Colorado Mesa University

The Blog: By Katrice Thomas
Prelims -

Finally Alexis was going to have the opportunity to race… except Mother Nature had something else in store. After toting the indoor All-American to the track we arrived expecting to hear the normal track and field chatter. The sound of the starting gun, the booming sound from the press box as he announces the results, the competitors in the field or the progression of the race on the track, the frantic cheering for the athletes blazing towards the finish line, the thunderous sound of the audience clapping as they try to fire up the athletes competing in the field… And we arrived to the eerie sound of complete silence.  The stadium had been evacuated and the meet postponed because of lightning. It was actually an odd scenario because distance runners are known for running in just about EVERY kind of weather.  Wind, rainstorms, heat, snowstorms and freezing temperatures are all but WEAK obstacles to be overcome. And a little lightning hardly seemed like a factor.  In retrospect is was all but a perfect  77 degrees outside, the clouds had shaded the city from the fierce heat from earlier that day, not a hint of rain, in fact one couldn’t ask for better racing weather. Nevertheless, the stadium was silent and the biggest moment in track and field was put on hold.

We got word that the race was to be postponed and the new schedule had Skarda competing around the 10 o’clock hour. The meet briefly had an opportunity to resume, but nature apparently was saving up for one big finale as the heavens opened up into a downpour.  Even though Skarda was obviously ready to compete she would have to save that fire for the next day as the committee decided to combine the two flights of the 5,000 and run just one straight final the next day.

Saturday-

Finals day… and there was a new intensity on the face of the soon to be sophomore. Still calm, still armed with a smile, but the competitor was about to take to the track and you could see it on her face. I was waiting to see some indication of nerves, but her Dad who had also made the trip, seemed to be way more nervous than she. Skarda was focused.  I took my place in the stands and prepped to enjoy the amazing display of talent on the track and to wait for Skarda’s race.  I was momentarily side tracked by the men’s triple jump when I started to realize the air was getting really really heavy.  “Rain,” I thought. No sooner had I finish the thought, it started to rain. The rain kept us company for about 15 minutes before giving way to the championship meet.

Finally the 5,000m field was escorted onto the field and Alexis was the first athlete to get in a stride on the track. It was like she was itching just to feel the surface under her feet, itching to race.  All 19 competitors were introduced and then they were brought to the starting line with the famous commands from the starter… “Runners to your mark,” followed by the sound of the gun. Skarda went straight to the front and maybe after about 100 or 200m of gamesmanship the field evened out and Skarda had settled into the 4^th.

The leader came through her first mile in 5:14 and Skarda wasn’t too far behind clocking in at about 5:16, a little faster than the pace she was aiming for.  At this point there was a small separation of the top 6, but suddenly Skarda was starting to lose the leaders. At this point I had put down the stopwatch, the camera and the phone and had resorted to primarily being a cheerleader, as she slowly fell from 4^th to 5^th to 7^th to 10^th place. The RMAC had also adopted Skarda as athletes from Western and Colorado School of Mines had set up small camps around the stadium to cheer.

Skarda had a slight gallop in her step and wasn’t looking as smooth in her second mile. Alexis is definitely a competitor and it is quite possible that she may have been slightly discouraged as other racers had picked her off, or maybe she was buying herself some time. Bothe scenarios were definitely possible. But as I tried to imagine that there was no way she was tired or discouraged and that she was resorting to her natural racing tactics. Sure enough around the final mile of the race it was like a light went on.  There immediately was no gallop, she went back to running smooth confident and in control.

Skarda started to reel the field back in, as if this was her plan the whole time. And in the final 100m sprint to the finish she overtook the 8^th place runner and earned herself another All-American title in the 5,000m and the 7^th best time. She entered the race ranked 17^th with a previous school record time of 17:22.06, and now boasts a new school record time of 16:41.26 and she was the only freshmen to earn the high honor.

And that was it. The final step of the season had been run.  It was a historical last step, as Skarda is the first outdoor All-American recipient for the track and field team.  She has definitely earned herself a break, although I can’t imagine Skarda NOT running, but the Boulder native will take some well deserved time off before she takes to the trails for the Cross Country season this fall.

The team, coaching staff and I want to send out huge congratulations to the newly minted All-American. She is proof that if you love what you do, understand what it’s going to take to get better, stay the course and have fun then you can reap the benefits of success at the end of the race. I suppose having good genes might be beneficial also. We’re looking forward to watching more races from Skarda, more Mavericks earning the opportunity to have the nationals experience and of course looking for the first ever elusive national champion. Will it be Skarda? We will start the clock and let the race play out accordingly, stay tuned.