Edwards, Waterloo blaze into sectionals
Alyssa Edwards started her postseason run in fine form.
The Waterloo senior took second place overall with a time of 20.38 at the IHSA Class 2A Triad Regional Saturday.
“Her times have improved throughout the season and she is looking like she will be right on track to run very strong races in the postseason,” Waterloo coach Jason Mattis said. “I have been happy with her perfomances and having her at the front gives the other girls something to strive for.”
The finish was in keeping with a senior season flush with great results.
“Alyssa has had a very good season so far,” Mattis said. “She has consistently placed in the top five of all our smaller invitationals and in the top 10 of our mid-sized meets. She has medaled at every meet this year, including the larger, very competitive invitationals like Granite City and Peoria.”
Edwards paced the Bulldogs and her team responded, taking second in the regionals with 46 points, eight behind the host Knights in first. Waterloo advanced to next week’s Decatur Sectional.
“My senior year has been going quite well,” Edwards said. “It’s my last year, so I am really pushing myself to the limit.
“This is probably my favorite season since my freshman year because being one of the few seniors on the team and getting to lead such a determined and hardworking team has been a great experience.”
Edwards entered Waterloo High School after a stellar junior high race career. Expectations have been high since her freshman year.
“When she entered the track team at the high school she was primarily a sprinter, running the 100 up to the 400,” Waterloo coach Jason Mattis said. “When she first joined the cross country team it took a while for her to get used to the longer distance, but she was always one of our top five finishers. She transitioned very nicely from sprinting to long-distance running.”
Area hills loved the feel of Edwards’ sneakers, absorbing her stride like spring rain, and she returned the affection.
“Since I began in junior high, I’ve always really enjoyed competing and participating in running,” Edwards said. “When I entered high school, I did not expect my love for running to turn into a love for cross country.
“Since the first day I trained with the cross country team and Coach Mattis the summer of my freshman year, I have never regretted joining this sport. I am really dedicated to cross country and absolutely love the feeling that I get after running my heart out on a course. It has certainly been a fantastic four years of running that I will never forget.”
Even with all of her natural velocity, Edwards has had to work at the sport like everyone else.
“I think kids that have leg speed can always develop the endurance through hard work and persistence and that makes a really good cross country runner,” Mattis said. “Alyssa has remained enthusiastic about the sport and continues to have a good attitude about her running. She is really well balanced, and by no means does running control her life, but she has made it enough of a priority to stay very competitive.”
Edwards is carrying her teammates in her slipstream and together the Bulldogs are leaving opposition runners in their dust.
“Alyssa pushes herself very hard in the races, giving the girls someone to try to keep up with,” Mattis said. “(Senior) Aubree Schreder is consistently finishing right after Alyssa, which really helps to keep our team scores low. (Junior) Ashley Villarreal has also been working hard to catch up with those two, so having Alyssa at the front pulling the others up really helps to motivate the girls.
“I think she tends to lead by example, but she is also good at letting the girls know what needs to be done in order to acheive the team goal. She has definitely become more vocal over the past four years and has taken on a lot more leadership on the team.”
Edwards has finished first on her team in the vast majority of races she has run in orange. Accustomed to seeing the number on her back as Edwards runs out front, the Waterloo girls know they will see their leader looking them in the eye, lending them her strength.
“The last three years I enjoyed giving pep talks and being at every corner cheering for them,” Edwards said. “Now that I am captain, I believe I am a bit of both a vocal leader and a leader by example. I want my team to feel confident and to know that they can do anything that they are willing to put their hearts and minds into.”
Edwards was just one second ahead of classmate Schreder at the regional race. The pair of speedsters has remained in the front of the pack for the Bulldogs in 2009.
“I think that I connect with everyone on the team and really enjoy spending time with all of them, but I may be closest to Aubree Schreder,” Edwards said. “She has been my partner in crime since my sophomore year and I really respect her and love training with her.
“Aubree has always been there for me and supported me throughout my running career. I will certainly miss her when we both go off to college and continue our running careers and educations.”
Edwards has blazed a winning trail through her cross country career and in the process has burned her name alongside those of all the school’s greats who ran ahead of her.
“The runners I have looked up to are the girls who hold the records and who have their pictures in the trophy cases at school,” Edwards said. “I always wanted to do those things, to know that I would be a part of the history of the school even after I graduated and left. I finally achieved that goal last year, and I plan to continue achieving it again this year.”
