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RedHawk set to run at NCAA Championships

Patterson has the school record in 5,000 meters and looks to continue to improve at national meet.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 12:59 AM Thursday, June 9, 2011

OXFORD — In her first NCAA Championship meet, Miami University junior Rachel Patterson took on more than 250 opponents.

In her second NCAA meet on Friday, she will run in a field of 24.

But experience has convinced the native of Rochester, Mich., to pit herself against just one opponent when she takes her place at the start of the 5,000-meter run in the NCAA Women’s Track & Field Championships.

“I don’t like to look at (the times) people run because it freaks me out,” Patterson said, explaining that she will instead run her own race at her own pace against the clock.

“That way, things take care of themselves,” she said.

Last October, Patterson placed 46th in a field of 253 runners at the NCAA Women’s Cross Country Championships.

“I’ve experienced a national championship meet and know what to expect now,” she said. “You’re kind of overwhelmed the first time.”

Patterson’s finish was only six places and less than 3 seconds away from All-America status.

“That gives me an extra incentive, knowing I have the ability if I keep my head in the race,” she said. “It also helps knowing I don’t have 200 people to race against.”

Patterson set the school record for the 5,000 with a time of 16 minutes, 14.45 seconds on April 14 at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., and her qualifying time of 16 minutes, 16.95 seconds at last month’s NCAA preliminary round was the third-fastest time in Miami history.

She said she needs to average 75 to 77 seconds per lap, even if the pace is slow at first, and she has to take the early lead.

“No one wants to lead it in the first lap,” she said. “But I can’t come down to the last mile in a dead sprint. I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t work for me.”

It also doesn’t work for Patterson to pay close attention to her fellow runners.

“You kind of size everyone up at the race and they look so fit, so fast, but when it comes down to it, they want the same thing you do,” she said. “Now I realize that if you want it, you can have it.”

Miami freshman Tori Paterra, of Elizabeth, Pa., will compete at the NCAA meet today in the javelin. Both she and Patterson placed seventh at the preliminaries.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.