PAGE 8B
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
CROSS COUNTRY
Siblings support each other through season
NATHAN FORDYCE
nfordyce@kansan.com
Whether it's running distance for cross country or the 800-meter race for the track team, the Schneider family has it covered at the University of Kansas.
Kaman, senior, runs cross country while his younger brother, Kelium, junior, runs the 800-meter for the track team, and for a trifecta their youngest sister Kennedy, freshman, runs for the cross country team as well.
Even though all three Schneiders run some sort of race for the Jayhawks, they don't view it as a competition.
"It's hard making the cross-over between us," Kellum said. "Since we don't run all the same event, it's hard to really determine who's doing better."
Kaman Schneider
During their high school years, all three excelled both in sports and in the classroom in their hometown of Tibune, Kan. Kaman was a Class 1A 1600 meter champion as a junior and was academic All-State in 2007 and 2008 before graduating as class valedictorian in 2009. Kellum was a two-time state champion in the 800-meter race in 2009 and 2010. He was also named All-Academic for cross country in 2008 and 2009. And following in his older
Kellum Schneider
brother's footsteps, Kellum graduated as valedictorian in 2010. As for the youngest Schneider, Kennedy won back-to-back state cross country titles her junior and senior seasons.
Despite all the success the family has brought to the University,
Kennedy Schneider
they also look at the education and what it can do for them.
"We have a bar we want to reach, and it's not just a bar for ourselves. We still have to apply to graduate schools, too," Kaman said. "There's an external expectation and a internal expectation from the family
and what we have for ourselves. Academically, it's more encouraging than competitive."
Growing up in Tribune, a small town near the Colorado border that is heavily focused on the agricultural career fields, the three had choices but selected Kansas because of the academic side.
"We all liked CU (University of Colorado) but it's out of state, so it's expensive. But the main reason we chose (the University) was because they have a really strong medicine department," Kaman said. "I wanted to get away from agriculture. It's a better academic opportunity than K-State or somewhere else."
And since Kaman led the way to the University, Kellum followed and that "made it easier" for Kennedy to become a Jayhawk.
This trio of siblings has more in common than running. They also enjoy all the same academic subjects. Kaman and Kellum are both majoring in genetics. Kennedy is undecided at the moment but is leaning toward the medicinal field.
"We've always liked the exact same things," Kellum said. "Kaman can come along and make the first decision, and we can learn from him."
Edited by Laken Rapier
MLB
Posey moves closer to chance at MVP
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES — Buster Posey has gone from missing most of last season after a violent collision at home plate to winning the NL batting title.
And the San Francisco Giants are headed to the playoffs as NL West champions.
The 25-year-old catcher went
0 for 2 in a 5-1 loss to the Los
Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday,
finishing with a .336 average to
claim the title. He's the first Giants
player to win it since Barry Bonds
in 2004 and the first Giants catcher
to do so. The previous catcher to win the NL title was Boston's Ernie Lombardi, who hit .330 in 1942.
"I don't think it's something that you ever think about doing." Posey said. "It's such a long season, and from day one, you try to grind out at-bats no matter what the situation is. And if you can go up there and are able to make some adjustments, good things will happen."
In May 2011, Posey broke a bone in his left leg and tore three ankle ligaments on a horrific collision at the plate with the Florida Marlins' Scott Cousins.
"I give a lot of credit to our entire
training staff for all the work they did in the offseason to get me back on the field," he said. "Even though this is an individual accomplishment, there's other people who deserve credit."
Posey credited the 29 starts he made at first base for helping him endure the 162-game season.
"That reprieve you get over there at first base does make a difference because it is a grind," he said. "You're going to take foul balls and just sitting back in the crouch for three hours every night wears on you."
The Giants finished with a 94-68 record, including 46-35 on the road.
"We really didn't know how much we could play him, and he exceeded our expectations," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said about Posey. "To do what he did this year and win a batting title after coming off that devastating injury, it's truly amazing. It shows you what a talent he is and how hard he worked to get back into playing condition."
San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey, right, hits an RBI double as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Elis, left, catches and home plate umpire Jerry Layne looks on during the first inning of their baseball game Monday in Los Angeles.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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