Runner earns full ride

WASILLA — After Kendra Nelson received an offer of an athletic scholarship from Southwestern Oregon Community College, the Wasilla High School cross country running standout brought the letter to her coach, Gary Howell.

There was a number in the letter — a price — and Nelson asked her coach if that is what she would have to pay to attend the Oregon school.

“No Kendra,” Howell told his runner. “That’s how much they want to pay you.”

Only months before, Nelson did not see attending college on the list of her post-high school plans. She certainly didn’t see the chance to compete on a college running season on that list.

But now, both are firmly cemented in her future.

Nelson has accepted a full-ride scholarship to attend SWOCC in Coos Bay, Ore., and compete for the Lakers cross country running program.

Since signing her National Letter of Intent, Nelson said she is simply trying to let the news sink in.

“I wasn’t even planning on going to college,” Nelson said. “But I’m not going to let this pass me up. I’d regret it if I didn’t.”

Nelson, who is also a standout in wrestling, has only been running competitively for two seasons. She didn’t even consider participating in the sport until Howell coerced she and her younger sister Brooke to hit the outdoor trails.

“He knew we were pretty athletic, so he kind of bribed us,” Nelson joked. “But if I hadn’t started running, I wouldn’t have gotten this scholarship.”

Howell said natural ability and mental toughness are the primary reasons why Nelson has been able to see success in a short amount of time.

“She’s just so tough, mentally and physically,” Howell said. “As well as her physical gifts, she and her sister both. There’s something to be said for genetics.”

Much of her toughness, he said, comes from her background as a wrestler.

Nelson has competed in the sport, pretty much dominated by the boys, since she was in third grade. In December, Nelson and her sister made state history by becoming the first female siblings to advance to the ASAA 4A state wrestling tournament in the same season.

Nelson also credits her time on the wrestling mat with her success on the running trails.

“I think wrestling definitely gives me an edge,” she said. “It’s a mental thing. If I can wrestle, I can definitely do this. Wrestling is the hardest sport in the world.”

Howell said there are certainly comparisons between the two sports.

“When the gun goes off in cross country or the whistle blows in wrestling, it’s just you,” Howell said. “They’re team sports, but nobody really remembers the team scores unless it’s for a state title. Those two sports are unique that way.”

Nelson’s performance during the ASAA 4A state championship meet is a big reason why she has the chance to run at the next level, Howell said.

Nelson finished 11th in the large-schools field, with a time of 19 minutes and 55 seconds. Howell said it was not necessarily the place in the field that mattered, it was the time.

“The magic number is 20 minutes on any 5-K,” Howell said. “I saw that as a coach, and I thought she can definitely run at the next level.”

Following the state meet, Howell sent e-mails to a handful of college coaches. Within 48 hours he had multiple responses.

Clackamas Community College, another Oregon school, and SWOCC really wanted Nelson, as did Eastern Oregon, an NAIA program.

Howell said, at SWOCC, Nelson could have the ability to display her true potential in the sport.

“I predict Kendra will be in the top 10-15 in her division,” Howell said.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.