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AALBORG, Denmark - For the second consecutive year, Shippensburg University men's cross country/track and field junior Greg Ahlswede will be representing the United States at the Junior World Orienteering Championships. This year's competition will take place in the scenic landscape of Denmark.

Ahlswede, a Spanish major at Shippensburg who is also seeking minors in French and German, is an outstanding student with a 3.94 cumulative GPA through four semesters. He has spent many a night studying the rigorous course maps for the various competitions to be held in early July. As he mentioned before his trip, "Just like me to have school end and keep studying."

Over the span of one week, Ahlswede will compete on four orienteering courses: sprint, long, mid-distance and team relay. Last year, Ahlswede was the highest American finisher on the mid-distance course and the third-highest North American finisher after earning 46th place in the 'B' group final.

"(The courses) will be very very difficult and it will be very very easy to get lost," Ahlswede said. "The competition will be very strong, but I have prepared as best I know how so I am excited to have the opportunity to bring my best races to the rest of the world."

Last year, Ahlswede was the No. 1-ranked U.S. junior competitor. This year he is ranked No. 4 as the United States boasts an extremely talented squad.

"I want to help my teammates to their best performance possible," Ahlswede said of his fellow patriots. "We might run the race alone, but we certainly don't do it without support. I'd love to see our team do great this coming year and in the years ahead."

In terms of personal goals, Ahlswede is hoping to build upon his success he attained in last year's mid-distance race.

"My goals are to reach the Top 60 in any event, although it seems as though the middle-distance (format) is my strongest race," Ahlswede said. "(When orienteering), I am almost in a trance-like state and hardly think about anything beyond the course and just glide through while practicing my language skills which Shippensburg has helped me to learn."

Be sure to check the blog for all the latest updates from Denmark. The competition runs July 4-10.

WHAT IS ORIENTEERING?

Orienteering, a recognized Olympic sport since 1977, requires endurance, decision-making, navigation and a lot of patience. The most popular form of the sport is foot orienteering, the same style at which Ahlswede competed for the world championships. The basic premise involves the competitors having to navigate through the ultimate cross country courses — typically a multi-terrain, unprepared travel range with multiple forests and hills.

Competitors must run through the course with a compass and map to navigate as they travel. There is no set path to reach the end of the course, but the competitor with the highest balance of navigation and endurance is usually the one rewarded at the finish line. The only requirement is that the competitors have their control cards punched in the proper order at each of the various control points placed along the course.