Eagles rookie runner learning on her feet

Wheeler finding out how to set a pace she can keep to the end of the race.

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By John Bombatch, Staff Writer 1:28 AM Friday, October 28, 2011

MIDDLETOWN — Since the days when she was outracing grandpa John Wheeler Sr.’s tractor on his Springboro farm, Middletown Christian’s Becca Wheeler has always enjoyed running.

Wheeler is one of several area runners who will be competing in the regional cross country championships Saturday on the grounds of Troy Memorial Stadium.

The top four teams and individuals not on those teams who place in the top 16 advance to the state meet Nov. 5.

Wheeler finished third in the Division III district race at Voice of America Park last week with a time of 20 minutes, 45.19 seconds, having learned a valuable lesson in the Metro Buckeye Conference meet the week before that.

“She’s learned a lot since the conference meet,” Eagles coach Barrett Swope said. “In the conference meet, which was held at Middletown Christian, she might’ve felt a lot of pressure and went out too fast. At districts, she ran her race and did very well.”

Wheeler said it’s all a matter of staying focused and running at a pace that she knows she’s capable of running for the entire distance.

“My parents and everyone keeps telling me to run my race,” Wheeler said. “It’s racing against other people, but it’s also a race against yourself.”

The first-year cross country runner has a very unscientific way of finding her running pace.

“I don’t know. I just run my hardest and I get a pace going. I start out slow and I try to pick up my pace if I’m feeling good,” the Eagles sophomore said.

Becoming a regional qualifier in her first year isn’t really what cross country running is all about for Wheeler. It’s more about going out and trying to be faster than the last time she ran.

“I don’t necessarily race to get to state. That’s not what I go out and do it for,” she explained. “I know (the faster time) is not always going to happen.”

Swope said Wheeler’s time-driven mentality to running has altered his coaching style, too.

Used to pushing for a finishing spot, he pushes for times from Wheeler. Whether or not she can beat her fastest time of 19:58, running well enough to make it to the state, would be special for Wheeler.

“If I were to make it to state, I’d think that was pretty cool. I’d know that I worked hard enough to make it to that high of a level. I think it’s an accomplishment to get there,” she said.

Regional cross country

When: Saturday Where: Troy Memorial Stadium

SCHEDULE (Middletown-area qualifiers in parentheses): Division III Girls — 11:05 a.m start (Becca Wheeler, Middletown Christian); D-II Girls — 11:50 (Samantha Combs, Valley View); D-I Girls — (Lebanon, Springboro). Division III Boys — 1:20 p.m.; D-II Boys — (Zach Bussard, Valley View; Nathan Lee, Valley View); D-I Boys — (Andy Bowyer, Middletown; Lebanon ).

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