On the day of the official news that Shippensburg University's Neely Spence was forgoing her senior indoor and outdoor seasons to turn pro, MileSplit National Editor Aaron Rich and PennTrackXC webmaster Don Rich got the opportunity to talk with the former collegiate star as she embarked on the next chapter in her life. Click here for the official Shippensburg University news release.
MileSplit: You had a pretty good Christmas this year?
Neely: Yes, I was engaged to my fiancé Dillon Gracey. It was definitely a surprise. Being Christmas Day made it sorta special.
MileSplit: So when did you sign your contract with Ray Flynn?
Neely: On Friday. We thought that with the holidays this weekend, we would wait for today (December 27), to make the announcement.
MileSplit: Did you turn pro faster than you had planned?
Spence gets her Olympic Trials "A" standard at the 2011 USATF T&F Champs
in Eugene Oregon, going 15:27.72 for 7th - the fastest collegian in the race.
Neely: Definitely faster. When I first started running, I had dreams, but they felt so far away. I'd think 'how did these people I look up to ever get to where they are?' It's a slow, steady, process. But every day I thought about it, then all of a sudden, all of these days started to add up. This past spring at Mt. Sac (big PR of 15:33 5K), it was a lot closer than I thought it would actually be. My dad brought it up as a hypothetic situation after that race, and also after I was 7th at USATF Champs in June (15:27 for 7th place). I immediately turned it down. I had never even broken 16 before that, and I didn't have that kind of confidence. I was in shape the year before, but the opportunity just never came up. And cross country is special to me, so I didn't want to give that up this year. It's unique to college. You don't have nearly the cross country opportunities after college. So he didn't bring it (turning pro) up again, right away.
MileSplit: When did things change?
Neely: Through cross, it became apparent I was ready for something else. I was sorta doing my own thing, but my dad talked to some people and he realized the interest was definitely out there. We started talking about it. He talked with agents. I couldn't talk with anyone or I'd forgo my eligibility. We looked at my goals and realized that this is what I want, and you don't want to let something like this pass. When it came time, I only talked to Ray.
MileSplit: Where else did you get advice?
Neely: Since the goal was to turn professional I met with Jenny Simpson, and Sara Slattery, and emailed Karen Goucher and Deena Drossin, and got some guidance. A lot of good ideas of what I am getting into.
MileSplit: Before high school, you briefly quit the sport. Your dad didn't pressure you to get back into it. What happened during that time?
Neely: It really was just a maturing thing. When I was younger, my biggest problem was I was not running for myself. I was running because that is what we did in our family. I remember being at all these big races. I took it too far. I did not want to disappoint him (my dad) or my family. I did not want to fail. But we do fail. We can't always meet expectations others have for us. Once I realized this, my sisters had started running. I decided I wanted to go to Foot Locker. I decided this is something I wanted to do. It was my goal. And I embraced it. Every year I love running more and more.
MileSplit: How did you select to stay near home and pick Shippensburg University?
Neely: Every person responds differently to training. I had to look at my own situation, and my dad had guided me. When I started looking at college, I knew I wanted to run after college, and Ship was the best place to get me ready. Now I'm ready before I thought I would be. My dad has taken the same journey, and I really trust him.
MileSplit: Is there an experience with your dad where his history has really helped you through a rough spot or in a race?
Neely: I competed in Seattle three weeks ago at the USATF Cross Country Club Nationals. The morning I was leaving I was really sick. I had a sore throat and was really congested. And I was going on the trip by myself. I was so upset, but it was already paid for. I went and decided to see what happened. I still felt bad when I got there 48 hours before the race. I called my dad… who said I should probably not have gone. I told him I had really wanted to go. He told me that this was not the first time where I will travel to a big race, and have high expectations… and that this is what had happened to him at the Olympics. He had started to feel better the day before the race, but probably should not have run. He told me it was a great thing to be out there by myself, and said I should focus on myself, take it day by day and see what happened.
I thought at least it's not the Olympics, or the marathon. I did nothing for two days, and talked to him (my dad) the morning of the race. He told me to be prepared to drop out… and not to be ashamed to do that because it happens to everyone.
I started the race, hanging at the back, and felt great the whole race. With 2nd place, I am on the US team going to Scotland in January.
MileSplit: What is the thinking going into deciding between the 5000 or 10000 for the Olympic Trials?
Neely: My dad believes I will be better the longer the race. He is finally letting me try a 10K. He wouldn't let me last year. But my mileage is just getting to the point of averaging in the 60's… so I'm ready for longer races, doing longer workouts. I don't want to make any drastic changes for now. The marathon is a possibility in the future. I really enjoy racing on the road. But I still have goals to hit for the 5K.
MileSplit: Has anything changed in your training during the past year?
Neely: Last year I started weightlifting, adding more core work to my routine, plyometrics. I'm continuing all those things, plus developing a base this winter. This move will give me the opportunity to focus on outdoor, instead of cramming in an indoor season. Another change is I will not rush my travel, getting there the day before and then leaving. I will build in more time. I also will try to go somewhere over spring break – away from the cold of PA.
MileSplit: How have you prepared mentally for this next level?
Neely: At every level there are high anxiety races. In high school it was Nike Outdoor Nationals and Foot Locker. This is just another big race. Because of this progression, it builds on itself. The Olympic Trials is just a US championship race. I have won USATF Juniors. I got to go to Pan-Ams this past year. I'm going to Scotland. I got 7th in the US as the only collegian in a field of professionals in the USATF Championships 5000. This is just another race like that. I have learned to just do the best of my ability. To just control things I have control over.
MileSplit: Your dad has an uncanny ability to equate training performance to race performance, and convince his athletes they have the training to meet that performance? Where were the expectations for your 15:27 at USATF Champs?
Neely: We thought I was in 15:20 shape, but we were all over the place with splits. 78's then 72's. If the pace had been more steady, we would have been right around that A standard. One problem is that at a lot of national meets, they're competing for place, and not times. The pace where the front of the race ended up running was where I needed and wanted to be. Next year I hope to be able to latch onto that as well.
MileSplit: Do you plan to keep your dad as your coach?
Neely: Eventually I will look at different clubs. But I am happy where I am.
Neely Spence to Begin Quest For Olympic Dream
Spence was an eight-time NCAA Division II national champion at Shippensburg
By William Morgal, Sports Information Director, Shippensburg University
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — Shippensburg University senior Neely Spence today began her dream to become an Olympian with her signing of a contract to become a professional runner.
The signing means she will forgo eligibility for her senior indoor and outdoor track & field seasons with Shippensburg, but she will now be able to focus on the opportunity to fulfill one of her long-time athletic goals.
Spence is one of the university’s most outstanding and honored athletes, having won numerous national running championships as well as awards for her sportsmanship and academic success. She will remain enrolled at Shippensburg for the spring semester and plans to graduate in May with a degree in human communications studies and a minor in coaching. During the semester, she will also serve as a volunteer assistant coach with the track & field teams.
“Ever since I began my competitive career in eighth grade, I have wanted to become a professional distance runner,” Spence said. “This is what I have strived for over the last eight years. Finally, I now have the opportunity to embody this dream. I have climbed to the peak of one mountain, and am about to start at the base of another.”
“My main reason for choosing Shippensburg is that I truly believe this was the best program, school and environment for me to meet my goals as both a person and athlete,” Spence said. “This has been proven true; for in life we look for opportunities, not guarantees. Shippensburg has provided me many opportunities that would not have been possible anywhere else. Now, I am using this experience to make the next major decision in my life, and I want to thank everyone who has been on this journey with me.”
“This is an unprecedented and exciting opportunity for Neely,” said head track & field coach Dave Osanitsch ‘96. “During her three years she played a significant role in helping the team win four memorable PSAC track championships. Her contributions, however, were not just on the track, but also as a leader who encouraged, supported and inspired her teammates to excellence. I’m sure she will continue her running success and will, as importantly, continue to be the outstanding person of which we are all so proud.”
Spence’s parents, Steve and Kirsten, are pleased to see their daughter realize yet another one of her dreams.
“The decision to remain at Shippensburg worked out splendidly for Neely, for Shippensburg University and for our family as Neely has remained part of our daily lives instead of being somewhere much farther away,” Steve said. “She has the A standard for the Olympic Trials at 5K, but we are considering the possibility of her running the 10K at the trials. Once this was established, it became clear that a collegiate track season would not be conducive to achieving her goals.”
Steve, a former U.S. Olympic Trials marathon champion who represented the U.S. in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, said the decision to turn professional reflects Neely’s ultimate desire to represent the U.S. at international competitions.
Spence will be able to maximize her training toward competing in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in June at Hayward Field in Oregon. Her main focus will be to meet the Olympic ‘A’ standards in the 5K (15:20) and the 10K (31:45). A top three finish in either event at the Olympic Trials would earn her a spot on the U.S. squad that will compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
During her track career at Shippensburg, she won 17 of 19 PSAC championship races she entered. Her only two losses were second-place finishes in the 1,500 meters, the shortest distance at which she competed. Spence set seven PSAC and four NCAA Division II track & field records, including the all-time NCAA marks in the indoor and outdoor 5,000 meters.
Spence won eight NCAA Division II national championships: six in track & field and two in cross-country. She is an 11-time NCAA All-American and is the only athlete to ever be named the PSAC Athlete of the Year in all of her collegiate seasons in every sport.
On the day of the official news that Shippensburg University's Neely Spence was forgoing her senior indoor and outdoor seasons to turn pro, MileSplit National Editor Aaron Rich and PennTrackXC webmaster Don Rich got the opportunity to talk with the former collegiate star as she embarked on the next chapter in her life. Click here for the official Shippensburg University news release.