MILWAUKEE - Like so many of us, Holly Nearman would like to travel back in time.
Just six weeks ago, the 2004 Monroe graduate broke her own UW-Milwaukee school record in the 5,000 meters at 16 minutes, 46.88 seconds. Her time was good for eighth at the NCAA Mideast Regional in Fayetteville, Ark., just one spot away from sending her to the NCAA Championships.
Even more recently, Nearman was named the Horizon League's Female Outdoor Athlete of the Year. She's also been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team.
Now, after a season of previously unthinkable accomplishments, she'd like to go back about 10 years and tell the scared little girl who didn't want to run the mile what will happen if she does.
FEARING FATE
Lie in bed, staring at the ceiling a little bit longer. Hog the bathroom a few more minutes than usual. Take your time taking in breakfast, one well-masticated, light forkful at a time.
Do anything. Anything but go to school.
Most kids have been there. For many of them, the antagonist is a test, a bully or some other legitimate reason to cling to the door frame as they're forced into the fray.
For one Holly Nearman, anxiety over what would someday become her proverbial sanctuary was petrifying.
"I used to hate running and I dreaded the mile in grade school," Nearman says with a laugh. "I just remember those days, not wanting to go to school because I knew we had to run the mile."
A failed training session with her dad a couple days prior didn't help. But, after a long heart to heart with her gym teacher, Nearman notched the first of many monumental victories in finishing first.
"I remember trying to train with my dad two days before it and not being able to finish it and getting upset," she said.
Nearman signed up for cross country in middle school, but didn't start to realize her potential until making varsity track as a sophomore. She qualified for the state meet that season, and credits coaches for her lightning-fast developmental curve.
"Track and field has been where my motivation comes from, and it started in high school with my coaches Jim Ingold and Dave Hirsbrunner," Nearman said. "Their great coaching and encouragement gave me a strong foundation for running."
She cites being part of the 4x800 team that broke the school record at the 2004 state meet as her fondest prep memory.
"What I miss is having fun with my friends; my teammates," Nearman said.
Good thing the scrapbook was only getting started.
A GOOD FOLLOWING
While Nearman gave her family plenty of scrapbook material in high school, her parents put together a perfect track record on their end of the deal.
At least one of her parents, either Mark or Mary Ann, made every prep meet. The college schedule, however, made things a touch difficult.
"Coming into college was a whole different story," Nearman said of a schedule that boasts 18 meets outside Wisconsin, "but they've still made it to a lot of out-of-state meets."
She even had family in attendance in the event farthest from home. Her sister Melissa drove from Los Angeles to see Holly win her heat at the Stanford Inviational and set a personal record at 17:06.61. Nearman, along with 800 runner Laura Ring, was set aside for Stanford while the rest of the Panthers competed in Charleston, Ill.
"It was just an honor to be in that meet, in the campus atmosphere and on that fast track," Nearman said.
Nearman never feels far from family, as her head coach Pete Corfeld makes all his athletes feel right at home.
"He's given me a lot of opportunities for me and the team to reach high levels of accomplishment," Nearman said. "It's always nice to have someone there at meets that will push you."
After missing her first indoor and outdoor seasons with an injury, Nearman is sticking around for her last year of eligibility in both, while enjoying the perks of the big city.
She's putting her time to good use as a sociology and journalism major. And she's loving life and relishing the benefits of setting the bar high.
But the big accolade still lingers on her personal checklist - making the NCAA Championships.
"I had set a lot of goals for this year that felt a little out of reach after last season," Nearman said.
"All of my success and the awards were expected, but it was surprising at the same time. I wish I'd known I could do this a long time ago."
Just six weeks ago, the 2004 Monroe graduate broke her own UW-Milwaukee school record in the 5,000 meters at 16 minutes, 46.88 seconds. Her time was good for eighth at the NCAA Mideast Regional in Fayetteville, Ark., just one spot away from sending her to the NCAA Championships.
Even more recently, Nearman was named the Horizon League's Female Outdoor Athlete of the Year. She's also been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team.
Now, after a season of previously unthinkable accomplishments, she'd like to go back about 10 years and tell the scared little girl who didn't want to run the mile what will happen if she does.
FEARING FATE
Lie in bed, staring at the ceiling a little bit longer. Hog the bathroom a few more minutes than usual. Take your time taking in breakfast, one well-masticated, light forkful at a time.
Do anything. Anything but go to school.
Most kids have been there. For many of them, the antagonist is a test, a bully or some other legitimate reason to cling to the door frame as they're forced into the fray.
For one Holly Nearman, anxiety over what would someday become her proverbial sanctuary was petrifying.
"I used to hate running and I dreaded the mile in grade school," Nearman says with a laugh. "I just remember those days, not wanting to go to school because I knew we had to run the mile."
A failed training session with her dad a couple days prior didn't help. But, after a long heart to heart with her gym teacher, Nearman notched the first of many monumental victories in finishing first.
"I remember trying to train with my dad two days before it and not being able to finish it and getting upset," she said.
Nearman signed up for cross country in middle school, but didn't start to realize her potential until making varsity track as a sophomore. She qualified for the state meet that season, and credits coaches for her lightning-fast developmental curve.
"Track and field has been where my motivation comes from, and it started in high school with my coaches Jim Ingold and Dave Hirsbrunner," Nearman said. "Their great coaching and encouragement gave me a strong foundation for running."
She cites being part of the 4x800 team that broke the school record at the 2004 state meet as her fondest prep memory.
"What I miss is having fun with my friends; my teammates," Nearman said.
Good thing the scrapbook was only getting started.
A GOOD FOLLOWING
While Nearman gave her family plenty of scrapbook material in high school, her parents put together a perfect track record on their end of the deal.
At least one of her parents, either Mark or Mary Ann, made every prep meet. The college schedule, however, made things a touch difficult.
"Coming into college was a whole different story," Nearman said of a schedule that boasts 18 meets outside Wisconsin, "but they've still made it to a lot of out-of-state meets."
She even had family in attendance in the event farthest from home. Her sister Melissa drove from Los Angeles to see Holly win her heat at the Stanford Inviational and set a personal record at 17:06.61. Nearman, along with 800 runner Laura Ring, was set aside for Stanford while the rest of the Panthers competed in Charleston, Ill.
"It was just an honor to be in that meet, in the campus atmosphere and on that fast track," Nearman said.
Nearman never feels far from family, as her head coach Pete Corfeld makes all his athletes feel right at home.
"He's given me a lot of opportunities for me and the team to reach high levels of accomplishment," Nearman said. "It's always nice to have someone there at meets that will push you."
After missing her first indoor and outdoor seasons with an injury, Nearman is sticking around for her last year of eligibility in both, while enjoying the perks of the big city.
She's putting her time to good use as a sociology and journalism major. And she's loving life and relishing the benefits of setting the bar high.
But the big accolade still lingers on her personal checklist - making the NCAA Championships.
"I had set a lot of goals for this year that felt a little out of reach after last season," Nearman said.
"All of my success and the awards were expected, but it was surprising at the same time. I wish I'd known I could do this a long time ago."
