Rhiannon Evans was patient for four years as she treated niggling muscle aches, stress fractures and pervasive fatigue. She slept a lot, skipped long runs on so-called 鈥渙ff鈥� days from training and didn鈥檛 compete as well as she knew she could.
Now in her final year of eligibility for the UBC Thunderbirds track and field team, the middle-distance runner has addressed her health concerns, which stemmed from low iron, and is ranked sixth in the 1500 metres and will compete at the NAIA national championships in Alabama, May 22 to 24. (UBC is the only Canadian school registered in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.)
Evans, a 22-year-old graduate of Point Grey secondary, ran her best time in the 1500m at the storied Mt. SAC Relays track meet in mid-April.
Going in, she was seeded somewhere in the low 100s out of 200 competitors. She placed 45th in four minutes, 30.16 seconds.
鈥淭here were so many girls in the race [鈥 it was tough from the beginning, with lots of pushing to get into position. In the first laps, I felt boxed in and I wasn鈥檛 able to stretch out my legs and stride as well as I wanted to,鈥� said Evans.
鈥淚 just waited because sometimes in those situations you waste more energy trying to get out of a group of girls. I waited until the last 500 (metres) and it stated to thin out a bit and I really worked hard over the last 400.鈥�
Evans has a need for speed and trains with the 800m specialists like Devan Wiebe, a Lord Byng alumna, and Catharine Farish.
At nationals, she will be in good company. Although she is now ranked sixth, she had been No. 4 until two Tbird teammates clocked faster times. Maria Bernard, who won鈥檛 run the event in two weeks, and Natalia Hawthorn are now Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. Farish sits seventh.
Evans sees herself on the podium but she won鈥檛 be disappointed if it鈥檚 one of her teammates instead.
鈥淲e sometimes give each other a word of encouragement during the race. Definitely if we鈥檙e in the same heat together we will work a strategy to qualify for finals," she said.
鈥淚t will be the most competitive race of the season, but it鈥檚 nice to have your teammates in the race with you. We sometimes give each other a word of encouragement during the race. Definitely if we鈥檙e in the same heat together we will work a strategy to qualify for finals.鈥�
One of Evans鈥� strengths is her powerful kick at the tail end of races. It鈥檚 the same potency that is powering her break-out season in her fourth and final year.
