Cooldown: Walker Blends Three Plans for One of Her Own

EUGENE, Ore. – For the most part, team travel requires one schedule. A roster of coaches and student-athletes moving together as one.

For Colorado State's track and field team, that changes a bit when it comes to bigger meets. Some separation naturally comes into play with different groups needing to be on altered schedules for practice and competition. Program leader Brian Bedard is in charge of his throwers; cross country head and distance coach Kelly Hart tracked Catherine Garrison's needs; J.J. Riese was in tune with his two sprinters.

"There is a lot of logistics and communication, so if a coach needs some help … I know Coach Hart asked J.J. to help out a bit (Friday) because his crew wasn't running, so get kids to meals," Bedard said. "So all that stuff is kind of a combined effort, but the basic agenda is you better take care of your squad, and then if you have any questions or concerns or we can't make it work, then it's kind of all hands on deck."

At the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, all had to be in different places at varied times to fit particular needs to be ready to compete. But there was one person on the trip who had to combine the plans to produce a schedule of her own: athletic trainer Mika Walker.

Oh, and it was her first time working with the track team this season. The squad's two trainers – Mackenzie Campbell and Sam Konrath – each had accepted new jobs prior to the national meet at Hayward Field.

"It's funny that the first time I've ever worked track is nationals, the biggest meet of the year," Walker said. "Someone set a world record yesterday, and I missed it because I was getting a snack."

What she hasn't missed is tending to the needs of the five Rams competing. While a new assignment to a degree, it wasn't as if the softball team's primary care provider was a stranger to the members.

When the throwers lift at Moby, it often coincides with the end of softball practice. She's not only in the training room when they show up, she's interacted with a few of them, providing some familiarity. She has worked with Klaire Kovatch and Makayla Long, as well as Trenton Givens. She also knew Kenny Carpenter through conversations; only Garrison was a wildcard.

Working an entire season with softball, Walker knows the needs of those players, sometimes before they realize the necessity. For this week, Walker needed to do some advance research, and calling herself an "over-communicator," she immediately started asking questions of the coaches and student-athletes in her care.

"Mackenzie left a document that had things that they're dealing with, what they like to do before a meet," she said. "Trent, Kenny, and Makayla, especially, have been really good about telling me, 'hey, this is my routine, this is what I really like,' which I appreciate. Then, I've also been very upfront about this is not my land, these are not my customs, tell me what you want, tell me if I'm doing something that you would prefer me do it differently. They've been super flexible and super nice about it. I do yearn for the dirt. I miss softball land, but this has been a really cool experience."

The athletes and coaches have been appreciative of her willingness to jump into the fray for the final meet of the season, as well as the professionalism she's shown and her willingness to meet particular needs.

When Garrison was getting her ankle taped for her race, they talked throughout the process about her comfort and the pressure being applied. It felt good on the table, but Walker wanted her to walk around on it to make sure. It felt a bit tight to the distance runner, so Walker happily did it again.

"There's some familiarity there, but she's getting kind of trial by fire here while this track meet goes all day or whatever. She said, 'I don't think you have my contact number. Let's make sure we're on the same page,'" Bedard said. "So she did a nice job of reaching out to me and making sure we had contact info and arrival time and when Makayla needed to get to her treatment stuff. She's doing a good job having some forethought with her day."

All For One

When Long threw the shot put on Thursday, her event was at south side of the bowl of Hayward Field, roughly 50 yards from the edge of the track. There were races taking place, as well as multiple field events, each drawing crowd noise and commentary from the announcers through the sound system.

But when Long threw, she could hear the Colorado State contingent loud and clear.

"I can pinpoint all my teammates' voices in the crowd, and so it does make a difference," the second-team All-American said. "It's so fun to have people here that know you and are cheering for you and just want you to do so well, and I want to do well for them. So, yeah, it's definitely helpful to hear them in there."

As Bedard will tell you, support for your teammates is a requirement, not a suggestion. At this point, it is not something he has to suggest to his squad as it has become part of the fabric which makes up the culture of Colorado State track and field.

They may practice at different times with their groups, but on meet day, the Rams are one. At smaller meets, even conference, it is really easy to see with teammates lined up along the track in the infield, or even in the stands. At conference, same thing, and one will often see a large contingent of the team in one spot cheering on a runner or a thrower.

At nationals, it's a bit different, with larger crowds and less traffic allowed in the infield. But they make sure they are heard, even from 20 rows up in the crowd.

Kenny Carpenter had competed the day before, but he sat with Riese and Trenton Givens and loudly cheered every time Long was about to throw. They were locked in, as they knew she was when they were running. The Rams may only be five this weekend, but they will be as mighty as possible.

"It's different having a smaller group, but I think we all just want each other to succeed so bad," Carpenter said. "Especially at this meet, everyone's a little bit more antsy about it. We were constantly checking and checking (results), and then when Mack was throwing we were cheering. We all are supporting each other fully."

Random Thoughts

There is time to kill at the hotel, particularly at breakfast. Odd subjects arise, such as eating competitions, which stemmed from the amount of food Carpenter was consuming the morning after his race in the 400 meters. With his season done, and well-deserved rest in front of him, he was free to cut loose a bit.

No one was interested in participating in the famed Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, but given their choices, they were varied.

Klaire Kovatch's first thoughts went to steak, but the fear of getting sick of the meal she loves most deterred her, so she went with popcorn. Long went with peanut M&M's, noting her penchant for being able to put down a big bag in short order. Garrison went away from the norm, opting for fried rice. She also figured she would have more of an advantage if it had to be consumed with chopsticks.

Carpenter was the one person who required no thought at all. After flashing his trademark smile, the choice was easy for him – Red Vines. It is his sugar of choice, guessing he consumed two barrels of them last summer. And probably will again this offseason.

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