News
Pushing the Pace And Overcoming Doubt
Ryan Karker is one of the best track athletes in the history of Roberts Wesleyan athletics. His performances over the last four years prove it. But like many athletes, from time-to-time, the mental and emotional aspect of competing create the most challenging barrier to overcome. This past weekend at the Grand Valley State Big Meet, Ryan faced his own mental battle, but little did he know that God had a plan in place to restore his confidence, in the form of a friendly rival competitor.
Back on Feb. 27, 2022, Ryan ran 1:50.38 in the 800-meter at the Boston University Last Chance Meet. That time earned Ryan a trip to the 2022 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. Ryan hasn't broken the 1:51 threshold since Boston. And on Friday night at the GVSU Big Meet the graduate student struggled to put together the performance he wanted in the mile which all but destroyed his confidence for his specialty 800-meter that was to come on Saturday.
"The last few races have been really tough for Ryan," said Andrew Dorr, Director of Cross Country and Track & Field. "Lots of pressure, the knowledge that time is running out, and even some sickness. I'd say he hit rock bottom on Friday night when the much-anticipated mile was underwhelming. We decided to just focus on racing to win in the Saturday 800. No overthinking, no expectation."
On Saturday, Ryan toed the line.
"I knew that the first part of my race I had to get out hard," Karker said. "I was focused and knew what I had to do. I wasn't nervous at that point."
Also, on the start line was Angel Luera, one of the top NCAA DII 800m runners from Dallas Baptist University. Angel had no intention of competing in the 800-meter race that day, until he heard that Ryan needed a boost. Without telling him ahead of time, Angel made the decision to pace Ryan.
"Angel said nothing to me before the race," Karker mentioned. "He didn't let me in on the fact that he was going to pace me. I was in the dark. I thought he was racing and I knew how good he was so I was just staying with him. At 200-meters he looked down at his watch and I thought it was strange that he was wearing a watch and looking down at it mid-race."
"Coach is always telling us how hard those guys at Roberts are working," Luera said. "Last week I hit my time because another athlete paced the field for me and so I wanted to return the favor today and get in some good work."
Angel and Ryan came flying through 400-meters in 51 seconds as Ryan was tucked in right behind his unexpected pacer. At 500-meters Angel bowed out and Ryan gritted out the final 300-meters to cross the finish line in 1:50.73. It was just the second time the Greece, N.Y. native has eclipsed the 1:51 mark for the event.
"I was confident at that point in the final 300-meters," Karker said. "I had been time-trialing all season so it wasn't something I was unfamiliar with. I knew I was running a good race, but I didn't know how good it was. When I had heard at 400m that it was 51-high, I thought to myself that this was going to go one of two ways. But I was happy I was able to grind out that last half of the race on my own."
Ryan's time now currently sits at No. 14 in the nation for NCAA DII.
"We had no idea that God would send an angel to guide Ryan through that low-key 800m – Angel Luera from Dallas Baptist to be precise," said Dorr, who is close friends with Jacob Phillips, the head coach at Dallas Baptist. "Angel took the lead and Ryan tucked in behind him and that was just the lead-out that Ryan needed. That result was all the more gratifying because it was unexpected."
Angel Luera is one of Ryan's top competitors in the 800-meter at the national level, but on a day where help was needed, Angel set aside any competition and answered the call for a fellow student-athlete who needed a dose of confidence to break through the mental wall he was facing.
"The highest form of competition isn't in just pushing yourself, but in pushing your competitors also," said DBU head coach Jacob Phillips. "Angel had a chance to do that this weekend and help a team that we are quite fond of and have a friendly rivalry with."
Ryan Karker is grateful and is hopeful to toe the line once again this season with Angel at the national championships in March.