Falls native holds distance records at UND
An International Falls native who is now in the University of North Dakota’s track and field record books for distance running said he didn’t come to UND with the intention of running for the team.
“I came to North Dakota for engineering,” said Josh LaBlanc, a senior majoring in electrical engineering.
But LaBlanc said a roommate also from International Falls convinced him after he arrived at UND to participate in competitive running, for which he hasn’t since regretted.
LaBlanc on April 14 broke a 43-year-old school record in 10,000-meter run when he crossed the finish line in 30:05.24 at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. His time bested the previous school record set by All-American Arjan Gelling in 1968.
The school record-setting time was also the fastest 10K in the Great West Conference this season.
LaBlanc said he is on track to graduate from UND next month, but won’t be taking part in the formal graduation ceremony which will be taking place May 14 around the same time the GWC holds its conference meet.
Though his future career plans include wanting to become an electrical engineer for a power company, LaBlanc said he hasn’t been looking to start an engineering job immediately upon graduating from college.
He said he plans on training with a friend this summer in Rapid City, S.D. and prepare to run in the Chicago Marathon set for Oct. 9.
LaBlanc, who also set UND school records indoors earlier this year in the 3K and 5K runs, said he hasn’t competed at distances greater than 10K, so the 26-plus miles in a marathon will be a new endeavor for him.
To get ready to go that distance, LaBlanc said he also plans to run in the Chicago Half Marathon scheduled for September 11.
Though he acknowledges that typically “your first marathon is not your fastest,” LaBlanc said he hopes he will do well enough at the Chicago Marathon to qualify for the U.S. Olympic trials for an opportunity to be on the U.S. team in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
LaBlanc, who noted he began running in the seventh grade, is a 2006 FHS graduate. He competed for the Falls in both cross country and track and field. A two-time state qualifier in cross country, he finished 19th in Class A at the 2005 state meet.
“In high school I didn’t run a lot of miles,” said LaBlanc, who noted that prevented him at a younger age from having “burn out.”
He said he has had to deal with a heart condition issue, though it has not been a problem for him running as of late as he has been able to control it without medication.
When asked about his interest in pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, LaBlanc said his family has an electrical background with his father being an electrician and his mother working in instrumentation at the Boise paper mill in International Falls, as well as having two uncles who are electricians.
LaBlanc said his senior project at UND involved renewable energy systems.
In the event he doesn’t qualify for the 2012 Olympic marathon trials, LaBlanc said he then would begin pursuing an engineering career.
