by Timothy Baldi
Staff Writer
AAC runner-up in the 2009 Outdoor 1,500 meter dash, sophomore Bryson Harper has been running track since eighth grade. He trained himself through high school but never experienced hardcore training until he was recruited by Coach Rodney Stoker to run track and cross country for Bryan College.
Now, Harper runs a 3 minute 59 second 1500-meter dash and set the school record with his 15:05 5-kilometer run.
At practice, Harper and the other members of the Track & Field team regularly run seven to 11 miles. However, Harper has been recovering from an injury to his left Achilles tendon that occurred early in the semester, so he is still working toward full running strength.
Harper had injured his right Achilles once already prior to his current injury this semester.
He said he has been more prone to injury since coming to Bryan, “not because Coach Stoker does anything wrong. I just have a tendency to keep pushing when my body needs a rest.”
Team practices begin at 6 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Harper also has practice every day in the afternoons.
Once a week, one of these daily practices will be a long run. This run is measured by time rather than by distance, said Harper, this way the athletes can run further on their good days, but take it easier when their bodies need rest.
“Outside of practice, all the little things keep me fit for running,” said Harper, “I have to watch what I’m doing to my body.”
This includes going to the training room, taking a daily ice bath, and generally going to bed before 10 p.m. Harper manages his diet by avoiding most junk food.
Harper has loved running ever since his father signed him up for a one-mile fun run when he was 9 years old. Even though the run was not a major competition, Harper continued to participate in the fun run as he got older.
“I don’t think anyone on the team would do what we do if we didn’t love it,” said Harper.
The team has already run at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and Wake Forest University in Salem, NC.
Harper still has five track competitions before the season ends in June. His goal is to qualify for Nationals and see how well he can perform there and improve his five kilometer run.