Rogers to join Lipsey, Wilson and Williams in pursuit of world indoor 4x800 mark at NYRR Millrose Games

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The last time Raevyn Rogers raced at The Armory, she was part of Oregon's collegiate-record performance in the indoor distance medley relay last year at the Columbia East-West Challenge.

Rogers went on to set collegiate outdoor records for the Ducks in the 800 meters and 4x400 relay, contributing to Oregon's triple crown of NCAA Division 1 team championships, before deciding to forgo her final year of eligibility in order to turn professional.

Now, the Bowerman female award winner returns to New York to take part in her first professional relay, with another record on her mind, this time the world indoor mark in the 4x800 relay at the 111th NYRR Millrose Games.

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Rogers will team with Ajee' Wilson and Charlene Lipsey -- all three are coached by Derek Thompson -- in addition to Chrishuna Williams in an effort to take down the 2011 record of 8 minutes, 6.24 seconds set by Russia's Aleksandra Bulanova, Yekaterina Martynova, Yelena Kofanova and Anna Balakshina.

"I believe in taking risks and going with it and if it inspires being successful in my career, then I don't mind doing what it takes to be successful and getting the best out of myself," said Rogers, who made the decision in December to work professionally with Thompson and his Philadelphia-based training group while she completes her art degree in Eugene.

"It will be a lot of fun. They train really hard. All that you guys see out there, they put in a lot of work in practice, too, so it's good to see that. I'm really excited."

Wilson and Lipsey took the top two spots in the 800 at the USATF Outdoor Championships and went on to place third and seventh at the IAAF World Championships in August in London. Rogers and Williams finished fourth and fifth at the June final in Sacramento.

"Derek is friends with a very good family friend of ours and my mom has known about him for some time," Rogers said. "Just going off that and the work that I've seen that Charlene and Ajee' have done, the actions speak for themselves. That really went into a lot of my decision. And Derek is really understanding about me still being in school and just going with the process"

Rogers made her professional debut Saturday at the Washington Invitational, clocking a Dempsey indoor facility record 52.24 seconds in the 400.  INTERVIEW

The relay will mark Rogers' first time racing with Lipsey, Wilson and Williams since the USATF Outdoor Championships.

"I'm super excited to have Raevyn come train with us," Wilson said. "Her great running is matched with a great personality, so I'm definitely looking forward to having her as a teammate."

Rogers visited Philadelphia to meet with Thompson in December, but has done the majority of her training corresponding with her coach from Eugene. After the Millrose Games, she'll compete again Feb. 10 in Boston at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, before racing Feb. 17-18 at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.

"It's worked out really well. I plan on going (to Philadelphia) some more times, but until I graduate, that's when I'll officially move," Rogers said. "But it's been working out really well as far as the communication. Definitely communication is a big key in all of this."

Although Rogers has only had a friend and a stopwatch to accompany her during most workouts, she'll look forward to being in the company of her new teammates Saturday with an opportunity to add her name to the Armory's prestigious history one more time.

"Changing places always has its ups and downs as far as trusting new people, trusting new processes and trusting new training, but like I said, that's why I made my decision when I did because I know I need time for adjustment," Rogers said. "If there are differences, my mom calls me a chameleon because she says I can adapt well to any situation I'm put in."