By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net

Nathan Augustine has run cross-country and track throughout Kansas for Hays High School all season. Starting in the fall, he'll compete for Fort Hays State University and run at the meets throughout the Midwest.

This summer, Augustine will have a chance that few high school or collegiate athletes can enjoy: the senior will join a select group of Kansas runners at the 20th annual Down Under Sports Tournament in Australia.

"I am looking forward to going down there," he said. "They sent me a letter in December and I showed it to my mom and we thought it was a good opportunity for me to go on with my cross-country career."

Augustine, though, has to raise $4,300 to go on the trip. Through the help of local businesses and donors, Augustine has raised $2,000.

According to Sterling head cross country coach Dan Whisler, the coach for the Kansas team headed to Australia, Augustine needs to have all of the money collected by May 31.

The trip is July 13 to 24. Runners will compete in a 7-kilometer race against United States athletes and a 6-kilometer race versus international kids, Whisler said.

Not only will the trip help athletes compete against people from all over the world, Augustine will have a chance to tour various cities and landmarks. It will be the first time Augustine has been outside of the United States.

"Before I took the position as coach, I talked to some of the athletes that had gone in years past because I wanted to know more about their experience," Whisler said. "They talked about the trip and the competition but far more about the people they met, what they saw, they talked about getting to visit the Pearl Harbor site while they were in Hawaii."

"It is far than just about a couple of races," he added. "It is part of a unique opportunity. ... One of my runners participated about seven or eight years ago and had a great experience on the trip. This is my first year as coach and I am very excited to be going and excited to have Nathan as a part of it."

Augustine won the 1,500-meter steeplechase at Hays High's season-opening meet, the Alex Francis Classic/Fort Hays Invitational on Saturday.

"I was pretty glad on how they went," he said. "I wish it had been a little warmer, because I really wasn't ready for the cold. I think I did pretty well for the weather."

In between his running, Augustine sent out letters to local businesses and asked for donations to help him alleviate travel costs.

For every $2 someone donates for Augustine, the donor(s) receives a card and an address they can send to International Sports Specialists and become eligible for a trip for two to Australia and Hawaii. Donations can be made to Nathan Augustine, 1300 Donald Dr., Hays, KS, 67601.

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