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Full plate does not slow down Salem's Fichthorn Date published: 8/30/2006 By KURT NICOLL R ACHEL FICHTHORN wants to soak in the college experience to the fullest extent--and then maybe do a little extra. The rising sophomore at Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C., will take a leading role in providing guidance for the women's cross country team during its second season of NCAA Division III competition. Then she'll turn her attention to the Spirits swimming program after setting eight school records her freshman season. Not enough? The former Liberty High School standout is pursuing a double major (religion and psychology) while being active in five different clubs/organizations on campus. The 19-year-old also is trying to convince cross country coach J.P. Widner to allow her to play in weekend soccer games when there are no scheduling conflicts, and is determined to take up ultimate disc (Frisbee) in the spring. "I understand his concern [regarding injury], but I really love soccer," Fichthorn said in a recent phone interview. "I played in a few games last season when the team was short-handed." Initially, Fichthorn was set to enroll at Hollins University until learning the Roanoke college was in process of dropping three sports from its athletic program, including cross country. She then considered going to Randolph-Macon Women's College. The swimming program was to her liking, but the Wildcats were without a cross country program. Fichthorn visited Salem College and loved the setting. She was in for a pleasant surprise as well, considering Widner had been the cross country coach who had attempted to attract her to Hollins in the first place. She enjoyed a banner freshman season that included a fourth-place finish at the North Carolina Collegiate championship meet and capturing Collegiate Women's Athletic Association runner of the week honors five times. One of only two runners scheduled to return, Fichthorn learned last spring that she was tabbed as the Spirits' new team captain. "I might be the fastest runner on the team, but basically we're building a team. It doesn't matter if the person is the slowest runner, everyone is important," she said. The Spirits have adopted several training techniques to improve their chances of staying healthy. Their weight-lifting sessions employ the Razorback workout (30 seconds on, 30 seconds off) and their long weekly practice runs encircle nearby Salem Lake, whose running surface consists of dirt, sand or mulch--lessening the stress on each runner's legs.
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