Upload a Photo Upload a Video Add a News article Write a Blog Add a Comment
Blog Feed News Feed Video Feed All Feeds

Media

Photos (4)
View
Videos (34)
View
News (54)
View
Blogs (0)
View
 

Folders

 

 

From the Pool to the Track - Feature on OSU's Laura Carlyle

Published by
travis   Mar 7th 2011, 7:12pm
Comments

        Corvallis, OR - Junior Laura Carlyle had a solid season in her first track campaign at Oregon State University in 2010, breaking the indoor mile school record by running 4:50, qualifying for the NCAA West Regional meet in the 1500 with a 4:23 school record, and running a  16:51 PR in her only 5000m appearance. Knowing just how inexperienced Carlyle was, makes her first season more impressive and creates high hopes for 2011, which she started off strong with a 9:35 Indoor school record in the 3000m on March 5th in Seattle.

       Carlyle spent a majority of her life as a swimmer growing up in British Columbia and only began running a little over three years ago. Her family had moved to Bellingham, WA and she had just started college at Whatcom Community College, thinking sports were behind her.

            After her brother started running at the high school level, the word got out that his sister had always had a natural ability to run. She got an email from Joel Pearson, the new head coach at the newly formed Whatcom Cross Country program asking if she was interested in joining the team in late 2007, despite never competing in high school. “I’d love to come out, but I’m pretty out of shape” said Carlyle in response. “I figured I was new to the town, didn’t have many friends and wanted to get in shape.” Pearson’s motivation to fill his roster led to finding a hidden talent. “Joel was the first one to see my potential and believe in me,” said Carlyle of her first cross country coach.

            Carlyle was talented, but she was very raw and had little experience as indicated from her first competition as a runner a couple months after joining the team. “My first race I raced unattached in track in an indoor 800m”, explained Carlyle. “I ran a 2:26, it was not good,” she laughs about now. She ran 2:12 last track season and 2:26 is a slower pace than her mile personal best from last season. Despite the humble beginnings her talent would not be denied. She was the conference champion in cross country for all the community colleges in the Northwest and ran very solid times throughout the 2008 season. Oregon State Coach Kelly Sullivan got his first opportunity to see Carlyle compete when she won that conference championship.

            “Joel contacted me about a young girl he thought was untapped, so fortunately I had the opportunity to go see her run, but the way the course was set up I only got to see her run maybe a minute of her 18-minute race, but I liked what I saw, took Joel’s faith, and we brought her in and offered her a scholarship“, said Sullivan.

            Carlyle was anxious to continue her journey with her new found passion at the highest level she could after Whatcom CC cut their program and it was time for her to transfer to a University.

            “I wanted to be in the Pac-10, to go somewhere I would go and get my butt kicked for a couple years.”

            That spring, 2009, Sullivan fortunately was able to watch her run an entire 5000m race on the track at Willamette University.

            “She was all over the place, she didn’t look comfortable running around people, and she took sixth or seventh in about 17:08, but it was obviously she was pretty good,” reflected Sullivan. “I knew then we had something pretty special.”

           Carlyle said the decision to go to Oregon State was an easy one. “Kelly just stood out,” said Carlyle. “During my visit it wasn’t Corvallis, it wasn’t the trails, although I love those aspects now, it was Kelly. I needed to know whoever I ran for was looking out for me, would know what I’m capable of, and would believe in me. That is what is most important to me.”

            Carlyle’s impact was immediate, she was OSU’s top finisher at Pac-10’s in cross country in 2009, and it went beyond her running ability.

             “She’s got that great combination of endurance and speed, she’s very fluid, but the thing I really like about her is her demeanor, she’s not self-centered, and has probably even surprised herself by developing into a great team leader,” stated Sullivan. “When she first arrived after being on a very small community college team she was uncomfortable going on a run with 35 other chatty girls, but she’s evolved and has become a great communicator.”

            Carlyle wants to be a leader on the track as well in 2011. “I have huge goals for myself,” says Carlyle. “I want to make finals again at Pac-10’s, but I also want to be competitive, try to be in the top four. I want to score points for Oregon State and it’s time for one or more of us to qualify for NCAA’s.”

            Both Sullivan and Carlyle agree that time is on her side. “Since I’m so new to running, I’m newly in love with the sport and learning so much. I just want to see what I can do in the next few years,” said Carlyle.

            “She’s still very raw, but incredibly coachable,” said Sullivan. “We have this year and next, but I know her goals are to still be running 6-7 years from now. I know her best years of running are ahead of her. She’s been a gem.”

            There is no question now, Laura Carlyle is a runner. “So many things have happened, like Whatcom establishing a program when I happened to be there,” says Carlyle. “I was meant to do this, I was meant to be at Oregon State, to be with Kelly, this is my path. I think I was always a runner, I just didn’t know it yet.”



More news

1 comment(s)
CVZ
First comment, Woo!
She's a Canadian SUPERSTAR, Olympics next...
History for Oregon State University Cross Country/Track and Field
YearVideosNewsPhotosBlogs
2023 7 1    
2022 4 1    
2021 4      
Show 16 more