Running Her Way to Team Captain

Andrea Buckner has claimed the lead of the cross country squad

By REBEKAH HERBERT

After a high-energy dinner of her usual spaghetti and meatballs, sophomore runner Andrea Buckner is sure to get a good night’s rest in preparation for the race on Nov. 13.

She finished 16th at the Western Athletic Conference championships for cross-country this year, qualifying her for the NCAA Regional to be held at Woodward Park on Saturday.

“I have done pretty good this year,” Buckner said. “I didn’t run as fast as I wanted to at the WAC conference, but I qualified for the regional.”

Buckner, 20, has run cross-country for only two years and has become the No. 1 runner for Fresno State.

“She came out of nowhere last year,” coach Shannon Lieder said. “It was crazy. She came to me and said she wanted to join the team, so I let her and she handled it, and is still handling it. I’m amazed.”

Buckner went to high school at Esperanza High in Orange County. She ran track her first two years of high school, but her focus was soccer, where she lettered all four years.

“I ran the 400 meter in track just to keep in shape for soccer,” Buckner said. “When I got to college, I didn’t want to play soccer anymore, but I wanted to do something. I missed competition.”

Buckner had no idea what she was getting herself into by joining the team.

“I had no idea what a cross-country meet was,” Buckner said. “And when I saw the outfit I’d have to wear, I was like, ‘Holy cow, are you kidding me?’ I was used to shin guards and baggy shorts.”

Despite Buckner’s inhibitions of wearing a tank top and bundie-type shorts, Buckner did very well her first year of running more than 400 meters.

In 2003, she surfaced as the No. 2 runner on the team finishing 23rd overall at the WAC championships, qualifying her for the NCAA Regional, where she finished 69th out of 205 runners with a 6 km time of 22:23.

Buckner has talent but credits her family and friends with the encouragement and support that has got her to where she is today.

Buckner appreciates all the support she has received from her sorority, Delta Gamma.

“I love the girls in my sorority,” Buckner said. “All of them are really supportive, and I know they will all be there cheering me on at the race. They are all my best friends.”

Although Buckner has such a support system here, her parents remain her No. 1 fans.

“My dad played baseball at Fresno State, so they come to a lot of my meets,” Buckner said. “They are very supportive. They even came to Reno once to see me run. I really like it when they are there.”

The cross-country team is also a huge support to Buckner. She is team captain of the cross-country squad, alongside senior Courtney Stewart.

“She is an awesome runner,” Stewart said. “She was so antsy to be active in something, and ever since the first day she has been improving and now she is No.1.”

The team has no option but to improve with the number of practices the team has.

During the season, usually late August through October, the team practices twice everyday.

So, each individual on the team runs about four to five hours a day.

The team is done with that schedule, but Buckner had her two days off and is now training for her big race.

“I will work with her individually this week,” Lieder said. “The team wants to help her out next week by encouraging her and pushing her to her limits during her training.”

Lieder not only runs the ladies to their limit, but also does mind-building activities to boost their mentality.

“For the team, we have meeting once a week,” Lieder said. “We talk about different topics, like excellence, confidence and race tactics. The mind is a very powerful thing. If you believe you can do something, that is often all you need, is just to believe.”

All Buckner is concerned about is running the best she can.

“I try not to freak out and get nervous before a race like a lot of runners do,” Buckner said. “I just want to be completely exhausted and know that I gave 120 percent. It is not something I have to do; it is something I want to do.

“After all, it is just running.”