J&H PhotographyFor senior social work major Lauren Deas, this past summer was another award-winning experience at the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s track and field championships at Oshkosh Wisconsin University.
“The experience was very different from my other appearances at Nationals. What was really different about this outdoor season at Nationals was the weather,” Deas said.
That factor did not hold Deas back though. She earned the highest NCAA honors by running a 12.52 in the 100 meters, taking away a 4th place finish and All-American honors. With this honor, she is now a five-time All-American.
“My coach James Williams told us to simply apply what we have been doing all year and we would be fine. And because of that, I’m a five-time All-American with honors in the 4×100 meter relay and also the 100-meter dash.”
Along with Deas winning an award in the 4×100 meter relay, her teammates junior sociology major Leslie Williams, sophomore psychology major Nailah Smith and sophomore history major Christiana Taylor, took away the prize as well.
Deas hopes in her last year of running that she will “leave with a bang.” She likes to believe in this quote for her senior year.
“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will, but the will must be stronger than the skill.”
She currently holds the schools’ records in the 55 meter dash in 7.16 seconds, 60 meter dash in 7.67 seconds, 4X100 in 47.32 seconds, 4X200 indoor in 142 seconds and the 4×200 outdoor in 141 seconds. Also, she is a two-time All-American in the 55 meters indoor and a two-time All-American in the 100 meter outdoor.
“I would really want to leave Cabrini being a 10-time All-American and to continue my running career after school; hopefully being a professional athlete.”
She believes the freshman have much talent this year and can help Cabrini earn more merits at the National championships in the indoor and outdoor competitions.
“We have freshmen that can run the sprints up to distances, especially Jasmin Russ. Coach really has high hopes for her, as well as Dana Ordello in the sprints and middle distance.”
When it comes to this sport, Deas lives by the Book of Corinthians to keep her head high.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone that competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
