The scenery is different, the competition is at a distinctly higher level and, surprisingly, the workouts are shorter.
Making the jump to one of the nation’s top Division I collegiate programs after dominant high school careers has been an adjustment for Lisa and Xenia Raye. But it’s one the former West Warwick standouts have managed well as they prepare to begin their second year at the University of Georgia.
After spending several weeks back in Rhode Island this summer, the Raye sisters spoke with Ocean State Running last weekend before returning to Athens, Ga., Monday to begin their sophomore campaigns with the Bulldogs.
For two runners who were accustomed to setting the pace in high school, college has presented a different challenge – one that has required them to adjust not only to a higher level of competition, but also to a new approach to training and racing under Georgia director of track and cross country Caryl Smith Gilbert and her coaching staff.
“Our first year was definitely interesting,” said Lisa Raye. “At the beginning, it took me time to get adjusted to the program. Once I did, I started getting comfortable, and my races started going really well.”
“I would say the same,” added Xenia Raye. “At the beginning, it was pretty hard getting adjusted, especially because I was so used to being a 100, 200, 400 (meter) runner. Here at UGA, I’m running mostly the 400, and a relay 400. It was pretty hard at first, especially with the training. It was an adjustment, but I got acclimated to it, and now I’m doing really well.”
According to Xenia, the noticeable change in the workouts at the collegiate level is that more emphasis is put into warming up.
“The majority of the practice is warming up and then we get into the actual workout, which usually doesn’t last very long,” she said. “It allows you to get everything done efficiently while still feeling fully prepared to run. Having so many coaches also helps to get everything done quickly and efficiently.”
“I definitely think my college workouts are a lot harder, which it did take my time to get used to,” Lisa said. “Now that I am used to it, I definitely see improvements in my times and speed.”
Another difference is that they are no longer training partners like they were for the Wizards. Lisa worked under the tutelage of Coach Smith Gilbert, while Xenia was primarily trained by Karim Abdel Wahab, Georgia’s associate head coach for sprints and hurdles.
During her storied three-year career at West Warwick, Lisa accumulated 23 state titles and became a multiple national champion and Rhode Island record-holder. Rarely was there a race in which someone crossed the finish line ahead of her.
College changed that.
The adjustment wasn’t always easy, but Lisa found some help from Dr. Dylan Firsick, a sport psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) at Georgia.
“I was prepared to not always win my heat or races,” she said. “At the beginning, it definitely was challenging, so I would talk to Dr. Dylan on campus and he would help me get through it. I could talk about anything and he would have me remember that I am only a freshman and did graduate early, so I can’t PR or win every single race.
“I definitely had to get used to it. It wasn’t until afterwards when my eyes started opening up and realizing that I am not going to win every single race, and that’s okay.”
Both sisters opened their college careers at the Clemson Invite on Jan. 10. Lisa competed in the 60 meters (7.47) and 200 (24.26), while Xenia ran the 300 (39.17).
“I remember being very nervous on the line and even during the race,” Xenia recalled of the Clemson Invite. “I was nervous the whole time, honestly. I remember thinking to myself that this is crazy and so different from high school. It was definitely an adjustment, and I had to do a lot of work mentally to say to myself, ‘OK, I deserve to be here. This is your freshman year. It’s going to take some time to get where I want to be.’ I remember I did run a really good opening time. I just didn’t like how the race felt.”
Lisa experienced a similar adjustment, realizing almost immediately that the times she had become accustomed to running in high school wouldn’t necessarily come as easily at the collegiate level.
“My first race at Clemson, I know I opened up faster than I usually did in high school,” she said. “I feel like it was definitely in my head at the beginning because I had a certain time in my head I wanted to run for my first meet. But, of course, it’s not always going to be like I want it to be at the first meet. Later on during the season, my times started to go down and everything went well for me.”
Lisa competed in five meets during the indoor season, recording bests of 7.36 in the 60 and 23.64 in the 200. Outdoors, she recorded four top-six finishes in the 100, including a runner-up finish at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial during the first weekend of May. She posted a personal-best 11.23 in the preliminary round at the NCAA Division I East First Round (May 27-30), where she also ran 22.99 in the 200 and helped Georgia’s 4×100 relay team finish fourth in 42.40.
Xenia competed in four meets during the indoor season, recording bests of 55.29 in the 400m and 24.64 in the 200m at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational (Jan. 23-24). Her strongest outdoor performances came at the Spec Towns Invitational from April 9-11, where she ran 24.00 in the 200m and a personal-best 53.92 in the 400. She also teamed with Lisa on Georgia’s 4×400 relay, which finished fifth in 3:34.83.
At Georgia, Xenia is majoring in journalism with a minor in film, while Lisa is majoring in political science with a minor in criminal justice. Adjusting to life as student-athletes during their first year hasn’t been particularly difficult for the sisters, who have managed to balance their academic commitments with the demands of the track program.
“College life for some people might be a little crazy, like going to parties and being an athlete- that stereotypical life a college athlete would have,” Xenia said. “I think Lisa and I are really grounded individuals. We’re pretty set by our morals. For us, it was school, practice, school, practice. We didn’t have the time or energy to do anything else. Our college life is like it was in high school.”
The icing on the cake came in June, when Georgia captured the women’s team title at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Lisa earned a trip to Eugene, Ore., as an alternate for the Bulldogs’ relay squad.
“It was really fun, a great experience that I was able to support my team,” she said. “Plus we won the national championship, which was really good.”
