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Ryen Frazier nearly broke the Nike South regional record - DyeStat

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DyeStat.com   Dec 2nd 2014, 10:48pm
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Ryen Frazier steps out of her sister's shadow

 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor


It may be hard to believe, but Wesley Frazier's little sister may be an even better high school runner than she was.


Wesley Frazier, of course, is the most decorated New Balance Nationals performer of all-time with eight championships indoors and out before graduating in 2013.


Ryen Frazier emerged at last June's New Balance Nationals Outdoor with a victory in the mile in 4:46.39.


But after a couple of years of steady injuries, Ryen has stepped to the forefront in a big way. She won the Foot Locker South title on Saturday in her native North Carolina and will go to Foot Locker nationals next week. Her older sister, now at Duke, qualified for Foot Locker in 2009 and 2010.


Ryen's time of 16:27 was just a second away from Aurora Scott's 2004 South region record at McAlpine Park in Charlotte.


For much of the season, Frazier was somewhat off the radar. She doesn't compete for her high school team at Ravencroft School. Even if she had, Ravencroft is an independent school that doesn't belong to the NCHSAA.


So Frazier got into the meets that she could – open and college events where she ran unattached.


And in the weeks leading up to Foot Locker South, Ryen had done some impressive things. She raced at a North Carolina State meet and beat a college field, running 16:44 for 5K. Then she raced in the annual Dash for Doobie, a 3200-meter race on the track. She ran 10:12, and covered he last mile in 5:02.


She also raced an indoor mile at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem and clocked 4:44.20 – breaking her sister's state record.


But given her limited experience on the trails, even Frazier wasn't sure what would happen at Foot Locker South.


"Since I hadn't done much cross country in the past, it took me a few races to learn how to run it," she said. "I had been going out pretty fast and was sort of running out of my mind. I didn't know how to approach it. But you really need to use your brain throughout the race."


The race got off to a rip-roaring pace. Frazier said she covered her first 400 in 71 seconds and she was a couple of steps behind Gabriella Karas of Kentucky, who pushed the early pace.


Near the midpoint of the race there is a hill. Frazier got into the lead by the top of the hill and then used the downhill separate from everyone.


"I shortened my stride but got something out of the downhill," she said. "I think most people rested or got scared of the steepness (of the hill)."


Frazier accelerated out of the hill and kept extending her lead. She won by 20 seconds.


A year ago, Frazier was getting prepared for the postseason when she did a lifting workout that caused pain and inflammation in her femur. She took some time off and it was too late to get back into competitive shape. Up until last spring, her high school career had been limited by shin injuries, including a broken tibia.


All along, though, Ryen had an inside view at Wesley's running development. (Both girls have been coached by their father, Tim Frazier).


"I would say that I learned almost everything about how to make a mistake in a race from her," Ryen said. "When you can see someone else that close to you and see what they're little issues are, it has made it easier for me. It is still a little hard having her times and stuff up there, but they give me something to go for."

 

The Frazier have always mantained a moderate weekly mileage around 40, but complement that with speed work. And Ryen's workout intensity this fall is beginning to inch ahead of where Wesley was. 

 

"I had been so much slower before," Ryen said. 


When she gets to San Diego, Ryen could be a on a short list of contenders that include Anna Rohrer, Brianna Schwartz, Hannah DeBalsi, Makena Morley and others.


"I don't want to put a number out there, but All-American would be ideal (placing)," she said. "I want to run a smart race that shows what I have in me. If it's not the right day for me, or whatever, I can relax. But I feel prepared."

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