The Observer, April 20, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 25
Bruckner nears the finish line of her college career
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Emily Bruckner has always liked to race. Her first track meet was in the second grade. "I did the 100-meter and the long jump, which are two of the events that I do today," she said. She began track in earnest during middle school and hasn't looked back.
"I love being on a team, and I like that there's individuality in track," Bruckner said. "After six 200s, when you can't stand up, you also feel like you can do anything. When I get done with those hard workouts, I feel like I've accomplished something big."
For Bruckner, a nursing student working 36 to 40 hours a week in the pediatrics ward of MetroHealth Hospital, simply finding time to practice is a feat.
"My shift is from 3 to 11 p.m., so when I do come to practice with the team I need to make the most of it," she said. One of Bruckner's events is the 4x100-meter relay. "When I'm with the team, I make sure to work on my handoffs," she said. "When I can't make practice, I work on the individual aspects."
This year the 4x100 team will be a force in the UAA. "I'm excited about what we can do this year," said Bruckner.
She also runs the 100-meter dash, the 4x400-meter relay, the 200-meter and the long jump, and regards the latter two as her favorites. Bruckner holds the school record in the 200 with a time of 26.4 seconds.
"I broke it when we were at NYU sophomore year," she said. Bruckner had been close to breaking the record, a fact of which she was oblivious for some time. "I didn't realize it until [head coach] Dennis Harris told me how close I was. When I actually set the school record, I knew immediately because NYU has a really nice track with a huge scoreboard, so I saw it right away. It was really exciting," she said.
She doesn't have a specific pre-race routine. "I don't listen to music or anything like that to get pumped up," said Bruckner. "I do have a reputation for not warming up too much. I've spent four years arguing with coaches about that. I just don't like it."
The senior captain laughed when asked what goes through her mind during a race. "Our coaches always say that the problem with Case kids is that they think too much," said Bruckner. "You just need to react to the gun and go. You train and train so you get some muscle memory that takes care of the mechanics. After four years, I think I finally have that part down. The only thing I think about is catching the person in front of me."
As a captain, Bruckner has responsibilities beyond her individual event. "We have a young team, so a lot of what I do is telling the underclassmen what to expect because I've been through it before," she said. "If there's a disagreement with a coach, the student will come to us so we can help them understand what's going on."
Coach Harris praised Bruckner's commitment. "In the 24 years I've been coaching, she is one of the most dedicated athletes I've ever coached," he said. "Emily works full-time, dealing with life and death, and still excels at track. She's the only senior on the women's team that has been on the team all four years. It's been a privilege to see her mature as an athlete and as a person."
After graduation, Bruckner hopes to continue running. "I'd like to keep running, maybe in a league or a club. I'd love to coach track someday."
