Interviews: Rachel Anderson of Illinois Wesleyan
2006 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships
(Photo courtesy of Mark Foos for Trackshark.com)
Anderson is a junior sprinter at Illinois Wesleyan University. She is a two-time national champion in the 400 meter dash at both the 2006 indoor and outdoor track and field championships. Anderson looks to defend her 400 meter title as well as help guide the Illinois Wesleyan women's 4 x 400 meter relay team this weekend at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
By: Derick Lawrence (3/2/2007)
Could you tell us a little bit about yourself (where you’re from, what high school you went to, how you got started running)?
I am from central Illinois, a small town called Clinton and I attended Clinton High School. My dad is really the reason I started running, he ran in high school and was pretty fast and ever since I was in 4th grade, he had me interested in track and watching old videos of Carl Lewis. He was even my track coach my 8th grade year of junior high and my senior year of high school.
What were your PR's in high school?
In high school I really didn’t run the 400 until the last four of five meets of senior year, so I definitely was not in shape to run the 400. I think I ran a 58.3 at state my senior year and for the 200 my PR was a 25.6 and in the 100, 12.4 I believe. The other thing is we didn’t have FAT at any of my high school meets besides state, so who knows what we really ran before stateJ
What are your current PR's?
Indoor 55 – 7.26
Indoor 200 – 25.10
Indoor 400 – 56.14
Outdoor 200 – 24.60
Outdoor 400 – 54.82
What made you choose Illinois Wesleyan University?
That is actually a pretty interesting story. I had originally signed my senior year to run track at a DI program, University of Missouri – Kansas City. Before the state meet, the coach and I talked about race strategy and everything and I was really exciting about going there. I wanted to be a pharmacist (still do) and they have a PharmD program at UMKC. But, at the IHSA State meet, Coach Schumacher (IWU) and Gena Rawlins (IWU athlete) came up to talk to me after my race, even though they knew I wasn’t going to be attending IWU next year. And after the meet, for some reason, my UMKC coach never called to ask how it went, maybe he just assumed I’d called, or he saw the results online and didn’t feel a need to call – but I just started to regret my decision. I decided to call Coach Schu, and I was able to be reaccepted to IWU. I’m so thankful for that string of events, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
Last year at the 2006 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships you won the 400 meter dash with a time of 56.35. You also won the 400 meter dash in a time of 54.98 at the 2006 Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Tell us about these experiences.
Well, neither of those experiences would ever have happened without the amazing coaching staff we have at IWU. Coach Adkins and Coach Schumacher really know what they are doing, I mean, I practically dropped four seconds in 400 in 2 years…that seems pretty unreal to me. Indoor was actually really exciting, because I ran the winning time from the slow heat, which actually, is a common thing for IWU athletes to do it seems, or at least, it happens frequently. I couldn’t say one experience was better than the other, but I know that a 4x400 championship will mean a lot more, so we will keep working on that.
You ran a 400 meter automatic qualifying time of 55.74 (56.14 converted) on February 16th at the Hoosier Hills Invitational currently placing you second on the NCAA Division III 2007 Women’s Indoor Performance List in the 400 meter dash. Tell us about this race and your thoughts looking back at your performance.
Indiana has a banked track, so that is an experience in itself for us MidWest runners who aren’t used to running on them. I really don’t think I can get a lot of the banked track compared to athletes who are used to running on them and know how to use them. I was really unhappy with that race though, I was elbowed once by a girl passing me and my mental composure completely broke down and I absolutely quit running my race. That is just something that I really have to work on and I was really thankful for the experience to run there.
What are your goals heading into the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships and upcoming outdoor track and field season?
My main goal is for our 4x400 to be incredibly competitive. There is so much more satisfaction in team and relay success when compared to individual success. Personally I would just like to keep improving.
What did your training consist of during the winter months prior to your first indoor race (mileage, workouts, etc.)?
Well, there is definitely no mileage count for us. We are sprinters through and through, and 30 minute jogs wear me out. But in the winter, we do a lot of weigh training, abs, and workouts with low intensity high repetitions.
Could you provide us with a snapshot of what your training log has looked like this past week?
To borrow a term from the swimmers, we are really tapering this week, so our workouts this week weren’t too tough. A lot of biking and icing, some all out 40s, and a couple 250’s. Nothing major.
What’s your favorite 400 meter specific workout? When does this workout occur during the season?
Definitely, hands down, The Chase. It is kind of a legend here at IWU. We only do it once, during indoor (middle of the season probably). Basically it is repeat 200s with you chasing someone for a 100 and the other 100 you are being chased, it is terrifying J
Do you incorporate strength training into your training? If so, could you describe what you do.
We definitely do a lot of lifting. 3 times a week in the off season, twice once the season is in midswing. Increase weight and decrease reps and we progress.
Do you have a pre-race routine (certain foods you eat, songs you listen to, warm-up routine, etc.)? If so, could you describe it for us?
Well, my pre-race routine really just involves me attempting to prevent getting sick from nerves. It is pretty pathetic. At the moment, I really need to work on eating at all, because I usually haven’t eaten for at least 12 hours by the time I run, which I know isn’t very good for me, but at least I know there is nothing in my stomach besides water to throw up. We usually can’t listen to music while warming up so I don’t listen to anything and we just do the same warm-up at meets that we do every day during the week at practice. I don’t usually talk either because of the afor mentioned nerves. As you can imagine, I am not exactly a lot of fun to be around before I runJ
What are your thoughts when you step on the starting line prior to the start of a race?
Don’t step on the line. I have had a history of being disqualified for more than 3 consecutive strides on the line. So I just remind myself of that every time I get in the blocks…unless it is a 55, and in that case I am just telling myself not to be the last one out of the blocks.
What are the dining options like at Illinois Wesleyan? Does most of the team eat together?
Our dining services are pretty spectacular to be honest. Definitely the best cafeteria of any school I’ve seen (in my opinion). Most of the team do have meal plans and we usually eat in our event groups, because every gets done after practice at different times. Other than the cafeteria, we have a restaurant, a grill (burgers, chicken tenders, etc.), and a Sub shop (along with the usual coffee shops).
What’s your major? Favorite professor? Most memorable class?
I am a business administration major but I am planning on going to pharmacy school once I graduate from IWU, so I’ve been taking all those pre-requisites too. My favorite professor teaches my favorite class so far, Business Law with Professor Dave Marvin, he is quite possibly the funniest man I have ever encountered. Think the guy from King of Queens.
What do you like the most about Illinois Wesleyan Track & Field?
I love IWU’s Track & Field team’s atmosphere, we are a family, seriously. I really can’t put it any other way. Our coaches are phenomenal and our facilities are outstanding (oh, I guess that is the next question). I really don’t think I would have been able to run as fast as I do here anywhere else.
Tell us about the indoor and outdoor track and field facilities at Illinois Wesleyan.
Shirk Center- Indoor Track Facility
Illinois Wesleyan Stadium- Outdoor Track Facility
(Photos courtesy of the Illinois Wesleyan athletics website)
The Shirk Center is our indoor facility and I would say it is the best/fastest track I’ve ever run on. We hosted DIII Indoor Nationals my freshman year (’05) and in 2001. Our outdoor track is just fine, pretty standard.
Any parting words for readers?
I think this pretty much sums up DIII Athletics…I love it:
Why We Play D-III Athletics
It’s not about getting a scholarship, getting drafted, or making SportsCenter. It’s a deep need in us that comes from the heart. We need to practice, to play, to lift, to hustle, to sweat. We do it all for our teammates and for the student in our calculus class that we don’t even know. We don’t practice with a future major league first baseman; we practice with a future sports agent. We don’t lift weights with a future Olympic wrestler; we lift with a future doctor. We don’t run with a future Wimbledon champion; we run with a future CEO. It’s a bigger part of us than our friends and family can understand. Sometimes we play for 2,000 fans; sometimes 25. But we still play hard. You cheer for us because you know us. You know more than just our names. Like all of you, we are students first. We don’t sign autographs. But we do sign graduate school applications, MCAT exams, and student body petitions. When we miss a kick or strike out, we don’t let down an entire state. We only let down our teammates, coaches, and fans. But the hurt is still the same. We train hard, lift, throw, run, kick, tackle, shoot, dribble, and lift some more, and in the morning we go to class. And in that class we are nothing more than students. It’s about pride—in ourselves, in our school. It’s about our love and passion for the game. And when it’s over, when we walk off that court or field for the last time, our hearts crumble. Those tears are real. But deep down inside, we are very proud of ourselves. We will forever be what few can claim…college athletes.
Thanks to Rachel for a great interview.
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