Quick look: Preview of Nationals
Casey Cheney
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Sports
Race time approaches, and the runner paces up and down the line, waiting, anticipating. The starter speaks into the microphone, "Three minutes, ladies."
Time continues to pass as the runner focuses on the race ahead. At the one minute mark she takes off her sweats. She toes the line, her body tensed and her mind ready.
The flag raises; the gun sounds, and she immediately chases after the finish line.
This is the process that takes place for junior cross country runner Ashley Quick. Quick is preparing to race at the NCAA Division II National Tournament in Indiana this weekend, the only runner from Hillsdale to qualify.
"Once I get up to that line, I'm just going to feel that drive," she said.
This drive Quick feels has been bottled up for over a year because she didn't race at all last season. She was red shirted last year after having transferred from Lake Superior State University. Because Lake State is in the GLIAC, Quick was required to take a year off.
She said it's difficult for a runner taking a year off to stay motivated.
"There's no immediate goals in front of you," she said.
Quick, who also competes in indoor and outdoor track, said, "Not being able to compete last year made me realize how much I miss competing. There's just something about the adrenaline running through you."
Not only did she sit out during cross country season, but she also sat out during both track seasons.
During that time, however, Quick was not taking it easy. Assistant coach Sarah Hinkley said she kept Quick working, though with less intensity than the girls competing in order to avoid injury. Though she had to hassle Quick at times to do weekend workouts and other "little things," Quick made an effort to do better at them as her training went on.
"She has realized what it takes to achieve your goals," Hinkley said.
Now, Quick looks forward to the goals of actual competition along with other incentives. Quick has a weakness for Mike and Ikes, and she said assistant football coach Pat Hornak purchased some for her before conference, telling her she couldn't eat them until after the race. Quick said she used this as incentive--she would not eat them unless she got all-conference. It worked.
Time continues to pass as the runner focuses on the race ahead. At the one minute mark she takes off her sweats. She toes the line, her body tensed and her mind ready.
The flag raises; the gun sounds, and she immediately chases after the finish line.
This is the process that takes place for junior cross country runner Ashley Quick. Quick is preparing to race at the NCAA Division II National Tournament in Indiana this weekend, the only runner from Hillsdale to qualify.
"Once I get up to that line, I'm just going to feel that drive," she said.
This drive Quick feels has been bottled up for over a year because she didn't race at all last season. She was red shirted last year after having transferred from Lake Superior State University. Because Lake State is in the GLIAC, Quick was required to take a year off.
She said it's difficult for a runner taking a year off to stay motivated.
"There's no immediate goals in front of you," she said.
Quick, who also competes in indoor and outdoor track, said, "Not being able to compete last year made me realize how much I miss competing. There's just something about the adrenaline running through you."
Not only did she sit out during cross country season, but she also sat out during both track seasons.
During that time, however, Quick was not taking it easy. Assistant coach Sarah Hinkley said she kept Quick working, though with less intensity than the girls competing in order to avoid injury. Though she had to hassle Quick at times to do weekend workouts and other "little things," Quick made an effort to do better at them as her training went on.
"She has realized what it takes to achieve your goals," Hinkley said.
Now, Quick looks forward to the goals of actual competition along with other incentives. Quick has a weakness for Mike and Ikes, and she said assistant football coach Pat Hornak purchased some for her before conference, telling her she couldn't eat them until after the race. Quick said she used this as incentive--she would not eat them unless she got all-conference. It worked.
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