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Rachel Bryan – Welcome Back R.B. - Bill Carr
“There’s a difference between knowing what
you can do and actually doing it.”
--Rachel Bryan

There’s an old saying: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”

For Laguna Creek High School distance star, Rachel Bryan, the phrase is more than cliché these days.

The reigning California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State, large schools cross-country champion, had her sites aimed at duplicating that feat at the 2003 (CIF) State Track and Field Championships (Norwalk), before being felled by – not one, but two – injuries beginning her spring campaign.

After missing all of February and nearly all of March, due to injury, Bryan discovered how much she missed running (and competing) and has returned with a renewed respect and appreciation for the sport, the training, and the ever-present expectations that come with achieving at a high level. “It’s hard to stay focused when you’re not competing. I found that out after the Sheldon (Sheldon High School, Elk Grove) meet especially. That’s when I realized out how much I did love to compete, and that was motivating.”

The Sheldon meet marked Bryan’s official return, and wins in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs solidified her belief she was ready to make a serious ‘run’ for CIF gold.

Heading into the championship season, expectations have been tempered somewhat (due to injury), but Bryan and her coach, Ian Waters, have adjusted, and together, remain optimistic about her chances in Norwalk. Asked what adjustments he felt were necessary, Waters commented: “My strategy was to take what I planned for Rachel – training-wise -- for the season and compress it down into the two remaining months (April and May). We went back and forth over what meets she would run in, and finally decided to put her in a couple of the dual meets just to get some racing experience and get the enthusiasm going again. We’ll maintain the same training schedule throughout the remainder of the season to keep her on pace for the state meet.”

Indeed, things appear on schedule, as Bryan, competing in her first major meet of the year, the Sacramento Meet of Champions (SMOC), finished runner up to Natasha LaBeaud (Folsom), running 10:51.69. Bryan’s ‘PR” is 10:36.32, set at last year’s State Championships. Two weeks later, Bryan turned the tables on LaBeaud, winning the Delta League Championships 1600 and 3200 meter events.

Roughly three weeks remain to the 2003 season, and Bryan, along with coach Waters, remain steadfast and focused on the end result… A state championship!

Having endured problems with asthma, and injury, in three years, teacher and pupil have forged a special bond. Through hardship (injury), both have discovered the uniqueness of the coach-athlete relationship. Bryan has come to rely on Water’s confidence (in her ability), and decision-making, and the coach has gained trust, admiration and respect for his star pupil, describing her as level-headed, mature and very responsible. “Basically, she’s a coach’s dream…”

From unassuming, precocious freshman to state cross-country champion, Rachel Bryan, never dared dream such successes through running. “I started running for fun and for exercise, but I never would have thought of anything like this. It (running) kind of just developed and I went with it. I never said OK! I’m getting better. I must be able to go to state someday. One day, I looked back and realized that I had come in second at state (3200 meter run) and I wondered oh my gosh! Where did that come from?”

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