This is the time of year when new high school graduates might be heading off for their senior trip, taking a family vacation, or just hanging out with friends until whatever path they’ve chosen beckons their arrival.
After receiving her diploma from Eureka High last week, Brooke Samuelson said she feels like she’s living the lifestyle of a pro athlete – minus the millions of dollars.
“All I have to do is run,” Samuelson said. “We showed up to practice (Monday) and asked our teammates who haven’t graduated how school was.”
Samuelson is a very big part of the Wildcat track and field team that’s been preparing this week for the Class 5 Sectional 1 meet Saturday at Kirkwood High. Without homework and tests to divide her time, Samuelson has been able to put all of her efforts into qualifying for the state championships in four events.
She was a tour-de-force for Eureka at the District 2 meet at Ladue High on May 16 when she won the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs, and anchored the district champion 4x800 relay squad. It was the first time Samuelson competed in those four events on the same day. It took about four hours for her to complete the circuit of events.
“I want to walk away from the state meet knowing I left it all on the track,” Samuelson said. “(Eureka head coach Darrell Lewis) and I went back and forth about doing the 3,200. It’s so exciting when I challenge myself. Ultimately, no matter what happens, placement-wise, I just want to give my all.”
“Recovery with her doing four distance events that’s tough to do so we have to build in recovery time this week,” Lewis said. “Recovery jogs. She’s to the point where she’ll do a 30- to 45-minute jog. She’s getting the blood up but no huge fatigue is building up.”
There are 19 events at a track and field meet. In order, Samuelson ran the 4x800 (9:27.42), 1,600 (5:10.68), 800 (2:12.81) and 3,200 (11:12.97).
Controlling her time expectations was one of the ways Samuelson was able to handle the workload.
“I didn’t have to go for PRs to qualify. That helped being able to relax,” she said.
Being in the type of condition it takes to run the four-squared distance gauntlet will serve Samuelson well in June when she reports to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, where she’ll begin basic training as a cadet. The physical requirements might be more challenging if not for Samuelson’s ability to force back pain to reach a better time. She was all-state for Eureka’s cross country team last November. Samuelson said she’s wanted to join the military for a long time, and thrives in an environment that requires structure.
According to the Air Force Academy website, during the candidate fitness assessment, women average 7:30 per mile. Samuelson’s PR in the 800 is 2:09, the 1,600 in 4:52 and the 3,200 in 10:47. It’s likely her prep time in the mile for her assessment will immediately move her up in standing among the other new cadets.
“I would say competing in four distance events helped me not only physically and mentally, but the competition part has helped me handle new challenges,” Samuelson said.
There are dozens of jobs in the Air Force that don’t require flying fixed-wing aircraft. Samuelson said during her first year at the academy, she could be too busy to run for the Cadets.
Once Samuelson graduates, she’ll be a commissioned officer and serve a five-year commitment in the Air Force. To become a pilot takes twice the commitment. Being a pilot is something Samuelson is thinking about.
By the end of this month in Jefferson City, she could land on top of the state podium four times.