Run, Forrester, run!

Sometimes the real challenge for athletes isn’t being the best but proving that they can get better.

That challenge brought Jessica Forrester to the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Forrester, a senior on the Rainbow Wahine cross-country team, was a 2008 Division II All-American at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla. There, she won the NCAA South Regional Championship and placed 16th at nationals.

But despite her success at the Division II level and having only one year of eligibility left, Forrester decided to transfer.

“I wanted a new challenge,” Forrester said. “I already accomplished all I wanted at Tampa, so it was time to expand my horizons a little bit.”

Forrester knew of current cross-country and track and field assistant coach Althea Belgrave while Forrester was at Tampa. Belgrave was an assistant coach on Florida State’s cross-country team prior to UH, and when Forrester found out Belgrave was coaching the ’Bows, she jumped at the opportunity.

“I knew that Althea worked with (head) coach (Bob) Braman at FSU, so I knew she would put together a good program,” Forrester said. “I just wanted to be part of something up-and-coming, and UH is definitely the place to be.”

So far the move has been good for both Forrester and UH.

Forrester placed second in the first meet of the season and won the Big Wave Invitational in Kāne‘ohe in September. She was named the Western Athletic Conference Cross-Country Athlete of the Week following her first-place finish and has been among the top three UH runners in meets since then.

“Jessica is a very committed young lady with a good work ethic and strength of character, and who is committed to challenging herself both on and off the field,” Belgrave said. “(And) she not only challenges herself but she has the uncanny ability to bring this quality out in her teammates.

“She looks forward to the challenges and new experiences at the Division I level,” Belgrave continued.

“I really enjoy the program here,” Forrester said. “There is more of a professional attitude and I am more drawn to that, so (transferring) was definitely worth it.”

This was also Forrester’s first time away from her hometown of Tampa.

“I am still adjusting – I didn’t realize how comfortable I was at Tampa and how much of a routine I was in,” Forrester said. “My whole world was flipped upside-down when I came here because I’m so far from home and my family.

“I definitely don’t miss the Florida humidity, though,” she continued.

Forrester began running competitively at 10 years old. She graduated in 2006 from Wharton High School in Tampa, where she lettered in cross-country for three years and track for two.

“I’ve played a lot of sports, but running has always been my main passion,” said Forrester, who also said she loves to line dance.

And yes, she has heard the line “Run, Forrest, run!” from the movie “Forrest Gump” quite a few times.

“I’ve heard that pretty much every race since middle school,” she said. “It’s pretty entertaining, and I would feel weird if I didn’t hear it!”

Cross-country has also been good for her mind and spirit.

“Running has saved my sanity many times,” Forrester said. “A lot of people only see running superficially, and that’s why they hate it. They think that running is boring and painful.

“(But) once you get past that mentality, you will see that running not only relaxes your mind but it stimulates it as well.”

Forrester is majoring in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on landscaping and plant studies. She is aiming to graduate in Spring 2011.

“If you are involved in college athletics and have a plan for your career, then that should be your main focus,” Forrester said. “You should not let anyone take your goals from you or distract you – that’s the most important lesson I’ve learned since I’ve been out here.”

She has also picked up a couple of other things while in Hawai‘i. Forrester said she loves Yogurtland and going to Hanauma Bay.

“When I get any spare time whatsoever, I like to hang out at the beach or just catch up on my homework. … I’m kind of boring I guess,” Forrester joked.

Upon graduation, Forrester said she’d like to find a way to increase the quality of food that consumers buy and also continue running.

“I want to run professionally someday,” she said, “so hopefully I can use this experience in a (Division I) program to help propel myself higher in a couple years.”

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