PU graduate runs steeplechase in first trip
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Ashley Higginson had hoped to make the final of the women’s steeplechase, but making her first World Championships appearance in Moscow, Russia, last week was a big step.
”I think that it is hard to be disappointed with the experience and the amazing time I had here,” said the 2011 Princeton University graduate who placed 11th in Heat 2 in a season-best 9:45.78. “If you asked me what I would be doing three years ago, I would never have thought this. That being said, I am looking forward to moving forward with this experience, as any athlete who wants to excel should. When I am not hungry for more, that is when I may need to stop running.”
Higginson finished her Princeton track and field career with a sixth-place finish in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the outdoor NCAA Championships in 2011, but she wasn’t satisfied. She was still on the upswing from an injury, and she didn’t get to go out at her best.
”It was then I realized I wanted a real chance to see out my full potential before I let it go, and I just knew I wasn’t ready to do that with an injury my senior spring,” Higginson said. “But, when Gags told me he would take me on to the club, I automatically got excited to jump into the idea.”
Frank Gagliano took on coaching Higginson with his New Jersey – New York Track Club, and she has responded well while balancing law school at Rutgers University, where she enters her second year this fall.
”I think being a student-athlete is great,” said Higginson, who also credits new training partner Nicol Traynor with aiding her development. “It is certainly a balance, in that my group of friends from each (interest) don’t really understand the other part of what I am doing, but no one gives undergraduates any excuses and a whole lot of them made this U.S. team too! I am just one in the same, I think. I like doing both.”
Higginson came into the World Championships after running some of her quickest times in shorter races. She clocked personal records of 4:11.82 for 1,500 meters in Heusden, Belgium, and 4:34.47 for the mile in Dublin, Ireland. She made the U.S. team for worlds by running 9:46.25 for second at the USA National meet in Des Moines, Iowa.
”After a heartbreaking fourth-place finish last year in the Olympic Trials,” Higginson said, “I think I realized that I had lost an opportunity and that when I worked hard enough, it could be enough to make a U.S. team. To be able to get that done this year was so amazing not only for me, but for my parents, coaches, and constant support and friends. To be a part of something bigger, like Team USA is an honor.”
Higginson had narrowly lost her first chance to represent the U.S. when she was a spot away at the Olympic Trials. That race helped push her to this year’s team.
”It was a strange feeling,” Higginson said of her Trials near-miss. “I had P.R.-ed in every steeple I ran that year and just sort of became a different level runner. However, missing out on such an amazing honor, of course changed everything. In fact it affected my whole life. I stayed in New Jersey to stay with my coaches and teammates here and I started law school here instead of Colorado, a huge shift from what I was thinking was to be my life. I guess I caught the bug! I also started a countdown immediately to U.S. Trials the next year.”
Higginson was the top American finisher at the World Championships, and just two spots out of advancing to the finals last week. That race in turn pushes her further forward in her career.
”My motivation is still to continue to improve,” said Higginson, who has a personal-best of 9:34.49. “I think that fixing more little things (will help) — like sleep, injury prevention, nutrition, and just becoming more of a student of the sport in a lot of ways.
”However, of course this all boils down to working my butt off for three more years, hoping that a fourth place at the Olympic Trials doesn’t haunt me. I need to give that one more shot. Overall though, all you can do is work on yourself and know you gave it all you could. I am looking forward to that adventure!”
The adventure keeps her in her comfort zone for much of the year. A graduate of Colts Neck High School, Higginson was a storied recruit to Princeton, and she has remained in-state for law school at Rutgers.
”I think it is a great decision,” Higginson said of remaining in New Jersey. “Having support is the one thing you need. Above anything special, family, friends, and a network of people who care about your happiness is what makes you a better person and athlete. I am so glad I have that here.”
Higginson stayed around the Princeton team as a volunteer coach in her first year after graduating, but it was hard to help as much as she wanted to while still training.
”I think being around my Princeton teammates always made me a better person and taught me things about what type of athlete I am,” she said. “Coaching is something I look forward to doing in the future, but I think it is something you need to do after your own career.”
Higginson graduated Princeton with eight individual Ivy League titles and a share in nine Ivy League team titles. She ran in seven NCAA Championships, earned a pair of All-America honors and left with two school records.
”Our program is amazing at Princeton and has slowly developed into a place that has athletes prepared to run at the world stage — such as last year with Donn (Cabral) and other people for Junior Worlds,” said Higginson, who was a Junior World Championships finalist in 2008. “It is cool to feel reassured that Coach (Peter) Farrell has prepared my mind to be ready to race anywhere at this level.
”Additionally, school itself has really helped me to love travelling. I took Russian and Spanish in school and speak Polish at home, so it is fun to explore a new place and people.”
Running is helping Higginson explore even more of the world. She will be in France for DecaNation at the end of the month before resuming her studies and training back home in Jersey.
”Next year is a strength year,” she said. “I think learning to run the 5k again will be a big help. But more so, meeting so many experienced runners here (at worlds) who have made many a U.S. team, I realize that being here and getting to this level is the biggest part of the work. After that, it is about the little things to improve and get to finals and just be ready to execute on the day.”