Annie Beecham has always shown the ability to go the distance.
Beecham is technically a senior, but a redshirt junior for cross country as well as indoor and outdoor track.
Her ties to cross country give her a good base for success in the distance events of track and field.
The cross country training is pretty much the same as the training for track
Beecham said. The aspect that we train year-round obviously helps.
Beecham has been impressive all year long for the Bobcats. During this outdoor season, she has seen her hard work pay dividends.
She currently holds a time in the 10k that will be good enough to qualify for the NCAA East Regional in Greensboro, N.C. However, she wants to make further improvements.
I would like to post a faster 10k time at (the Mid-American Conference Championships) which will give me better standing in the East Region Beecham said.
Another distance runner who has done equally as well as Beecham is Kari Summers. Beecham and Summers are more than just teammates on the track.
Kari and I are roommates and very close friends
as well as competitors
Beecham said.
There is friendly competition between us
but we are always happy to see the other one do well.
She believes that the Bobcats' group of freshmen is beginning to see results from six months of training.
In distance running
it takes months
even years
to see improvement-there are no shortcuts
Beecham said.
This weekend, Ohio returns home to Goldsberry Track for the Ohio Open. Much of the focus will be on preparing for the MAC Championships next week. We have really good momentum going into MACs and regionals
Beecham said.
