Patriarch Jim Knudsen started it for Lockport / Soren Knudsen made history by finishing for Minooka
Siblings competing successfully together or generations removed have always been a part of Illinois cross country allure. The same can be said of the parent-child athletic experience. Super talented parents sometimes go on to have successful brood. Such is the case as patriarch Jim Knudsen and his sons Cam and Soren Knudsen. Cam was a solid high school runner producing a 4:24 mile, 15:14 three-mile personal best, and one all-state medal on the track in the 4x800m relay during his senior year. Little brother Soren took things a step further during his junior season. He placed 11th in last year's xc final and then ran a smoking 4:08.70 1600m on the track. It was a perfect recipe and set up for his senior fall campaign. Let's take a look at the recipe between dad and son.
The Knudsen's by the numbers (after the senior IHSA xc season):
Jim Knudsen high school stats: 3200m- 9:05, 1600m- 4:19, 3miles- 14:22
Soren Knudsen's high school stats: 3200m- 9:18, 1600m- 4:08.70, 3miles- 14:02
Jim Knudsen and his mother Lorraine during a lighter moment cross country moment in 1981 (Knudsen photo)
Soren has always displayed the intense fire necessary to be a sucessful runner. His father Jim was not short of confidence either. The elder Knudsen gives his take of his senior season of cross country. It is easy to see how the genes passed from father to son.
Jim Knudsen's Take on his 1981 state title win:
It was an identical 70 degrees and sunny on November 13 for my state meet.
My splits were 4:41 at the the mile and I was in 30th place about 6-7 seconds off the leaders. I was very confident in my ability and fitness level as I had ran 9:05 for 3200m the previous Spring. I knew if I could stay out of trouble and see the leaders I was in an alright position. We hit the two-mile in 9:31 in a pack of five. My arch rival was Ryan Stoll of Lake Forest Academy, we had tied earlier in the year at Bloom Invitational splitting the two foot wide chute. I threw everything at him that day and managed a tie! I wasn't going to lead and have that happen again at Detweiller. I figured I'd hang back and try to fly past him coming out of the "s" turn. I knew if I could get a stride or two lead at that point I wasn't going to be beat. The last race I was ever out-kicked in was the 3200M final my Jr. year when Mike Patton of St. Ignatius defeated me with 165m to go. I never got out kicked at any level the rest of my 15 year competitive running career. I proceeded to hold off Stoll to win the closest finish in Illinois History at that time. The race was very tactical championship race as noted in my 1981 running diary. We both were probably in 14:10ish shape, but the ultimate goal was to win and not run sub 14:10 and lose. The funniest part of the story is Stoll , who had serious wheels, went on to Stanford and ran 1:49 as a 18 year old Frosh and I would run 14:12 for 5000M in my first outdoor collegiate race as a 18 year old! If I knew he had that in him I probably wouldn't have chosen that strategy. More importantly, Soren and I both believed with 100% conviction that we were prepared both physically and mentally for a solid championship performance!
Soren set up his senior year with tremendous dedication through intense and consistent training (Colin Boyle photo)
Soren put together his plan of a successful fall through two journals that he was kind enough to share with Milesplit Illinois. Little did everyone knew then was a plan to be a state champion. Soren's first two races of the season was met with disappointing losses. However, he never wavered or deterred from the ultimate plan.
Journal #1 >>> Soren Speaks
Journal #2 >>> Soren Speaks
Soren's last loss interview at FTTF Invite at Detweiller on Sept 10:
