Jonathan Cardenas

NAU athlete to attend
Olympic leadership conference

Junior distance runner Jonathan Cardenas has been selected to attend the 2007 U.S. Olympic FLAME conference, which stands for Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere.

The annual four-day conference at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs inspires minority college students to cultivate their desire to rise above the ordinary level of expectations. Cardenas and other college student leaders from around country will be introduced to the Olympic Movement and its values through interaction with Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches, sports performance specialists and civic professionals.

Cardenas, a construction management major, won the 2007 Big Sky Conference 10,000 meters in a time of 31:13.10 and finished second in the 5,000 meters. Overall, he is a seven-time All-Big Sky Conference performer.

Cardenas was selected after the Center for High Altitude Training approached NAU Athletics mid-semester for recommendations in identifying a candidate for the FLAME conference.

"Jon epitomizes the Olympic spirit in his commitment and dedication to service, academics and athletics," said NAU Athletics Director Jim Fallis. "As one of our premier student athletes, he is well on his way to rising above the ordinary in all aspects of life."

The Center for High Altitude Training hosts U.S. and international teams traveling to Flagstaff for training at altitude to enhance athletic performance. The U.S. Olympic Committee has designated the Center for High Altitude Training a U.S. Olympic Training Site, home to a Community Olympic Development Program and a U.S. Olympic Community Partner.