High school: Rohrer's built for future challenges
Consider it a plan to build excellence for the long haul.
Anna Rohrer had the most amazing season in Indiana high school female distance running history. Ever. No questions asked.
But for Mishawaka track and cross country coach Chris Kowalewski, that's not good enough.
"The great thing about Anna, she understands the big picture," said Kowalewski. "It's not, 'Let's see if we can win (the track) national championship. It's, 'Let's see if you can be the most successful distance running in Indiana high school history.'"
And beyond.
What Rohrer did in her sophomore year -- cross country state and national titles, as well as a track state crown in the 3200 meters -- earned her The Tribune's Girls Athlete of the Year Award.
Great year. Congratulations. But there are more challenges ahead.
"We have four more seasons that we're aiming for," Kowalewski said. "Our goal is that every time she toes the line she has a chance to win."
So far, so good. But it hasn't been easy.
After a freshman year scuttled by stress fractures in her foot, Rohrer rose to prominence by winning the cross country title in state-record time, 17 minutes, 13.2 seconds, 16 seconds faster than Warsaw's Ashley Erba. On a roll, Rohrer competed in the Foot Locker National High School Cross Country Championships and won that in 17:24.9.
Then it got interesting.
Just as the outdoor track season was starting, Achilles pain flared up.
"Her one Achilles was about 50 percent bigger than (the healthy) one," Kowalewski said. "The No. 1 fear for a coach and a runner is the next injury. It's inevitable. It's going to happen. Just, when? And where? You try to minimize the damage."
"This injury didn't scare me like (the foot injury as a freshman)," Rohrer said. "It was a muscle, rather than a bone."
She still was able to cross train during the month she was unable to compete. A week or so before the start of the sectional, the 5-foot-6, 100-pound Rohrer was cleared.
"I missed being out there with my team," Rohrer said. "A month without a race, though, really isn't very long."
"The injury was a setback, but Anna didn't have to be 100 percent to get through the sectional and regional," Kowalewski. "We wanted her healthy for the state meet."
She was close. Kowalewski guesses Rohrer was 90-95 percent of her healthy self. The rehab paid off with a winning time of 10:20.68, two-hundredths of a second off the state record - while running alone most of the race, and winning by 20 seconds.
"She was just trying to win," Kowalewski said. "Anna has another gear; call it 'race magic.' You can't replicate that sort of burst and intensity in practice. It's what sets her apart."
Rohrer's personality makes her special when the clock's not running. Her recent accomplishments have fueled Rohrer's popularity. Her celebrity is to the Indiana high school running circles what Skylar Diggins was to women's college basketball -- give or take 350,000 Twitter followers.
"I've had people ask me to be a starter at races and to run races for charity," she said. "My parents and my coach have always taught me to be humble."
"Any time we go to a meet, people ask for pictures and autographs," Kowalewski said. "The kids on our team want to protect her. To them, she's just Anna."
Which is the way it should be.
The next two years will be quite a ride.
"I'll be the one who takes the brunt of the pressure," Kowalewski said. "All Anna has to worry about is running. We'll take everything step-by-step. It's a nice pressure to have. Anna and I talked, I said, 'Just enjoy the journey.'"
She's certainly headed in the right direction.
Past winners
1991: Molly Dreisbach, Penn
1992: Kim Bucci, Clay
1993: Justina Reichart, Triton
1994: Jennifer Kintzel, Warsaw
1995: Lindsay Benko, Elkhart Central
1996: Sherry Haines, Warsaw
1997: Laura Litwiller, Goshen
1998: Lindsay Jones, Adams
1999: Natalie Will, NorthWood
2000: Bridget Pluta, St. Joseph's
2001: Chasity Zellers, Glenn
2002: Carol Duncan, NorthWood
2003: Cory Andrzejewski, Mishawaka
2004: Courtney Felke, Rochester
2005: Aimee Litka, St. Joseph's
2006: Alex Banfich, Culver Academy
2007: Alex Banfich, Culver Academy
2008: Alex Banfich, Culver Academy
2009: Skylar Diggins, Washington
2010: Alex Bousquet, Marian
2011: Skyler Carpenter, Westview
2012: Skyler Carpenter, Westview
2013: Anna Rohrer, Mishawaka
