WINONA, Minn. — When Jovan Newsum (Glendale Heights, Ill.) stepped on the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota campus as a freshman last season, Cardinal cross country coach Ward Berndt knew he had the potential to accomplish great things during his collegiate career.
 
He just didn't figure Newsum would accomplish them this quickly.
 
When the NCAA Division III National Championships get underway this Saturday at the Golf Center at King's Island in Mason, Ohio, Newsum will be among the runners toeing the line—become the first male in program history to compete on the national championship stage.
 
"When coach (Berndt) called me Sunday to tell me I was in (the championship field) I was pretty stoked," said Newsum, who earned an at-large bid into the championships field, after placing 25th overall with a school-record eight-kilometer showing at last Saturday's NCAA Central Regional. "I was pretty happy in general (after the regional meet)—even if I didn't make nationals I was proud of what I accomplished.
 
"But now it's time to move on—I'm here ready to race, and we'll see how it goes."
 
If it's anything like his previous two races, it should go well—very well.
 
Newsum turned in his then-best performance of the season at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships on Nov. 1, touring the eight-kilometer Como Park Course in a team-best time of 26:06 to place 16th overall—earning the Cardinal sophomore honorable-mention all-conference honors.
 
And two weeks later, Newsum was at his best—again— running the fastest eight-kilometer time in school history, posting an all-region time of 25:40 at the NCAA Central Regional to finish 25th overall and help the Saint Mary's men's cross country team to a 15th-place finish in the 27-team field.
 
Not to mention earning a spot in this weekend's national championship field.
 
"I think Jovan is a little ahead of where I expected him to be," said Berndt. "I figured he would have a shot (at making the national championships) by his junior year, but he put in the miles over the summer and is seeing the results of his hard work."
 
Hard work, and some great foot speed.
 
"When it comes to foot speed we have diesels and Ferrari's," explained Berndt. "There's a reason we call Jovan a Ferrari."
 
Newsum plans to have his engine in tip-top shape for Saturday's race, but he isn't about to make any bold predictions.
 
"I'm going to try and treat (the national championships) like any other race—do my daily rituals and daily preparations" he said. "Right now I'm just trying to take it all in, and I haven't really thought a lot about place finishes.
 
"I'm just going to give it 110 percent —go out and give it my all and have a little fun."