The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Dream comes true for Madison’s Reigles
Hannah and Hilary Reigle haven’t been runners for a long time — just six years — and their late start in cross country as Madison High juniors was forgettable.
“The coach made us run three miles our first practice,” Hannah said. “I thought to myself, ‘I can’t do this.’ ”
Hilary remembers that day well, too: “It was a struggle. I remember walking for a part of it.”
Hannah wanted to quit, but Hilary had other plans.
“She was like, ‘You’re not quitting,’ ” Hannah said.
With the help of each other, the twin sisters found out they could stick with distance running and take it to another level. They headed to Mount Union, became roommates with the same major (accounting — like their mother), and six years later, they’ve reached the ultimate goal as Mount Union seniors.
On Nov. 17, they will be competing together as individual national qualifiers at the NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country Championship at the Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne, Wisconsin.
The Purple Raiders just missed qualifying as a team, as they placed seventh in the team standings. The top six made it to the championship.
“It is a little bittersweet, but when my coach told me I made, I was shocked,” Hannah said. “Getting to nationals with my sister has been a dream for us.”
That dream is a reality thanks to a career-best performance by both Nov. 10. At the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Shelbyville, Ind., Hilary placed fifth at the race in 21 minutes, 47.9 seconds, and Hannah was 14th in 22:15.
It’s the second straight season Hilary is an NCAA national qualifier, as she was 91st as a junior.
For Hannah, it’s her first trip, and obviously most satisfying. She credits family and friends for helping her with building and maintaining confidence as a runner, but no one is more important than her twin sister.
“My coach, people back home have always told I didn’t have a enough confidence (as a runner),” said Hannah, who never made state in her two years at Madison. “I’ve read a lot of books about it, and have worked at building my confidence. My teammates would always be like, ‘We believe in you.’ Things like that.
“But my sister has been so helpful. She makes me get up at 6 a.m., and doesn’t let me slack off. She’s on me about eating healthy, all the important things.”
Hilary is a three-time AllOhio
Athletic Conference runner who was second at the conference race this season, and third in 2017. Hannah — also a threetime All-OAC pick — isn’t far behind. She was eighth as a freshman in 2015, and fourth this season.
The plan this week is to enjoy a moment four years in the making.
“We’ve talked about (making the national race) since our freshman year,” Hilary said. “I promised her we would make it as seniors.”
In preparations for the trip to Wisconsin, the school gave the twins the option of flying to save themselves from a nine-hour drive. If they drove, they could invite their five teammates for the trip. They chose the latter. Also attending will be the twin’s parents.
Hilary has the experience of competing at the national race as a junior, so Hannah will lean on her sister for advice. For the early part of the race, they have a plan.
“We want to be together for the first mile, and after that we’ll see,” Hilary said. “We want to be All-Americans. My goal is to be top 10 ... I told her (the national race) is very overwhelming, but I want her to enjoy every minute of it because this could be a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us.”
Hilary and Hannah are also distance runners for the Purple Raiders’ track and field team, and after the Nov. 17 race will begin preparations for the indoor season, then outdoor.
The end of outdoor season won’t be the end of running for either. Hilary said running is now “definitely a part of my life,” and she and Hannah have another goal post-college.
“The next goal is to qualify for the Boston Marathon together,” she said.
First, though, is their opportunity of a lifetime.
“I can’t wait,” Hannah said.