Back-to-back individual state cross country championships, a trip to the Foot Locker National Cross Country Meet, and solid finish at the US Junior Cross Country Championships have solidified Tampa King High School's Laura Bowerman as one of the best high school distance runners in the country. The smooth striding senior has certainly come a long way in the past four years.
"I didn't run cross country until my freshman year," says Bowerman. "I ran 23:54 for 3-miles in my first race."
That initial race may not have indicated signs of greatness, but Bowerman was instantly hooked on the sport. She would improve in each race and eventually make it to the Class 3A state finals her freshman year where she would shave more than four minutes off of her time, finishing 43rd in 19:53. The experience made her hungry for more.
"I made it a goal to win state by my senior year," says Bowerman.
Laura not only accomplished her goal of winning a state title--she accomplished it a year earlier than planned. A fourth place finish as a sophomore gave her even more confidence and provided a springboard for the 2002 cross country season. She ran away with the title as a junior, putting more than 20 seconds on Clay High School's Alison Barlow. She credits much of her success to the support that she has received from those around her.
"My dad started coaching me in the spring of my freshman year," says Bowerman, who runs around 50-miles a week. "He (Dick Bowerman) has tried to bring me along slowly realizing that I will not peak until my late 20s."
In fact, Bowerman does not like to give a lot of specific details about her training, but says that her dad uses many of the principles that he grew up using as an athlete, along with careful observation of his daughter.
"I don't like to talk a lot about my training," says Bowerman, who has also received advice from Wabash College Coach Rob Johnson. "My training is based on a combination of Lydiard philosophy, Joe Vigil, Irv Ray, and Seb Coe training and what my Dad did when he was running in the 70's."
The combination of specific training and running away with the state title as a junior made Bowerman the overwhelming favorite to defend her title heading into her final year. The pressure and a mid-season injury had her questioning whether or not she would be able to defend.
"I was really stressed and nervous before the state meet. It was the most nervous I had ever been before a meet," says Bowerman, who was still able to manage a comfortable win over Vanguard sophomore Kelly Parrish. "Because of my mid-season injury I was uncertain about my fitness and we had trained through the State to be ready for Footlocker."
Training through the state meet paid off, as Laura was able to place seventh in the South Region and qualify for the Foot Locker National meet, something that she had her sights set on several years.
"I had been shooting for Footlocker South since my sophomore year. Rolf Steier and his dad had encouraged me to go up and run that year. I then got to watch the Nationals in Orlando that year and was so impressed with Amber Trotter's win."
The Foot Locker experience was everything that she ever imagined. Despite finishing lower (31st) than she would have liked to, she enjoyed every minute of the trip.
"The Footlocker National meet experience was awesome! It was great getting to meet all those incredible runners and meeting all the Nike athletes and the four sub-4 high school milers: Jim Ryun, Marty Liquori, Tim Danielson, and Alan Webb."
As you might expect, her strong senior season has not gone unnoticed by major college programs throughout the country. She has currently narrowed her choices down to the University of Georgia, Florida, Florida State, and Butler University (Indiana).
"I want a school with good academics and a good running program where I can improve over the next four years."
Academics are just as important to Bowerman, who is part of King's demanding International Baccalaureate program, which takes up much her of free time outside of the sport. She still is uncertain on a major, but has some strong ideas on the direction that she would like to head.
"I plan to pursue a liberal arts degree. I don't know yet what I want to major in or what I want to do after school. I have thought about exercise physiology, psychology, or journalism," says Bowerman, who is an editor on King's yearbook staff.
When she is not busy with school or running, you'll often find her active in her church youth group, scrapbooking, reading about the running and hanging out with friends. She also spends plenty of time thinking about her future in the sport, including the upcoming track season.
"I am excited about my last high school track season. I am not race fit now and will try to peak later in the season, hopefully at the AOC in Raleigh in June. I'll keep my goals secret!"