Small Town to World Class
February 09, 2011 12:11 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The Summer Olympics in 2012 will be held in London - a city famous for its historic significance, its prominence as a leading global municipality, and for its diverse range of people, culture and religion.
With the opening of the Games in July 2012, London will become the first city to officially serve host to the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and 1948.
But this story isn’t about London, or its history, or its global prominence. This story is about two extraordinary All-American runners from West Virginia, who attended West Virginia University for four years, and whose consistent hard work and efforts have brought them to the doorstep of London in 2012.
It begins five years ago, with two intimidated freshmen from small West Virginia towns arriving in Morgantown to start their collegiate journeys. One young athlete, Clara Grandt, was coming from West Union, a town that she claims has the only caution light in all of Doddridge County. The other, Karly Hamric, hails from Bruceton Mills, slightly bigger and more well-known, but small nonetheless.
Before arriving in Morgantown, coach Sean Cleary had designated these two girls to be roommates, thinking they would do well together and help each other through what can oftentimes be a tough transition. And he was right.
“Morgantown seemed like a huge place and it was definitely a transition,” Grandt explained. “When I came in I was injured and couldn’t run with the girls right away, but Sean got me into the Rec Center and told me to cross train and do some non-weight bearing exercises. I was training up to three hours a day doing exercises like that just to get my fitness back so when I could run I wasn’t totally out of shape.”
“Rooming with Clara was good,” Hamric added. “She’s a little shy and hard to get to know at first, but we really connected and got along really great. We both struggled a little during our freshman year, but we helped each other through it. She was injured and I was just struggling with the transition and we both kind of helped each other as we went along.”
The first year was a learning experience for both athletes. They both raced well, each finishing strong in several races, but they still had a ways to go before reaching All-American status.
Looking back, it’s impressive to see how far each athlete has come since that freshman year. For Grandt, years of competitive running has turned into the opportunity and dream of a lifetime, as she qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials for the marathon two weekends ago in Houston.
Her qualifying time in the half-marathon was 1:13:12, nearly two minutes ahead of the qualifying “A” standard time of 1:15:00. Most people would probably be nervous when stepping up to the start line, but not Grandt.
“I was a little bit nervous but I wasn’t nervous about the time or trying to qualify because I knew my fitness was pretty well under the standard,” she admitted softly. “It was more about being in with the professional women who had been racing that distance for years. That’s what I was mostly nervous about.”
With the credentials Grandt has under her name she has a reason to race with confidence. During her junior season at West Virginia, she was named to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) all-East region team and finished 11th in the 10,000 meter run at the NCAA Championships. Her senior year, she finished 20th in the 10,000 meter event at the USA Championships held in Eugene, Ore., and at one point was ranked as high as No. 3 in the country for the 10,000 meters. In addition, she capped off her collegiate racing career with a four individual All-American honors.
The Olympic Trials for the marathon will be held in mid-January of 2012. Grandt is planning to run a marathon beforehand and participate in some shorter road races in between, including some USA Championships on the road at different distances.
Through it all, Grandt has remained a modest and humble individual, grateful for her time at West Virginia, which she credits with opening the doors for her to thrive in competitive racing.
“I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics, ever since I was young,” she said with a shy smile. “It was always a dream. I think it’s a big dream for a lot of young kids. I just held onto it. I’ve always felt that I had some potential, but I didn’t know how far I could go. Coach Cleary believed in me enough to nurture that belief and I think that was a big part of it, having Sean as a coach and believing in my dreams and goals.
“Sean worked on my fitness and confidence and he helped me increase my mileage quite a bit over the years, but nice and gradually so that I never got injured. He just really boosted my confidence; I knew that I always had someone who was working with me and believing in me. I wasn’t coming from a very strong background and most people would think I was a little crazy for having the kind of goals I did. But he never did and that’s what drew me to him and to West Virginia.”
From running marathons to competing in mid-distance events, both athletes have inspiring stories to tell. Hamric excels at the mid-distance races, and hopes to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the 1,500-meter event. Her parents, however, prefer to run marathons.
“She has really influenced us,” said her mother, Michelle Hamric. “They (her and sister Jordan) started running competitively when they were 14 or 15 years old. What happened is that they started running and we were so impressed with them and their fitness level that we just started doing it. My husband has run seven marathons and I’ve done two. I’ve never dreamed that I would do such a thing. Really, they were the influence and I always thought that if they could do it then we could certainly stay fit and be healthy and have fun too.”
It’s a family dynamic that continues to support Hamric today. On Sundays, both Hamric girls train with their father, going on long runs while bonding at the same time.
“It’s really cool,” Karly said, grinning. “He just started running when I graduated high school and he just kept getting better. It’s really cool that we can have our time together and do something like that. If we ever want to talk we can do it while we run. He wants to do a marathon in every state.”
Like Grandt, constant training and effort have paid off for Hamric as she was recently invited to participate in the 1,500-meter race for Team USA at the 2011 Five Nations Match in Glasgow, Scotland (Watch Karly's race). In a photo finish, Hamric placed third behind Mercy Njoroge of Kenya, and Denise Krebs of Germany.
“I thought I’d be really, really nervous when I was on the line,” Hamric elaborated. “I was actually just really excited. There was a huge crowd and a big atmosphere and it just really pumped me up and I really fed off of that. The race went out kind of slow and I was in the front and had to go with it. It was a good first international experience and I learned a lot.”
International experiences like these will really help Hamric when it comes to competing for a spot at the Olympic Trials, a goal she’s currently aspiring to reach.
“Trials are held next summer at the end of June,” Hamric explained. “Once outdoor season starts this year, if I run the “A” standard it will carry over and count for next summer. I’m a little nervous because last year I hit the “B” standard for Nationals. I feel that if I keep improving, it’s realistic that I should be fast enough. But we’ll see.”
Hamric has her own set of impressive credentials next to her name. During her senior season at West Virginia, she finished ninth at the 1,500-meter race at NCAA Regionals and led the team with a second-place finish in the 1,500 meter-run at the ECAC Outdoor Championships. She was also a member of the distance medley relay team that finished 10th at the NCAA Indoor Championships, allowing her to earn two All-American honors for her efforts.
She also has important support in the form of employment, as she currently works as a civil engineer for Thrasher Engineering, her office located in Clarksburg. The company is very supportive of her racing career, and allows her to make up any missed time on weekends.
“I was applying for jobs last year and I saw an ad for Thrasher so I sent in my resume and they called me in for an interview,” she said. “They decided to give me a chance. The owner is really supportive of athletes and the company thinks it’s great and they’re willing to work with me. It’s just been a really good fit.”
“You really have to focus to be a student-athlete, and I think that’s what the company saw in her,” Michelle Hamric added. “For her to complete engineering and to be able to make it to the podium for All-American status in the midst of a very intense senior project was phenomenal.”
Hamric also attributes her time at West Virginia as essential to helping her become who she is today.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without WVU,” she agreed. “It’s been nice because I’ve never been thrown into anything. It’s been a nice transition and a nice process and as I get better I believe I can do more things.”
Both women currently race for Riadha, a self funded athlete-based philanthropic organization focusing on improving human health worldwide while supporting track and field athletes. Hamric is also co-captain of the club, a responsibility she took on last year.
“Isaya (Okwiya) is my agent and the one who coaches the other girls in the club,” Hamric detailed. “He came up to me during a race in the fall and asked if I would be interested and I said yes. I think they pick a new co-captain every year and he just wanted someone from our end here at West Virginia.”
Hamric will compete again this weekend, running the mile in Boston. After that, it’s U.S. Nationals in Albuquerque, N.M.
But for now, this is where the story ends. It’s an inspiring story, really. A story about two athletes who came in as freshmen and whom no one really thought would have outstanding careers. No other school offered them scholarships. Neither athlete thought coming in that they would develop their talent to the point of having a chance to represent the USA in the 2012 Olympics.
And yet here they are, standing at the line for a shot at representing their home state, West Virginia University and the United States on the stage of the world’s most significant athletic competition. Rest assured that when the time comes, West Virginia will be with them every step of the way.
With the opening of the Games in July 2012, London will become the first city to officially serve host to the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and 1948.
But this story isn’t about London, or its history, or its global prominence. This story is about two extraordinary All-American runners from West Virginia, who attended West Virginia University for four years, and whose consistent hard work and efforts have brought them to the doorstep of London in 2012.
It begins five years ago, with two intimidated freshmen from small West Virginia towns arriving in Morgantown to start their collegiate journeys. One young athlete, Clara Grandt, was coming from West Union, a town that she claims has the only caution light in all of Doddridge County. The other, Karly Hamric, hails from Bruceton Mills, slightly bigger and more well-known, but small nonetheless.
Before arriving in Morgantown, coach Sean Cleary had designated these two girls to be roommates, thinking they would do well together and help each other through what can oftentimes be a tough transition. And he was right.
“Morgantown seemed like a huge place and it was definitely a transition,” Grandt explained. “When I came in I was injured and couldn’t run with the girls right away, but Sean got me into the Rec Center and told me to cross train and do some non-weight bearing exercises. I was training up to three hours a day doing exercises like that just to get my fitness back so when I could run I wasn’t totally out of shape.”
“Rooming with Clara was good,” Hamric added. “She’s a little shy and hard to get to know at first, but we really connected and got along really great. We both struggled a little during our freshman year, but we helped each other through it. She was injured and I was just struggling with the transition and we both kind of helped each other as we went along.”
The first year was a learning experience for both athletes. They both raced well, each finishing strong in several races, but they still had a ways to go before reaching All-American status.
Looking back, it’s impressive to see how far each athlete has come since that freshman year. For Grandt, years of competitive running has turned into the opportunity and dream of a lifetime, as she qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials for the marathon two weekends ago in Houston.
Her qualifying time in the half-marathon was 1:13:12, nearly two minutes ahead of the qualifying “A” standard time of 1:15:00. Most people would probably be nervous when stepping up to the start line, but not Grandt.
“I was a little bit nervous but I wasn’t nervous about the time or trying to qualify because I knew my fitness was pretty well under the standard,” she admitted softly. “It was more about being in with the professional women who had been racing that distance for years. That’s what I was mostly nervous about.”
With the credentials Grandt has under her name she has a reason to race with confidence. During her junior season at West Virginia, she was named to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) all-East region team and finished 11th in the 10,000 meter run at the NCAA Championships. Her senior year, she finished 20th in the 10,000 meter event at the USA Championships held in Eugene, Ore., and at one point was ranked as high as No. 3 in the country for the 10,000 meters. In addition, she capped off her collegiate racing career with a four individual All-American honors.
The Olympic Trials for the marathon will be held in mid-January of 2012. Grandt is planning to run a marathon beforehand and participate in some shorter road races in between, including some USA Championships on the road at different distances.
Through it all, Grandt has remained a modest and humble individual, grateful for her time at West Virginia, which she credits with opening the doors for her to thrive in competitive racing.
“I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics, ever since I was young,” she said with a shy smile. “It was always a dream. I think it’s a big dream for a lot of young kids. I just held onto it. I’ve always felt that I had some potential, but I didn’t know how far I could go. Coach Cleary believed in me enough to nurture that belief and I think that was a big part of it, having Sean as a coach and believing in my dreams and goals.
“Sean worked on my fitness and confidence and he helped me increase my mileage quite a bit over the years, but nice and gradually so that I never got injured. He just really boosted my confidence; I knew that I always had someone who was working with me and believing in me. I wasn’t coming from a very strong background and most people would think I was a little crazy for having the kind of goals I did. But he never did and that’s what drew me to him and to West Virginia.”
From running marathons to competing in mid-distance events, both athletes have inspiring stories to tell. Hamric excels at the mid-distance races, and hopes to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the 1,500-meter event. Her parents, however, prefer to run marathons.
“She has really influenced us,” said her mother, Michelle Hamric. “They (her and sister Jordan) started running competitively when they were 14 or 15 years old. What happened is that they started running and we were so impressed with them and their fitness level that we just started doing it. My husband has run seven marathons and I’ve done two. I’ve never dreamed that I would do such a thing. Really, they were the influence and I always thought that if they could do it then we could certainly stay fit and be healthy and have fun too.”
It’s a family dynamic that continues to support Hamric today. On Sundays, both Hamric girls train with their father, going on long runs while bonding at the same time.
“It’s really cool,” Karly said, grinning. “He just started running when I graduated high school and he just kept getting better. It’s really cool that we can have our time together and do something like that. If we ever want to talk we can do it while we run. He wants to do a marathon in every state.”
Like Grandt, constant training and effort have paid off for Hamric as she was recently invited to participate in the 1,500-meter race for Team USA at the 2011 Five Nations Match in Glasgow, Scotland (Watch Karly's race). In a photo finish, Hamric placed third behind Mercy Njoroge of Kenya, and Denise Krebs of Germany.
“I thought I’d be really, really nervous when I was on the line,” Hamric elaborated. “I was actually just really excited. There was a huge crowd and a big atmosphere and it just really pumped me up and I really fed off of that. The race went out kind of slow and I was in the front and had to go with it. It was a good first international experience and I learned a lot.”
International experiences like these will really help Hamric when it comes to competing for a spot at the Olympic Trials, a goal she’s currently aspiring to reach.
“Trials are held next summer at the end of June,” Hamric explained. “Once outdoor season starts this year, if I run the “A” standard it will carry over and count for next summer. I’m a little nervous because last year I hit the “B” standard for Nationals. I feel that if I keep improving, it’s realistic that I should be fast enough. But we’ll see.”
Hamric has her own set of impressive credentials next to her name. During her senior season at West Virginia, she finished ninth at the 1,500-meter race at NCAA Regionals and led the team with a second-place finish in the 1,500 meter-run at the ECAC Outdoor Championships. She was also a member of the distance medley relay team that finished 10th at the NCAA Indoor Championships, allowing her to earn two All-American honors for her efforts.
She also has important support in the form of employment, as she currently works as a civil engineer for Thrasher Engineering, her office located in Clarksburg. The company is very supportive of her racing career, and allows her to make up any missed time on weekends.
“I was applying for jobs last year and I saw an ad for Thrasher so I sent in my resume and they called me in for an interview,” she said. “They decided to give me a chance. The owner is really supportive of athletes and the company thinks it’s great and they’re willing to work with me. It’s just been a really good fit.”
“You really have to focus to be a student-athlete, and I think that’s what the company saw in her,” Michelle Hamric added. “For her to complete engineering and to be able to make it to the podium for All-American status in the midst of a very intense senior project was phenomenal.”
Hamric also attributes her time at West Virginia as essential to helping her become who she is today.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without WVU,” she agreed. “It’s been nice because I’ve never been thrown into anything. It’s been a nice transition and a nice process and as I get better I believe I can do more things.”
Both women currently race for Riadha, a self funded athlete-based philanthropic organization focusing on improving human health worldwide while supporting track and field athletes. Hamric is also co-captain of the club, a responsibility she took on last year.
“Isaya (Okwiya) is my agent and the one who coaches the other girls in the club,” Hamric detailed. “He came up to me during a race in the fall and asked if I would be interested and I said yes. I think they pick a new co-captain every year and he just wanted someone from our end here at West Virginia.”
Hamric will compete again this weekend, running the mile in Boston. After that, it’s U.S. Nationals in Albuquerque, N.M.
But for now, this is where the story ends. It’s an inspiring story, really. A story about two athletes who came in as freshmen and whom no one really thought would have outstanding careers. No other school offered them scholarships. Neither athlete thought coming in that they would develop their talent to the point of having a chance to represent the USA in the 2012 Olympics.
And yet here they are, standing at the line for a shot at representing their home state, West Virginia University and the United States on the stage of the world’s most significant athletic competition. Rest assured that when the time comes, West Virginia will be with them every step of the way.
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