ALBANY - It took four years, but the Land Down Under finally caught the fleet-footed Jake Lincicum.
The Albany senior has been receiving letters from the International Sports Specialists Incorporated, a Utah-based company, since his freshman year.
As the reigning conference champion and a state qualifier in cross country as well as his specialty, the 800-meter run, Lincicum garnered the company's attention. The ISSI has mailed him every year requesting his representation at the Down Under Sports Tournaments.
Lincicum would have liked to have gone last year, but the thought process merely began then. The trip finally became feasible this year, contingent on raising $4,000 by June 1, the soft deadline ISSI provides for its athletes.
"I've always wanted to go to Australia since I was really young, watching movies and learning more about the culture in school," Lincicum said. "Their culture isn't that far away from ours; now I get to go there and I'll be running too; it's just perfect."
Athletes from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii will all gather at the Griffith University Gold Coast Campus for a meet that's modeled after the Olympics. The site itself was purposely built as a practice venue for countries preparing for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"It's actually pretty great, because it's the way a lot of colleges are too," Lincicum said.
Back in the states, Lincicum is striving not only to qualify for state in the 800, but also to make a run at a title. Last year, he ran one leg of the 800 within a four-man relay. A fourth-place finish at the cross country state meet in October was a few months back on a recovery curve that finds Lincicum finally near its apex at the right time as a senior.
When his prep days are through, Lincicum has UW-Platteville and Marquette on the forefront of his prospective colleges as both boast strong running programs as well as strong engineering departments.
After plowing through some injuries during the cross country season this past fall, Lincicum says he's in the best shape of his high school running career.
In addition to taking in some international flair, he's also looking forward to meeting a lot of his countrymen. Last year, 26 athletes represented Wisconsin. His coach, Tony Brewer, simplified things for his premier distance man.
"He just told me to go, have fun and enjoy the experience," Lincicum said. "So that's what I'll do, I'm going to have a blast."
While he's physically and mentally charged for the opportunity, Lincicum still has significant money to raise. With the help of family and friends, he's been holding meat raffles, selling navy blue T-shirts with white print that read, "I supported Jake down under" for $15 and even peddled candles. Lincicum has been sending letters to corporations asking for a helping hand.
Lincicum hopes to do some heavy damage Saturday, April 19, at his big fundraising party at the Center Tavern in Albany where family, friends and everyone in between will get together starting at 6 p.m.
Then, with a little help from his friends, Jake will be Albany's runner headed Down Under.
The Albany senior has been receiving letters from the International Sports Specialists Incorporated, a Utah-based company, since his freshman year.
As the reigning conference champion and a state qualifier in cross country as well as his specialty, the 800-meter run, Lincicum garnered the company's attention. The ISSI has mailed him every year requesting his representation at the Down Under Sports Tournaments.
Lincicum would have liked to have gone last year, but the thought process merely began then. The trip finally became feasible this year, contingent on raising $4,000 by June 1, the soft deadline ISSI provides for its athletes.
"I've always wanted to go to Australia since I was really young, watching movies and learning more about the culture in school," Lincicum said. "Their culture isn't that far away from ours; now I get to go there and I'll be running too; it's just perfect."
Athletes from the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii will all gather at the Griffith University Gold Coast Campus for a meet that's modeled after the Olympics. The site itself was purposely built as a practice venue for countries preparing for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"It's actually pretty great, because it's the way a lot of colleges are too," Lincicum said.
Back in the states, Lincicum is striving not only to qualify for state in the 800, but also to make a run at a title. Last year, he ran one leg of the 800 within a four-man relay. A fourth-place finish at the cross country state meet in October was a few months back on a recovery curve that finds Lincicum finally near its apex at the right time as a senior.
When his prep days are through, Lincicum has UW-Platteville and Marquette on the forefront of his prospective colleges as both boast strong running programs as well as strong engineering departments.
After plowing through some injuries during the cross country season this past fall, Lincicum says he's in the best shape of his high school running career.
In addition to taking in some international flair, he's also looking forward to meeting a lot of his countrymen. Last year, 26 athletes represented Wisconsin. His coach, Tony Brewer, simplified things for his premier distance man.
"He just told me to go, have fun and enjoy the experience," Lincicum said. "So that's what I'll do, I'm going to have a blast."
While he's physically and mentally charged for the opportunity, Lincicum still has significant money to raise. With the help of family and friends, he's been holding meat raffles, selling navy blue T-shirts with white print that read, "I supported Jake down under" for $15 and even peddled candles. Lincicum has been sending letters to corporations asking for a helping hand.
Lincicum hopes to do some heavy damage Saturday, April 19, at his big fundraising party at the Center Tavern in Albany where family, friends and everyone in between will get together starting at 6 p.m.
Then, with a little help from his friends, Jake will be Albany's runner headed Down Under.
