California Track & Field Journals: Allison Reaser Journal Entry #8

 

Milesplit California Track & Field Journals  


Allison Reaser (Sr., El Segundo) competes in the Pentathlon and Heptathlons and is our newest journal writer.  Two weeks ago she placed 8th in the Pentathlon at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in New York.  Saturday, at the Mustang Relays, she reached a new PR in the 100 hurdles in 14.66.  Just coming off of an injury she has big plans for her final track season.  Keep checking back as Allison keeps us up to date with her training and her races in her final prep track season.

  

 

PR's

100 Meter Hurdles - 14.43
100 Meter Dash - 12.36
200 Meter Dash - 24.65
300 Meter Hurdles - 42.65
Three Mile Run - 21:50.67
400 Meter Hurdles - 1:02.04
60 Meter Hurdles - 8.94
800 Meter Run - 2:21.19
Heptathlon - 4969

High Jump - 5-1.75
Long Jump - 19-5.25
Pentathlon - 3279
Shot Put - 32-6

Javelin - 119-10

 

Athletic Accomplishments

 2010 South Bay Championships Girl Athlete of the Meet

2009 Mustang Relays Girl Athlete of the Meet
2009 NSIC Pentathlon All American
2008 El Segundo Herald Girl Co-Athlete of the Year
2008 Daily Breeze All Area Girls Track and Field Team (15 selections)
2008 ESHS Girls Varsity Track and Field MVP

2007 ESHS Girls Varsity Track and Field MVP 

 

 

 

Allison Reaser

(Sr., El Segundo)

 

Journal Entry #8  (August 8, 2010)

 

Ending on a high note:

This past week, July 27th through August 1st was the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships. This year it was held in Sacramento, California.  This would be the last time I compete before I go off to college, so I wanted to end it with a bang!  To prepare for this meet, I worked out 6 days a week, lifted weights 3 times a week and drank a lot of Muscle Milk (yuck).  I also had to make it past the qualifying meet which was held at West Covina High School. There were only four Young Women, and I met some cool girls, like Keiko Hector who goes to Palos Verdes High School and Jasmine Hall. The three of us advanced to the Junior Olympics along with my good friend Marylin Petrov and teammate Urina Harrell at the Intermediate level.

(Photo right courtesy of Rick Reaser: Alison at the State Capital wearing her three Junior Olympic medals)

When I arrived in Sacramento I was ready to do some damage, knowing I had a full schedule of events ahead of me I was ready for the challenge. The first two days I was competing in the heptathlon, I wondered who was going to show up. I didn’t know what to expect.  The morning of the first day, surprisingly Lindsay Vollmer and Whitney Fountain didn’t show. This meant I was in a good position. Not expected was a good friend and competitor of mine, Alyssa Monteverde. She would be a tough competitor.  The first day, it was a battle between me and Alyssa, going back and forth first and second place. She won the hurdles and jumped several inches higher than me in the high jump. I came in second in the hurdles and PR-ed in the high jump, jumping 5’ 1 3/4”. I threw 32’ 6” in the shot put and won the 200m with another pr, 24.65. After the first day, I scored 3027 points which was the most I ever scored. After day one, I took an ice bath and was ready to go over 5000. When I arrived to the track for the second day I was a bit sore. The next event was the long jump. This is one of my best events, but on this day I didn’t get a good jump. I scratched my first one, took a safe one for the second, and was behind the board on the third. Over all, I ended up with a 17’ 8” jump. I put the event behind me and was pumped to throw the javelin. I was getting better at this event in practice and was ready to throw a monster throw. That is just what I did. I almost reached my goal of 120 feet. I threw 119’ 10” which was a PR and that also won the event! The last event was coming up. I was in the lead with a lot of points, but my main goal out of this meet was to go over 5000 points win or lose. I calculated it and I needed to run a 2:28 in the 800 to reach my goal. I was really wiped out, but I wouldn’t let that stop me. I ran a 2:27. It was slow, but it would do. After crossing the finish line and looking at the time, I was so amazed that my dearest dream was coming true. I had broken 5000 and I had also won. This made me a national champion and the fifth girl in the country to break the 5000 mark. 

Next my twin sister Amy ran the 4x800 her team took 9th place which knocked them out of a medal. She was still happy she got to experience track at such a high level. Me and my dad celebrated by taking another ice bath and going out to dinner.

Wednesday, I ran the 4x400 and our team took second overall with a time of 3:45.54. This was a really, really fast.  At the end of the day I was exhausted even though I only ran one race. The next day I got to take a break and my sister flew back home. My friend Ahmed Mahmood flew in and competed in the high jump. He got 18th but PR-ed by ¾ inches jumping 6’ 2 3/4”.  That night we went to dinner with my soon to be college coach, Shelia Burrell. It was nice to have her there to watch me in action.

(Photo left courtesy of Randy Gustafson: Allison running the second leg of the 4x400 relay at the Junior Olympics)

 

All rested up the next day, I ran the 400h, 100h and long jump. I got lucky and got assigned lane one for the 400h (just kidding). I had never ran in lane one before for this race so I was nervous. I pulled it through and won my heat! I had conquered lane one! My next event was the 100h. I ran an okay time and got second in my heat. Unfortunately I placed tenth overall and didn’t qualify for the finals. My legs were dead for the long jump, but I didn’t want to disappoint Coach Burrell. I mentally got prepared and had three great jumps making it to the finals and jumping three more great jumps. I placed 6th over all with an 18’ 8’ jump. I was very pleased, but wondered why I couldn’t do that in my heptathlon.

Taking another ice bath and saying good bye to my coach, I got ready for my last day of high school track. I would be running in the 400h and 4x400 relay. I was running on empty but still managed to place 6th in the hurdles earning another medal.  A couple hours later, it was time to warm up for the 4x400 relay. Getting ready to check in, we noticed that our name wasn’t on the list. We called our coach and we soon found out that we had been disqualified. This was a big mystery because it was never announced and everywhere else it said we were still in the race. Luckily we had another team in the race and as fair as our club coach is, she put the four fastest girls in the race. That was not me. Going back to the stands with my other teammates we cheered our team on to second place! It was bitter sweet, but I can’t complain because I had the best week of my summer. A lot of people helped me reach my goals. I am thankful to my coaches, teammates, competitors, family, and God. I wouldn’t be here without them.

Now I’m done with high school track and ready to turn some heads in college =]

You ain’t seen nothing yet!

~Allison Reaser

 

 

 

 

Journal Entry #7  (July 11, 2010)

 

Finishing it up: 

 

 

Finishing it up as an Eagle getting ready to be an Aztec!

June 4th and 5th was the weekend of the California State Meet. I had been preparing for this meet ever since I got out of my cast the year before.  I only made it in the 300h, but out of all of my events that one is my favorite. For the past couple weeks when I was training for that event, I made a choice to alternate my legs over the first four hurdles. That was the next step for me reaching my goal of a faster time. When I was in the blocks I was ready to get under 43 seconds, but mentally I got nervous and went over the first hurdle on the wrong leg. That was not a part of the plan and rarely make mistakes like that. I finished 3rd in my heat and tenth over all. It was a bit disappointing for me. I didn’t get to run in the finals because they only take the top nine. Even though at that moment I wanted to give up, I knew that the following weekend I had another meet and another chance to prove myself.

The next week was the USATF Association meet at Cerritos College.  I put the State meet behind me and focused on doing my best. Some of the top State runners and jumpers we’re going to be there like Shanice Stewart and TOGETHER teammates Kylie Price, Ashley Smith.  I placed second in all my events, the 100h, the long jump, 4x100, and the 400h, which advanced me in all four to the Region meet which was last weekend in Las Vegas. I was super pumped that I did what I wanted to do.

During all this, I was busy with finals, senior activities and graduation.  I was ready to leave El Segundo High and start my journey as an Aztec running track and Field for my new team at San Diego State.  So this summer I really wanted to make my new coach Shelia Burrell proud as I competed in the USATF Junior Olympics. I could have competed in the USA Juniors in Iowa, but I made the decision not to so I could attend my senior graduation. Track meets come and go but you only graduate high school once.

 

(photo right, from left:  Lauren Gustafson (Palisades HS), Allison Reaser and twin sister Amy)

Right after graduation, the seniors get to go to Disneyland and stay there till 6 AM to celebrate one last time with our fellow classmates. It was a crazy night. When I got home I had to pack and get ready to go to Las Vegas because I was competing the next day in three events. So the whole car ride there I passed out in the back seat with my twin sister, Amy Reaser sleeping as well. I needed to rest up so I could make top three in all my events. I ran a decent 100h and jumped well enough to place 3rd in both events. I also ran the 4x800 which we got first in due to the fact there was only two teams, and the two teams were from TOGETHER. My sister, Amy was on the other team and now she gets to go to the Junior Olympics too!

That night my teammates and I got to explore Las Vegas. Knowing we were there for track we made sure to go to bed early. The next day I was well rested and ready to bust out a fast 400h time. I ran a 1:02.10 and won the event against Giana Woodruff who the previous week beat me in that same race. In all my events I did what I wanted to do and am advancing in all of them to the Junior Olympics at the end of July. After I cooled down, which was hard to do being that it was 111 degrees on the track, I got to watch one of my best friends, Ahmed Mahmood, compete in the high jump. He came with us to the meet and this was his first time competing in summer track. He PR-ed in the event jumping 6’ 2” and got second in the whole thing. He was so excited that he made it that far and was able to continue on to the Junior Olympics.   

I had so much fun in Las Vegas. Even though it was Hot Hot Heat, it was nice to spend time with my teammates and sister. I was also happy that my best friend and sister advanced too!  As I get ready for the Region heptathlon this weekend, I hope to qualify in that also for the Junior Olympics, making that week one busy track meet. I can’t wait!!

Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger).

 

~Allison Reaser

 

 

 

Journal Entry #6  (June 1, 2010)

Journey to The State Meet:

After all the invitational’s, duals, and league finals, track and field is not over yet. There is still five more meets in California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). CIF is the organization is that runs High School track in my state.  The CIF phase competition starts after League Prelims and League Finals.  Then there are Division Prelims, Division Finals, Southern Section Masters Meet, State Prelims, and the most prestigious meet of them all, State Finals. Coming off my injury, I’ve been getting faster and faster, since I’ve been able to train more.  I had to make adjustments to my events. For instance, I took four steps out of the 300mh and alternate lead legs over the first four hurdles.  I have also worked hard to clean up my 100 meter race and not hit any hurdles.  (Photo above:  Allison with Coach Smith at the CIF SS Division)

 

Now that my foot is better, I can focus more on training.  I added more hours of practice time which translates into more hours on the track. I still enjoy the occasional foot massage, wrap, and stimulator at my physical therapist when I can fit it in. And since practice for my High School team is now officially over, I go to different schools to use hurdles; be with other older athletes; and sometimes meet my high school coach, Darrell Smith.    

  
After getting through the Division meets and medaling in four events, I was really excited about the Masters Meet. I'd finally get to race against some heavy competition, which I haven’t done in a year or so. I'll even get to see some of my friends that I've met from other schools that would also be competing.  But, I found out that track is sport of millimeters and microseconds.  I was little nervous going into the meet.  It affected the whole evening since I couldn’t relax.  In the long jump, I took sixth place with 18’ 4.5”.  Only the top five places automatically go to State.  The rest have to jump 18’ 5.”  So I missed it by one place or ½ inch.  I’ve jumped farther than 18’ 5” many times.

 

The 100 meter hurdles were literally on top of the long jump.  I was under pressure to finish Long Jump and rushed to get to the starting line.  So, I didn’t really get to warm up over hurdles.  I was in lane 9, next to the wall, with people hanging over it to get a closer look.  It was really annoying.  I ran a 14.46.  The State qualifying mark is 14.28, so I missed that one by 0.18 seconds. 

 

My last race was the 300m hurdles.  I was nervous about my new race pattern, but I was excited to run, since it’s my favorite race.  The new steps worked out.  I was expecting a faster time, but it was really cold and windy.  I ran 0.19 seconds slower than my last meet.  But I made it to the State Meet in the event in Clovis!

 

I plan to do well, make it to the State finals and PR, because I can do all things through God who strengthens me.

 

~Allison Reaser

 

 

 

 Journal Entry #5 (May 19, 2010)

 

 

80 Percent of Track is Mental: 

Coming towards the end of the season, El Segundo had its last dual meet at South Torrance. I only competed in two events; ones that I’m not well known for, the shot put and discus. There was a lot of pressure on me for the fact that I wasn’t able to compete in my specialty events, with the possibility of reinjuring my foot.  As I found out that week, my mental game played a big part in my throws. I had never practiced discus and have only thrown it once before.   I used all that I knew about it and won the event with a spin of 79’ 9.5”!  As I celebrated on my way to the shot put ring, I tried to get pumped for a big throw.  Unfortunately my body wanted to muscle the ball instead of trusting my technique.

(Photo left: Allison winning 300 hurdles at league finals, courtesy of Dean Lofgren)

The following week was hectic with league prelims and league finals wrapping up most of my team’s season.  Monday was finals for long jump.  To keep my load short, I only took one jump, winning it with an okay 17’ 6”.  I had three more events in prelims that day.  I typically do well in the 100 and 300 hurdles, so I wasn’t worried.  I also ran in the 100 meters and that would be the first time I ran that race this season.  I had to wrap my head around the fact I would be running this race without hurdles, which would be easier but different.  As I crossed the finish line, I came out with a win.  So I qualified for finals in the three track events and took first in the long jump.

Two days later, I had to do it all over again in the League Finals.  This is where the mental part of track kicked in.  Even though my foot was hurting and I was sore from Monday, I had to keep my focus on winning my events. Mind over matter was the motto for the day.   Fortunately I succeeded.  I placed first in everything, which is the first time I won all four events at League Finals!!   But was this going to be the end of my season, with my foot problem hanging over my head?

The next week, I received some interesting news from my doctor.  My MRI showed that what I thought was stress fracture really was one, but it had already healed.  What a relief!   Now I can focus on getting ready for the State Meet and not worrying about my foot.

Remember, turn left, and  go straight.

~Allison Reaser

 

 

 

 

 Journal Entry #4 (April 30, 2010)

 

Highs and Lows, Ups and Downs: #4


April 8th was the first day of the Arcadia Invitational Multis.  This would be my fourth heptathlon after not competing in one for nearly two years.  I had been training very hard for a very long time for this meet.  I also knew there would be some stiff competition.  The first event is the 100m hurdles.  I couldn't have asked for more perfect weather and time to run this race.  I had my best race and PRed with a wind legal 14.43! This got me off to a great start. Crossing the finish line I changed my mind set.  Now I was a high jumper.  My goal for this event was to clear 5 feet which I had never done in a meet.   Unfortunately, I only cleared 4' 11 ¾”--a quarter of an inch from my goal.  But I can't complain, because it was a new PR.  I rolled off the high jump pad and put on my shot put shoes.  I needed to get fierce to throw a big one today.  My plan was to throw over thirty feet and I did just that!  I threw 31’ 1 ¾”.  After my last put, I got in the zone of a sprinter.  The gun went off and I shot out like a rocket.   I was on the heels of Ashley Smith and took second with a wind legal 24.75 PR! That was the first time I broke 25 seconds and it was the fifth fastest 200 in California at the time.  The first day of the hep had come to a very fast end.  After that 200,  I felt something wrong with my right foot and iced it immediately after my warm down. That night, I got ready for the second day by eating pasta and going to bed early.

The first event of the second day was the long jump.  I was especially nervous about this event.  The previous month, at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in New York, I had terrible time with the Long Jump.  My first two trials were scratches and I had to take a very safe and very short jump to ensure I scored some points in the Pentathlon.   But this was a chance to redeem myself.  My foot still was hurting from the day before so I decided to only take only two jumps to be safe.   I leaped an 18’ 7 ¾”! This was a season best for me, and earned me a lot of points.  Satisfied with my long jump, we all got into a bus to a local college to throw the mighty javelin.  I wasn’t sure how it was going to go.   I rarely throw the javelin in a meet.  Anyway, I hurled it 114’ 8” and won the event!  This was a new plateau and PR for me by 12 feet.  The last event, the 800, was next.  I needed to get myself pumped instead of dreading the event.   I wanted to leave everything on the track.  My 800 time typically ranges between 2:22 and 2:26. Unfortunately after the gun went off, I went out too slow and my race strategy didn’t go as I planned.  I finished with a 2:31.22 with enough gas left to probably go another lap. Ugh!  So I finished on a low note.  On the other hand, I PRed in four events, was ranked number five in the State in the 200, won the javelin, and got a final, score of 4969, just shy of 5000!  That score would have been #1 in US—last year.  But I came in second this year which is maddening.  At least it was to friend and track club teammate, Ashley Smith, who was simply amazing and deserving of first place.  That night, I was also scheduled to run the first leg of the 1600m Sprint Medley Relay with my High School team.  My foot was hurting, but I decided to give it a go.  After I gave the baton to leg two before any of the other 8 lanes, I heard the announcer say, “Up here in the booth, we had Allison Reaser at 24 flat on that first leg.”   We set a new school record as well.

The third day of Arcadia, I was scheduled to run the seeded 100m hurdles, the 400m leg of the Distance Medley Relay, the Invitational Long Jump and Invitational  300m hurdles.  In morning, I easily won my 100m hurdle heat with a 14.69, received a gold medal and qualified to run again that night.  But my foot wasn’t right.  The doctor at the meet said I probably had another stress fracture.  After talking with a lot people, including my future college coaches who came to watch me, I scratched out of all remaining events.  After being on Mt  Everest on Friday, I was now in Death Valley on Saturday.  I wouldn’t be able to compete with Kori Carter, Katie Nelms, Alyssa Monteverde or Monica Todd that night. 

The next week was Mt. SAC.  Instead of competing in four events, my twin sister, Amy, took my place on the 4x2.   I scratched out of both hurdle races and the long jump.  I love to watch track meets, especially ones like Mt. SAC where Allyson Felix and Lashinda Demus compete, but not when I’m supposed to be running as well.

At our next dual meet against North Torrance and it rained most of the afternoon.  It was an awful day in more ways than one.  I couldn’t run, so I threw the shot and disc.  Fortunately, Jasmine Burrell, who goes to North took the day off to get ready for Penn Relays.  I won the shot put with a 32’ 3 ½” throw.  I almost won the discus, which I’ve never thrown before, but kept fouling.

That next Saturday was the South Bay Championships.  20 local High Schools and all my Track and Field friends would be there.  My foot was feeling a little better and I had enough of being depressed.  I decided to go for it.  I would run both hurdle races.  I won the short hurdles with a 14.55 and the long hurdles with a 44.41.  I broke Shannon Forbes’ meet record in the 300m hurdles and was named Girl Athlete of the Meet.  (Photo above;  Allison being presented with the Athlete of the meet trophy).  My climb back to the top had started. As Henry Ward Beecher once said “It's easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top”.

Thanks for keeping up so far and see you at the finish line!

~Allison Reaser

 

 

 Journal Entry #3 (April 21, 2010)

Dealing with Injuries

The past year, I have received quite a bit of attention—not because of my performances on the track, but because of all my injuries.  I am just going to go and say it.   Injuries are the worst thing ever.   I hate not being able to compete.  But when you get over them, you come out stronger.  It’s not the end of the world.  The past year, I’ve been cursed with stress fractures in my feet.  I have had four so far, that I know of.

My first one was right in the middle of my junior season.   If you haven’t figured it out, that is the most important season of a High School athlete’s career.   I thank the Lord that I had good marks my sophomore year and that I was still being recruited.   I ran on my sore foot for about a month, pretty fast in fact.  When the doctor finally decided I had a navicular stress fracture in my right foot, she put me in a cast. My season (and my life as I saw it) was over.  It was hard knowing I could not compete in the State Meet.   I was really looking forward to that.

As I wrote off my Junior season, I had to make new goals.  I needed to get ready for the Junior Olympics in the summer.  So I got a waterproof cast so I could go swimming to keep up my fitness.  I also worked on my upper body at the gym.  As the USATF and AAU Junior Olympics approached, I still could not compete due to the fact my right calf had shrunk and my foot was not 100% healed.  I kept swimming through the summer and worked on my throws, since I couldn’t run, jump or hurdle.  I threw the javelin and shot at an open meet in August.  I PRed in both events and started to like the throws.  As a sprinter and hurdler, I never would have thought that I would enjoy throwing the shot put!

I started full up training in October.   My new goal was to get ready for indoor track.  I even gave up soccer.  My first meet was a December All Comers Meet in Santa Monica, since it had FAT.  On my very first race, I PRed in the 60m hurdles with an 8.86 and won against college girls!  I also ran 44.79 in the 300m hurdles and 12.58 in the 100m.  Since these were very, very early marks, I was #1 in the State for awhile.  Yea!  I was on track to have a great season and make up for lost time. Unfortunately my left foot started hurting right after the meet.  I soon learned that I had three new stress fractures, now in my left foot.  Just my luck!  I took two months off and changed my diet and lifted a lot. I pretty much missed indoor season and started outdoor season late.

I learned that I could get back in shape fast.  When I came back the second time, I PRed again with one of the top 100 meter and 300 meter hurdles time in the State.  Now, each time I run it seems like I do better.

What is important when you are injured is not to get down on yourself.   Look at it as an opportunity to get better at something or work on something you’re not good at.  I had more time to work on my throws.  Now I am throwing a lot further.  You have to find other goals, use alternate training, and then train smarter.  You also have to have a good diet.  After all the doctors I saw and all the medical equipment they have used on me, I have learned this:  I am the best judge of whether I am hurt or well.  I know whether it’s real pain, or if I am just tired, sore or lazy.  As long as I don’t let my pride get in the way, I am the best judge of whether I am ready to compete or ready to go to the hospital.

I’ll write more about injuries and Arcadia next time, but for now I have to cross over my way to the javelin!

 ~Allison Reaser

 

 

 

 

Journal Entry #2  (April 4, 2010)

My College Decision

When I was a sophomore, I started to be noticed by colleges.  I received my first recruiting letter after I competed well at the Arcadia Invitational here in California.  Overall, I received recruiting letters from 61 colleges around the U.S. for track. If it weren’t for track, I probably wouldn’t have considered going to a four year college nor had all these opportunities.

 

(Pictured right; Allison running the 400)

 

My long term goal is to compete professionally in track and field.  Then I want to have a sports or fitness related career and probably be a track coach.  So my college choice needed to help me reach those dreams.  My criteria for choosing a school that I wanted to run for were:   good weather, having my major, right coaching staff and team quality.

In the fall of my Senior Year, 10 schools asked me to come on official visits.   I had to narrow that down to five because of the NCAA rules.  I also had one unofficial visit to a school that was pretty close to home.   Four schools made home visits, where they came to see me.  Official visits are just like a free vacation.   They’re awesome:  free airfare, free meals, and free hotel, unless you stay in the dorm with your student host.  Going on these trips was a great way for me to see if I clicked with the team, could handle the weather, learn about the school, and to get a feel of the new surroundings.  I would be spending the next four years of my life at one of these schools!  The one hard thing about official visits is you have to miss quite a bit of school and even sacrifice school events like home coming and football games.  On the bright side, you get to go to a college football game where there is a lot more energy.  You also get a little taste of the college experience for 48 hours.

During all of this, I received a lot of phone calls at night from coaches telling me why I should go to their school and run for their team.  That can get hectic because the coaches can talk your ear off, and then you find yourself with little time to finish your homework.

After I had narrowed down my choices, I was offered scholarships:  from books, to partial scholarships, to three full rides.  Fortunately, for me, the amount of the scholarship wasn’t an issue.  For several people I went on trips with, that was not the case.  It was a hard choice and I had a lot of input from my private coach, club coach, parents, fellow athletes and friends.  I ended up choosing the school where I took my unofficial visit, San Diego State University (SDSU).

Pictured above;  Sprint/Hurdle Coach Carjay Lyles, Allison and SDSU Head Coach Shelia Burrell.

SDSU met all my requirements.  It has awesome weather.  It had a great kinesiology program for my major to support my career.  They have amazing, new, one-of-a-kind coach, two-time Olympic Heptathlete Shelia Burrell who will take me where I want to go.   Its has a great track team that is full of winners!  SDSU is rebuilding its team and I feel that I will be a great addition to a team that a successful future ahead and will work together. Go Aztecs!!

Until next time catch me on the flip side of the High Jump bar,

~Allison Reaser

 


 

 

 

 

Journal Entry #1 (March 31, 2010)


Hey!  I’m Allison Reaser.   I am a senior at El Segundo High School in Southern California.  I started running road races when I was about 10 until I was 13.   I’ve probably run over 90 5Ks.  I have played soccer since Kindergarten, but had to give it up after 12 years to focus on what ended up being my true love.

I started running track and field when I was a Freshman.   I ran the 100h, 100m, 300h and long jump.  When I was a freshman, another senior boy from my track team and I made it to Divison Finals. I went in the long jump and for the 300h.   I placed 7th in both events.  I also set the school record in the long jump,  breaking my coach’s record.

That summer I started getting serious about track.  I began working with a private coach.  As a sophomore, I made it into the Arcadia and Mt. SAC Invitational Track Meets in four events each.   In High School competition that year, I made it to the State Qualifying meet in the Long Jump and 300h.  I progressed to State Prelims then State Finals where I placed 6th in the 300h. I was the second person in the 90 year history of my High School to medal at the California State Meet.

That summer I joined a club team called TOGETHER Elite and began training for the multis.   I competed in the Youth Nationals in North Carolina and Junior Olympics in Nebraska.  I became interested in the Heptathlon, because I like doing a lot of events.  I love to run, jump, throw and hurdle.

Last year, I started to run indoor track, which is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.  I ran in Pocatello, Idaho at the Simplot Games and in New York City at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships at the Armory.   My club’s relay teams did really well and I got to compete in my first Pentathlon.

My junior year, I started out strong, but my season was cut short due to a stress fracture in my right foot.  I will write more about my injury experiences in a future journal entry.

As a Senior, I’m not letting anything get in my way.  I have signed with San Diego State University to work under two-time Olympian Heptathlete, Coach Shelia Burrell.  She’s a great coach and is building a super team.  We’ll be winning a lot of meets!  My ultimate goal is to compete for my country in the Olympics.   And my coach has been there, done that and got the t-shirt.  San Diego State has my major, is not far from home and has fantastic track weather.  So I am very excited to be an Aztec next year.  I will write more about my college selection process later.

 

(Photo left: Allison signing her letter of intent.)

In the meantime, see you at the Oval Office, aka the Track,

~Allison Reaser