Colter soaring into her final HS season

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

There is no denying Jordyn Colter’s talent. It’s been evident since she finished fourth at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in 2012 on just 25 miles per week of mileage.

But in the years that have followed, the Cherry Creek CO standout has been tipped out of balance and the causes have been numerous – injuries, nutrition, illness, growth spurts. Moments of brilliance on the track have been counterbalanced by periods of struggle.

Last May, Colter won Colorado Class 5A titles in the 800 and 1600 meters. Last fall, she finished 104th in her final state cross country meet. (That was partially the result of a rapid growth spurt that caused pain in both of her knees).

“I love having success,” Colter said. “It was hard to deal with not being able to perform at the level that I wanted and help my teammates (in cross country). It’s hard to go be on a (stationery) bike by myself and push myself mentally through that.”

Fortunately for Colter, she has off-season coaching and advice from running legend Melody Fairchild.

Few runners have experienced the totality of running – from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows – like Fairchild. The all-time Foot Locker course record holder was a high school superstar who lost her scholarship at Oregon – a result of injuries and emotional strain -- before earning it back and winning an NCAA title.

That adult Fairchild has enjoyed a running resurgence after taking off 10 years (from the ages of 27 to 37), and today speaks more like a guru than coach. Running transcends the stopwatch and the training log – it’s a spiritual pursuit. What matters is not winning the race, but finding balance.

“I have a really deep passion for seeing girls be aware of themselves,” Fairchild said. “What I helped Jordyn with is letting her know that she’s OK as a person when she collapsed at the state cross country meet and was dealt a terrible blow. I tried to give her some shelter from the storm.”

Fairchild has worked with Colter the past three winters.

“She’s one of those people who is so positive and encourages you to reach for the stars,” Colter said of Fairchild. “When you have setbacks and it’s hard to keep going, when it’s hard to find the reasons why you love running, through good and bad, she stuck with me. I can call or text her and she makes me feel good. She makes me feel like a strong and powerful runner. She’s a pretty extraordinary woman, I would say.”

Colter is running healthy and confident again this spring.

At the Arcadia Invitational two weeks ago, Colter put a strong off-season of training into full view and was one of the standout performers of the massive meet. She won the mile in US#1 4:45.24 and beat her top Colorado rivals – Lauren Gregory and Katie Rainsberger.

“It was so crazy to cross that finish line,” Colter said. “I was like, ‘Did I just do that?’ My teammates were there, too, so it was cool to share the experience with them.”

An hour later she came back to the track and placed third in the 800 meters in 2:09.80.

“I haven't been running this good in a while,” Colter said. “It feels good to see my hard work pay off.”

Colter will run in the 800 meters Friday night in the inaugural Cherry Creek Twilight meet.

Although Colter has remained low mileage, rarely if ever touching 40 miles, she has usually insisted on running at nothing slower than 7-minute mile pace. Speed and mechanics are her gift.

Fairchild has helped Colter learn to tame the “tiger” that she used to wrestle with as a young runner back in the 1990s.

“She has to learn to tame this inner coach that she has,” Fairchild explained. “How do you manage that tiger that you want, that tiger you need to be the special athlete that you are? You have to know how to let it out of the cage and when to let it sleep.”

Fairchild calls Colter “a very impressive human being” with a bright future in college at California.

If Arcadia is any indication, Colter is headed for a big finish in her final high school season – something that she doesn’t take for granted.

“Jordyn doesn’t believe she’s entitled to anything,” Fairchild said. “She knows she’s great and now she’s living it.

“Her wings are spread and she’s catching a draft into college.”