Step By Step

By Taylor Ewert for DyeStat

Editor’s note: Taylor Ewert is one of the most talented and versatile high school athletes in the country, with the senior’s skill set unmatched by any of her peers. In 2019, the standout from Beavercreek, Ohio set national high school records in the indoor mile and 3,000-meter race walks, along with the outdoor 20-kilometer race walk to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials this June. She also won New Balance National titles in the indoor mile race walk along with outdoors in the 2,000-meter steeplechase, in addition to capturing a third consecutive U.S. Under-20 championship in the 10,000-meter race walk. Ewert, an Arkansas signee, took second in December at Nike Cross Nationals and sixth at Foot Locker Nationals, becoming the only female distance runner in the country to place in the top 10 in both national championships in consecutive years. Entering her 2020 debut Friday in the 3,000-meter race walk at the Virginia Showcase, Ewert has written about her experiences during the past year and shared this piece with DyeStat.

_______________ 

My 2019 was a year of growth.

Yes, I ran a personal best in almost all my events, but more importantly, I proved to myself that hard work and doing the little things does pay off.

Even though there are always highs and lows in a season, I discovered a balance between enjoying the process and committing to the details. The details would eventually reward me in the long run; literally. With that being said, let’s dive into my 2019 recap.

The year started with track. Coming off a rewarding 2018 cross country season, I had my sights for track set high. Track has not always been my favorite season. Particularly because I find the changing elements and distance of cross country more entertaining. However, I was able to find an appreciation for track through the 2019 season.

Within the season, I used the setbacks from windy races or a nasty trip over a water barrier to propel me forward. My most successful race of the track season would have to be the mile at New Balance Nationals Outdoor. On paper, the race does not stand up to some of my other accomplishments in the season, but the race was a breakthrough for me. The race itself was a last-minute decision. The mile is one of my favorite events and during the track season, I did not have the opportunity to run many open miles.

With the track season coming to a close, the mile at New Balance seemed like the last opportunity to test my fitness. The odds were stacked against me. The main focus of New Balance was defending my 2k steeplechase national title and a 4x800 relay later that evening. I knew the mile was a chance to just race and not worry about time. When it came down to the race, I ended up placing second overall and running a personal record. I did not care I was second, I cared more that I had run a meet record and won the steeplechase, helped my team place second in the 4x800, and then somehow still managed to place second in the mile with a PR!

Reflecting on that weekend made me realize that when the odds do not seem to be in your favor, if you believe in yourself, the result you get will be the one you can live with.

Track is also not all about running for me either. I race walk and it plays a big role in my season. The focus early in the track season is on running, then I spent the rest of my summer, after taking time off (of course!), getting fit for cross country and testing my fitness in race walk. The 2019 season had also been a great year for race walking as well. Despite a disappointing disqualification at the Jr. Pan Am games in Costa Rica, I was able to accomplish my goal of walking an Olympic Trials qualification time in the 20k. This was a big step in the right direction and it gave me a lot of confidence going into my senior year of cross country.

My last season of high school cross country came way too fast. Going into the season, my main focus was doing my job as a senior teammate, but also making my last cross country season my best one yet.

The season itself went smooth. My biggest challenge was the Midwest weather, that always seemed to set me up for a new challenge every week. Once the state meet was completed, my focus shifted to the goal I had in the back of my head since the beginning of the season, performing better than I did last year at national meets.

This brings me to my high of the cross country season, Nike Cross Nationals. After two weeks of strategic races to qualify out and recover, the big day rolled around. Going into the meet, I was not nervous and felt calm. I had my plan and I knew that whatever happens, I would be happy with the result. My race plan went off without a hitch. I finished second overall by 0.70 of a second. A big win in my book. The race was a combination of wanting my last cross country race wearing Beavercreek to be my best and to race for my team, and everything the week of the race had clicked into place.

Looking back on the race, it haunts me a little on how close I came to winning and how maybe if I had done something more, I would’ve gotten the 0.70 seconds back. When I feel this way, I remind myself that I could have been third and felt the same way. The result of the race is just a number and in the grand scheme of cross country, despite the result, the race was one of my best. Plus, what an amazing race to be a part of; Closest 1-2 finish in NXN history and the winner, Katelyn Tuohy, was the first girl to win three consecutive national titles at the meet.

That being said, after the race, I had little time to celebrate with my team because next thing I knew I was on the starting line of another race in San Diego. Foot Locker was the icing on the cake of my season. The focus of my season was to perform my best at Nike Cross Nationals with the team. Foot Locker gave me a chance to enjoy the experience and finish the season on a positive note. It was a great race and I feel honored to have placed so well in such a prestigious race. I would not have wanted to end my senior cross country season any other way.

Looking back on my 2019 season, the season was full of more highs than lows. Of course, there were lows, but not to expect lows would be unrealistic. Lows shape who you are as an athlete because it’s all about how you respond and adapt to those experiences.

I am also so grateful to have so many people in my life that support me, especially my mom, Teri. My mom spent many hours on a bike next to me on my runs, yelling splits to me during the race walk workouts, or just simply being a positive voice when I get frustrated with my training. My season would not have been filled with so many highs without her help and the help of many others, including my team and coaches.

Going into 2020, I am surrounded by a team and I am ready to take on the year. 2020 is the Olympic year and it will also be my first year of collegiate cross country at Arkansas.

This year will definitely be a year of growth. Between finishing out my high school track season, I am also learning how to prepare for one of the most important races of my life in June at the Olympic Trials. I will also have to learn how to navigate college athletics. It all seems a little intimidating but I trust my coaching and most importantly, I am confident in what I am capable of if I put in the work.

In 2020, I plan on continuing to focus on committing to the details and working my butt off!  Here’s to growth, hard work and a great 2020!