Rebecca Story reflects on breakout race

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Sophomore Rebecca Story from Christian Academy of Knoxville TN turned in a stellar performance on Oct. 3 at the Jesse Owens Classic, running 16:57 at Indians Mounds in Alabama. She beat a field that inlcuded Taylor Cuneo and Amaris Tyynismaa by 30 seconds. 

We caught up with Story to ask her five questions.

Question 1 -- Can you tell us a little bit about your running background and how you got started with it?

Rebecca Story: I first started running when my uncle entered me in a kids’ triathlon when I was 10 years old.  My uncle thought I had potential in running, and I really enjoyed it.  That led me to run elementary school cross country in the Knoxville Youth Athletics (KYA) meets.  I became a more serious competitor in 7th grade when I started winning the middle school races with my current CAK coach, Tony Cosey, a steeplechase Olympian (2000).  Since then I fell in love with the sport and have been blessed with an incredibly talented and supportive team and coach.  

Question 2 -- It seems like you have taken a big jump up even since last spring, when you ran 10:36 for 3,200 meters. What was your training like over the summer to get you ready for a big cross country season?

Rebecca Story: After I ran the Music City Distance Carnival in Nashville in June, I took a few weeks off to relax.  During the summer I swam for my neighborhood swim team.  My summer training primarily consisted of some running and swimming to stay in shape.  I slowly ran more each week to get ready for cross country and eventually made it to my base mileage for the year.  I also continued to eat healthy and attend yoga classes for relaxation and stretching.  

Question 3 -- We all know how strong Taylor Cuneo is. You went from being 12 seconds behind her at Trinity Valkyrie to beating her by 30 seconds at Jesse Owens in two weeks. That's a big swing! How did you prepare for such a big day in Alabama?

Rebecca Story: I try to approach every race the same mentally, but I believe that I was at a point in my training that I was prepared for a breakout race.  I just continued to train hard and stay on top of school.  Before the race I put my trust in God and knew He would help me run to the best of my ability.  Remaining focused and strong pre-race was key.  Jesse Owens is definitely a course and race that I will always remember!

Question 4 -- What do you think that result at Jesse Owens means for  your confidence going forward? Was your performance there at all surprising to you?

Rebecca Story: I was aware that the race was going to be stacked with very talented runners from several states, but I was confident in my training and previous successes.  I knew I could win it, but running such a fast time and winning by such a large margin was definitely confidence-boosting.   I am now reassessing my time goals and focusing on championship season and getting faster for future races.

Question 5 -- What can you tell us about Christian Academy and Knoxville just in terms of running culture and the places you like to run? 

Rebecca Story: I have attended Christian Academy of Knoxville since I was in kindergarten.  I am so fortunate to have a coach there that knows running.  His daughter, Taylor Cosey, is my teammate and running partner.  And I have several great running partners on the guys’ team.  Running in East Tennessee is perfect!  It includes all types of terrain and weather conditions.  There are multiple greenways in all parts of Knoxville and lots of hills!  I am thankful for my CAK education that allows me to worship God openly at school and in my sport.