[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 HONORING CROSS COUNTRY NATIONAL CHAMPION MIKE FOUT OF LaPORTE, INDIANA

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                           HON. JOE DONNELLY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 22, 2008

  Mr. DONNELLY. Madam Speaker, today I rise before you to offer a word 
of congratulations to Mike Fout of LaPorte, Indiana. Fout traveled to 
San Diego on December 13, 2007 as the number five seed for the Foot 
Locker Cross Country Championship. He returned home to LaPorte the 
national champion.
  To win the race, Fout defeated the second place finisher by seven 
seconds, for a total time of only 14:50. It was a personal best for 
Fout, who was not deterred even by the cool, muddy conditions on the 
day of the race.
  Fout was neither favored to win the race, nor even to come in the top 
five, but his coach, as well as his family and friends, knew that he 
would be able to accomplish whatever he set out to do. He has now 
ensured himself a place in the history of the National Cross Country 
Championships by achieving the ninth fastest time ever in an event that 
has been held for twenty-nine years.
  On his way to becoming the first Indiana runner to win the national 
championship, Fout stayed with the lead pack for most of the 5K race, 
and then broke away after the two mile mark. He maintained this 
position for the rest of the race, with no challengers coming forward 
to disrupt his lead.
  All of this took place after Fout was crowned state champion of 
Indiana in the 3200-meter race, led team Indiana to an all-star event, 
and won the Midwest Regional Championship.
  Mike Fout's hard work was given him the well-deserved title of 
national champion. But in congratulating him, I would also offer my 
congratulations to his coach Tim Beres, LaPorte High School and the 
greater LaPorte community for their support of the cross country 
program.

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