Walking on water
Student to defend world title
Lauryn followed her sister into the pro circuit last year, and her father said she has become the youngest professional competitor ever at age 13.
Penn State's athletic history boasts national champions, iconic coaches, Olympians, a Heisman trophy winner, first round draft picks and now a boom running world champion.
Alyse Schroeder, a toxicology major and full time student, captured the world's top ranking in a thrilling race on June 25th. The junior finished in 11.14 seconds, just edging opponent and event favorite Shana Martin, who ran in 11.28 seconds.
"I had been working my butt off to become champion, it was a relief," Schroeder said. "It was a satisfaction knowing that all of my hard work had paid off."
This weekend, she will defend her title.
Boom running is part of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS series and the Lumberjack World Championship. In the event, two competitors race down a series of logs connected by rope to a small dock. Once they reach the dock, the athletes have to go around a marker, usually a large barrel then race back down the logs for the finish.
Schroeder began her professional career last year at the Lumberjack World Championship, held annually in her hometown of Hayward, Wisc., and placed third. At the 2009 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS series, which is televised as part of ESPN's outdoor games, the junior won the title in front of a national audience.
"Honestly, its an unreal experience -- especially winning," Schroeder said. "Everybody is smothering you, and it's amazing. Seeing myself on TV is a surreal experience."
Though the level of difficulty will go up, Brian believes his daughter will keep her position among the best in the world. Realistically, he thinks Alyse will be in the top three, but defending is not a certainty.
"It is going to be close. It will be fractions of seconds between the top three," Brian Schroeder said. "No question about it, she'll be in the top three, but it's too close to call. It's going to be extremely difficult."
Regardless of this weekend's outcome, Schroeder's career in boom running is off to an unprecedented start, and she will only get better with more experience, Brian said. The energy, effort and dedication she puts into every aspect of her life has earned the adulation of her parents.
"I'm proud of her. She's a good kid and a good athlete," Brian said. " I'm proud of the fact both of them put that kind of energy into an activity, though they really bring that energy into everything they do."
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