TALES OF THE TIGERS: Running the Course Together

Courtesy of FHSU Athletics

BY NIKKI SHERRILL

Placing within the Top 10 at any cross country meet is a huge accomplishment. What makes the accomplishment better is getting to experience that with someone close to you. Lindsay and Lauren Roberts, senior runners on the FHSU women’s cross country team, placed fifth and ninth respectively at the 2017 MIAA Cross Country Meet this past weekend. The two led the way for the Tiger women, who finished their highest as a team at the conference meet since joining the MIAA in 2006. The twins each picked up All-MIAA First Team honors.

“My goal going into conference was to make all-conference, which is top 20, so it was really exciting to make the top five. There were multiple girls who had beaten me earlier in the season so going into this race my goal was to pack up with them and hang on as long as I could. I also chose to not go as hard on the first mile and be patient because it’s a long race and I think that strategy kept me calm and helped me place as high as I did,” said Lindsay.

For Lauren, her focus heading into the conference meet was to remember wise words from head coach Jason McCullough. This motivation propelled her to finish only four places behind her sister.

“My only individual goal was to run confident and to not doubt myself at all throughout the race. Coach McCullough has said a quote before that has helped and impacted my racing which was “train the mind and the body will follow.” This quote really stood out to me because mental strength plays such a huge role in running. You can be in great shape or you can be extremely talented, but if you don’t have passion, a positive attitude, or confidence in yourself, you will not be successful. I also really wanted our team to do well and place higher than we have earlier in the season compared to the other teams in our conference,” said Lauren.

The senior twins, who transferred into Fort Hays State last season from Iowa Central Community College, are originally from Katy, Texas. It was in Texas that their love for running and competing blossomed. The two were originally just track athletes, but after some convincing from their high school coach, the sisters could not refuse.

“My high school coach really saw potential in both me and my sister and wouldn’t take no for an answer about joining the team. I was super nervous to make the transition into cross country at first because of how different the environment and the training is, but I ended up loving everything about the sport. The team dynamic is much more personal than it is in track and the training is way more intense. It took a while to get used to how many more miles I had to run weekly but it ended up being worth it,” said Lauren.

After high school, the two traveled north to compete at Iowa Central. Following their two years on the Triton’s cross country squad, the Roberts’ sisters were debating where their athletic careers would lead next. If it were not for former teammates who also made the switch to Fort Hays State, who knows where they would have ended up running.

“We had some teammates from Iowa transfer here, so that is what persuaded us to transfer here to run as well. We never really debated on going to different schools we were always set on staying together,” said Lindsay.

For Lauren, not only was getting the chance to continue to run with her sister a big selling factor on becoming a Tiger, the distance back home promoted an impact.

“It was pretty easy to choose to come here since we had a lot of friends here already, and Kansas is closer to home than Iowa. Moving far away from home is always a tough decision, but having each other makes it easier, so we definitely wanted to transfer together,” said Lauren.

Both sisters noted the biggest adjustment from junior college cross country to the NCAA Division II level is the change in competition; not only during the regular season but also at championship time. Although the rise in competition level has changed, both Roberts’ agree their weekly and season mileage has increased, giving them more time to improve.

As far as the training regime, the whole team is gaining an understanding of the importance of preparing your body for the toll the season takes.

“I never realized the importance of rolling your legs out before and after practice until I came to FHSU. We also do a lot of core work and basic strengthening exercises for our IT bands and hips, which I feel has helped me tremendously this year. Coach McCullough is also a huge health nut, so he always gives the team tips on better food choices that I have taken advantage of,” said Lindsey.

The adjustments have seemed to set in for the Roberts’, as they have shown drastic improvements from their first season at FHSU. Now, after placing highly at conference, both can look back and see just how they got to where they are.

“This season has been one of my best cross country seasons I have ever had. This was my first season in a while that I was able to train all summer long with no injuries and I came into this season in better shape than previous years. So far, I have ran my fastest time ever in the 5k this year and have been running well in most races. There were one or two races in the beginning of the season where I didn’t feel great physically or mentally and it wasn’t a great day for me, but I tried to view it as a lesson and use that feeling to help me for my next race,” said Lauren.

For Lindsay, who red-shirted last season, the chance to finally get back onto a course has been her biggest change. She also recognized how hard last year’s team worked to get to nationals and wants to get there herself as she worked to get healthy over her time off.

“Because I couldn’t compete last season, I think the consistent training and seeing the team make it to nationals really motivated me for this season. Plus all the free time I had from not competing allowed me to focus on staying healthy,” said Lindsay.

With Lauren’s experience at nationals last season, she hopes she and the rest of her team can use last year as a stepping stone to motivate them to get back to the championship meet.

“Competing at nationals last year was an amazing experience. I am still to this day so lucky and thankful to have been a part of the first team from Fort Hays that got to compete at the national meet in 20 years, especially since we were able to travel to Florida. Although I wasn’t in nearly the shape I am in now and didn’t run as fast as I have this year, I am still so grateful for last year’s season,” said Lauren.

However, before the Tigers and the Roberts’ sisters can attempt to make it back to nationals, the NCAA Regional Meet stands in front of them.

“My goal for the regional meet is to help my team as much as I can. I’m feeling a lot more confident now after my performance at conference and I think I can run just as well or even better for regionals. Hopefully, my team and I can bring this positivity and momentum from the conference meet and use it at the regional meet and surprise some people,” said Lauren.

The 2017 regional meet will be Lindsay’s first run at the competition, and she hopes to also have a big performance to excel her team into national contention.

“My biggest goal for regionals is to qualify to nationals as a team. We all ran really hard and came out with a runner-up finish at conference, so my hopes are high that we will be able to have a good chance on placing high at regionals as well. Another goal for regionals is to run a new personal best for the 6k,” said Lindsay.

One thing is for sure as the two head to the regional meet with national aspirations in their mind, they will be doing it together. Togetherness in cross country is not new to the sisters, who both say the other is their biggest competitor, yet cheerleader at the same time.

“Having my sister as my teammate has been a huge benefit in every way. I always have someone to go on runs with and motivate me. We are pushing each other in workouts and runs every day. We have been training together our entire lives so were in similar shape. If we’re doing a workout and one of us starts to fall behind, we encourage each other with positive words to help finish the run or workout rep on pace. Most of our confidence and motivation comes from staying together in workouts or races,” said Lauren.

For Lindsay, the accountability her sister gives her in training and on the course has made her the runner she is this season.

“We are constantly keeping each other accountable for staying focused when it comes to the little things like staying late after practice to do extra core strength and stretching and rolling out to avoid injuries and staying healthy. People always assume that we are super competitive with each other, but it is actually the opposite. I always wish success for my sister. We always remind each other that we finish workouts/tempos together so we should be racing beside each other. The goal is always to get a new PR (personal record) in each race no matter if she beats me or not,” said Lindsay.

As the end of their final season approaches, the twins know they will finish the course together, wherever it may take them.

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