She missed three to four months of running, but that didn't seem to bother her. But in the next three weeks you'll see her so some big things. She will qualify for (NCAA) regionals."
Fox's prediction isn't much of a stretch, though. Sang-Bender, a junior distance runner, has qualified for the NCAAs every year in both the track and field and cross country seasons. The native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will continue her quest to make regionals once again this weekend as Syracuse travels to Philadelphia for the prestigious Penn Relays, which will host more than 15,000 athletes.
Fresh off months of rehab, Sang-Bender turned in a time of 4:31.44 in the 1500-meter run last weekend at the Larry Ellis Invitational. That time was good enough to qualify for the Big East and IC4A championships.
It was impressive enough to surprise the SU coaching staff, considering it was her first race since the cross country season. But that's not what Sang-Bender has in mind as an ultimate goal.
"Nana is very driven and doesn't need to be motivated," Fox said. "She's a goal-orientated and a tough, tough girl. She has a little injury, but everybody does at this level of the sport. Anyone who does it at the level she trains is going to get hurt sometime."
Although coaches may not need to motivate Sang-Bender, she finds ways to keep herself on track with her competition. She always has something to strive for and is perpetually chasing a goal - a trait that may stem from her journey to Syracuse.
In 2001, Sang-Bender moved nearly 6,500 miles to Syracuse from her home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The transition was a difficult one at first. Sang-Bender admitted it was well worth it for the running experience she has gained.
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