After signing with Vanderbilt University, Rebecca Chandler is focused on her senior season. The Bolles standout says with her college decision behind her she can relax, enjoy running, and try to break some school records.
“The school record for the 1600 is 4:59 and my fastest time is 5:02 so I’m hoping to break five minutes and break the school record. The school record for the 3200 is 11:06 and I’m hoping to break that too.”
Chandler’s coach, Tony Ryan believes many of his runners prefer the mile because it his favorite event and that rubs off in the kids. He describes the event in an artsy way.
“I think it’s the perfect metrical event, four laps. It’s broken down into four acts if you broke it down like a play.”
The Bolles senior sees it a different way, a perfect balance of strategy and endurance.
“I think the mile is the best. It’s not like the 800 where you mess up and the race is done or the 3200 where it is drawn out. Half of it is planned out and half of it is just having the guts.”
According to her coach, Chandler’s success lies in her character and work ethic. The senior also participates in soccer and cross country. When one season ended she jumped right into the next. She also did workouts on her own time early in the morning as well as on Sundays.
“I think that is a good indication of the dedication she has. Even when she is in the offseason she’s going to go above and beyond to stay in shape. Where she improved from last year was that she put in a good bit of miles in soccer season and kept up longer runs through the middle of April over and above what we do with the track season.”
Morning runs not only allow Chandler to stay ahead of the game but also to free up some afternoons. Time she spends giving back to the community. This year she will donate her time to the North Florida School of Special Education, helping them with a new exercise program.
“I have a friend and he has a younger brother who has Down Syndrome and goes there. Our school is connected with them and our soccer team plays with them so I’ve gotten connected with them through that. This December we played Christmas music with the kids there. They have a new exercise program and every Tuesday I’ll be working with them to get in shape for a mile run they have going on in the spring. I’m just thankful to help them and it’s important for people with that disorder.”
Outside of running Chandler says she has a lot of things that are important to her including family, friends, education, and music. She started playing classical piano in the 1st grade, loves English and history, and spent the summer working with a biotech company. Coach Ryan is also Chandler’s academic advisor and says he is proud of his pupil.
“It says a lot that she is not one dimensional, just being a runner or a student, to be involved and do well in other areas.”
Chandler agrees.
“I’m definitely passionate about running but I have a lot of other stuff going for me so I try not to define myself by running. If you’re doing something and it’s not fun anymore then it’s not worth doing, so I try and do other things as well.”
Being multidimensional is part of the reason Chandler who has a 4.48 GPA decided to head to Nashville, Tennessee and become a Commodore. Coach Ryan mentioned that he asked her where she would want to go if running didn’t go as planned, and there was no question that Vanderbilt was the place for her.
“It came down to Vanderbilt and Duke and I had a lot of trouble deciding at first because they are such great universities and I’d be lucky to go to either one of them. When it came to go on my visits I’d be a lot happier at Vandy because I’d be more well rounded. The girls are so well balanced and easy to be around and our great at running but have lives outside of that. I feel like I’d have a whole lot of fun in Nashville and it’d be a great place for my college career.”
Chandler admits she has a stronger body type and agrees with Vanderbilt coaches that she would be better suited for the 5k and 10k. However, the Jacksonville cross country runner of the year has not ruled out other events and is looking forward to the college experience.
“I’m excited to start at the bottom again and have girl who will be there and be able to push me, girls that I can look up to. I’m also hoping my second or third year I can try steeplechase and try to focus on my track season. I’m excited to try a 5k on the track and see how fast I can go.”
Coach Ryan believes Vanderbilt is getting a hard working, versatile, and team player in Chandler. He says there is no question she will have success at the next level.
“I think Rebecca Chandler is a tough runner and is the kind of girl that will not only do well in cross country the next four years but I think she’ll run almost any event they ask her to in track. I can see her being a good 5k runner on the track and down the road even trying the steeplechase, I think she’s crazy enough to do it. If there is a way for her to score points for the team she’ll do it.”
Before she heads off to college she still has one final outdoor track season. Despite having some times she’d like to achieve she says the main goal is to bring home a state championship.
“It’s always nice to say I broke five minutes for the mile but I feel like I’m going to be able to get those times for the rest of my college career. Having a high school state championship that you only have four years and four chances to get, one of those would be awesome. When we won the state championship two years ago that was just an awesome feeling and nobody can ever take that away.”
She adds that none of her success would be possible without the support of her coaches, team, family and friends.
“I owe so much of my achievements to the cross country program, Coach Ryan, and my parents. Nobody was pushing me when I was too young just encouraging me and helping me. When I got older it was my decision to do it and they are always there and always supportive of me and have been a huge influence on my life, and I’m very thankful for that.”