UC Seniors leave UC Track on a High Note

By Bruce Cox

As we all prepare for graduation, I'd like to make you all aware of some outstanding performances that occurred this track season by three of our graduating seniors.

Erin Dilley:  While still competing the next couple of weeks, hoping to earn a spot at the NCAA DII Nationals later this month, Erin capped off her WVIAC career last Friday, by not only successfully defending her 800 Meter Championship of 2006, but also lowering her own WVIAC Meet Record.  What makes this even more interesting to me as a coach is the fact that Erin, being a high school sprinter, made me promise when I recruited her that I would never MAKE HER run the 800.  But, as you can tell, we ENCOURAGED HER to do so and she now, with her conference performance, is considered the fastest WVIAC Women's 800 Meter runner of All-Time!  WOW!

Hope Noland:  Struggling with some relapsing bronchial illness throughout the year & perhaps with a little "senioritis", Hope's training wasn't quite up to years' past and she seemed destined to "JUST FINISH UP" her career.  However, a funny thing happened as we progressed into our outdoor track season…Hope decided she didn't want to "just finish up".  So she approached me about doing something that I would have never fathomed, even 6 months ago, let alone when she arrived her in the fall of 2003.  She comes to me in March and says "Coach, I would like to try to close out my career by scoring at the WVIAC Championship.  Would you consider letting me try the 10,000 Meter Race at conference" (by the way, that's 6.2 miles/25 laps around the track).  Now, Hope came to UC as a 800/1500 Meter runner & it took me 3 years to convince her that she should try the 5000, so for her to VOLUNTEER to run the 10,000 almost floored me.  But we took it to task, modified what little training time we had left and she capped her career at WVIAC on Thursday by scoring that coveted point, placing 6th in the 10,000, averaging 6:41 per mile.

Rachel Cipolat:  Not to be outdone by her friends/teammates Rachel created her own lasting memory at UC in track & field, for herself & for all of us.  While most of you wouldn't know this, Rachel was a conference champion as a freshman in 2003 in the 3000 meter steeplechase; a race where you run almost 2 miles over 5 - 30" hurdles per lap with one of them being over a "water-jump".  Well, after Rachel's debut season it was easy for us to envision the opportunity of multiple NCAA Qualifications & the coveted NCAA All-American status.  But, it wasn't to be…Rachel went through a period of time where she suffered 6 different stress fractures & finally came to me last summer & declared… "I can't put myself through this anymore!" … and she "retired"; with my total blessing & understanding.  She subsequently became a 3-4 day a week jogger, putting in 3-4 miles per run, well below her 50+/week.  BUT, on April 2nd, with this big grin on her face (and not having done a true "workout" in over 16 months) Rachel walks into my office and says matter-of-factly to me… "Please help me WIN the steeple at conference."  Note, that she didn't say, please let me run the steeple at conference, but rather help me "WIN".  How many times have I heard Sherry Winn say, if you "don't believe" you "won't achieve", well Rachel BELIEVED!  So, with 3 weeks & 3 days remaining before the WVIAC Meet we went about putting together a crash training course so Rachel could WIN her championship.  Now, mind you, it wasn't anything I did with training (well, maybe a little…LOL), all I tried to do was tune her little body up a little bit.  But we did create total focus on one objective, never allowing each other to see it any other way.  WE COLLECTIVELY "visualized" that win every single day; Rachel even in her dreams.  It was TOTAL RESOLVE with only one possible outcome.  Almost made me feel sorry for the competition, most that had never even seen Rachel race on the track. 

Well, she was THE SURPRISE at the WVIAC & our GOAL WAS ACCOMPLISHED, Rachel DID INDEED WIN & now stands as a 2-time conference champion!.   

YES INDEED…I CRIED…AFTER ALL 3 PERFORMANCES!!!

AAAHHH...LASTING MEMORIES!!!