UCLA Sports Information Elaine Canchola
(center) prepares for season with Alejandra
Barrientos (left), and Valerie Flores
(right).
By Michael Sneag
Daily Bruin Contributor
Dealing with injuries is one of the hardest things for most
athletes. Because cross country involves running as its only
discipline, if you are unable to do it, the sport can be especially
frustrating. Working through pain and injuries, however, can
actually make you a better athlete, especially if you have the
right attitude and learn through your challenges.
Junior Elaine Canchola knows all about this and has learned how
to overcome obstacles to become one of the premier runners on the
UCLA women’s cross country team.
In high school, Canchola led Nordhoff High School in Ojai,
Calif., to two California State Championships, while winning two
individual state titles and twice qualifying for the National
Footlocker event. But making it all the more impressive was that
she did it by overcoming hip problems.
“She was the fire that carried (those) teams,” said
Ken Reeves, head coach of the women’s cross country team at
Nordhoff High School.
Her UCLA track and cross country career started very well as she
helped lead the Bruins to the NCAA Championships for the first time
in 10 years, placing 45th at the Pac-10 and immediately becoming
one of the top runners on the team. She did all that battling
anemia, a condition caused by a lack of iron in the blood. This is
a major problem because iron helps transport oxygen while you are
exercising.
Overcoming the anemia, she continued her excellence as a
sophomore, once again leading UCLA to the NCAAs, while personally
running well enough to place 46th at the NCAA West Region and 40th
at the Pac-10 event.
However, she was forced to redshirt last cross country season
due to injuries sustained in the steeplechase at Mt. San Antonio
College during track season.
“I got injured after Mt. SAC because they had the
men’s steeple [hurdles] and not the women’s so we had
to jump farther, and that really messed up my back, “
Canchola said.
Canchola has since learned to use her injuries to motivate her
to be not only a better runner, but also a better leader and
example for the freshmen on the team. Using her experience, she
hopes to push the team to new heights and likes what she is seeing
so far. Especially after the first run at the California State
University, Fullerton Jammin’ Invitational, where the team
placed second and Canchola finished seventh overall.
Head coach Eric Peterson decided that in order to better
acclimate the freshman to the college running conditions, a new
team tactic to run as a pack was a good idea. However, trying
something like that depended upon the leadership of the
upperclassmen to help the freshmen in the transition.
According to Reeves, Canchola has always been the kind of
competitor who brings out the best in her teammates.
“While being a competitor, she was also very compassionate
and caring and knew what was going on with the team,” Reeves
said. “She seemed to always know about the pulse of the
team.”
The difference between high school and college running is much
more of a mental transition, and it just takes some time. Gaining
confidence and getting comfortable running is as important as any
physical aspect. Canchola is one of those upperclassmen who has
decided to become a leader, and she is enjoying helping the
freshmen learn as a group and become part of the team so
quickly.
“My goals are based on the team goals,” she said.
“I have individual goals, but I want the team to be up there
with me. We want to go to nationals as a team and this is just the
beginning.”
Canchola loves how her UCLA career has turned out so far and
with all her success in her first two years. She is hoping it
continues, possibly past her days in Westwood. But she isn’t
looking too far ahead quite yet.
“It all depends on how my running career ends here, but I
am just taking it one step at a time,” Canchola said.
“I just need to keep staying focused and motivated and keep
working toward my goals.”