When a Dream Comes True
11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
By Lara-Ann Schwede
Finishing in the top three at NCAA Regionals and going to Nationals is both a goal and a dream for many athletes. Samantha Jones, a senior on the cross country team at Wake Forest, has achieved just that.
Last Friday morning at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Va., Jones finished third out of 235 runners, completing the 6k course in 20:35 and automatically qualifying for NCAAs that will take place on Saturday.
"I felt really good racing—I didn't have to work too hard and midway through the race I was pretty confident about finishing top 4 individually," the criterion necessary in order to make it to Nationals as an individual.
Two weeks before, Jones ran at the ACC championship and placed sixth, which already was a great success. Cross country season this year went well for her in general, but she didn't have a breakout race until ACCs.
"That race, I decided to go out hard and fight throughout the entire race," Jones said. "That's something I hadn't done the races before and it worked out very well."
Jones was full of confidence going into the NCAA Southeast Regional at UVA. "Once you've gone out hard and passed that point of mental discomfort in a race, it's easier the next time," she said.
A few days prior to the meet, she knew that there was not much more preparation to be done because she had already put in all the hours. All the practices she finished and all the miles she ran in the last few months – it would all pay off.
"Consistency was the key to my success," said Jones. "I wasn't injured and could train consistently since the summer."
In contrast to last year when she peaked earlier in the season and won a couple of races but then got hurt, Jones said her timing this year was a lot better.
According to Jones, she didn't really make any big changes at practice over the last year; she only increased her mileage by about five miles a week and focused more on the long runs once a week.
"I've never been a fan of them, but this year I tried to hit at least 80 minutes, usually 90, running about 12-13 miles that day," Jones said.
Even though these changes are small, they can help mentally. "They are really not that big of a deal, but they make you feel better. And if you know you can run 90 minutes, you know you can easily race for 20."
Now, it's all about getting ready for the biggest race yet of her career: the NCAA Championships that will take place in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday. It's always been something she has aspired to achieve in her life.
"This year, it seemed possible and I am super excited that it worked out," Jones said. "I don't have anything to lose, I'll just put the best effort in it and see what happens. The nerve-wrecking part was getting there, now I'll just enjoy it."
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