Prior to Friday's 1-mile preliminaries at the ACC Track and Field Indoor Championship at Virginia Tech Ashley Verplank had never worn a North Carolina track jersey.
By the end of the title meet Verplank was the only Tar Heel to score in the women's 1-mile run helping the UNC women's track and field team to a second place finish in her first match under the banner of North Carolina.
Having been unable to run due to injury" the freshman only had one chance to qualify for ACC Championships — last weekend's Virginia Tech Challenge.
""The entire week was back and forth about" ‘You're going. Wait no you're not"'"" Verplank said. ""Two hours before I left"" I found out that I would have the opportunity to race.""
Because she had yet to run all season" Verplank was ineligible to travel with the team. Instead of taking the team bus to Blacksburg Va." she had to hitch a ride with a teammate who offered at the last minute.
""When I found out I had the opportunity to go to VT" I looked at it as a win-win situation Verplank said. I could run well and be a part of the ACC squad" or I could run poorly but at least see where I was at and grow and develop from there.""
But her road to the ACCs began well before last week. Verplank ran cross country in the fall season for UNC" finishing as high as second on the team in one meet.
But the distance runner was having problems with her heels. In September doctors and trainers diagnosed it as plantar fasciitis" an inflammatory condition in the arches on the foot.
""I ran on it to the point that I ended up limping to the starting line and (barely) walking by the time I reached the finish line"" Verplank said.
With cross country cut short, her upcoming indoor track season looked doubtful. But Verplank wasn't ready to give up hope. She went to the trainer every day from September through February.
Though conscious of staying off her feet, she began to cross train. Verplank stayed in the pool, on the exercise bike and on the elliptical.
Those are some lonely hours in rehab — especially for a freshman"" coach Dennis Craddock said. I was so surprised when she took charge like that. She's kept herself in incredible shape.""
Those lonely hours gave way to doubts for Verplank. The countless hours in the pool and on the bike began to weigh on the Bloomington" Ill." native.
""It was rough not knowing whether I would be able to make it back in time to run indoor" Verplank said. My mentality of racing and being good gradually faded and I was struggling to want to stay here in North Carolina" because that is ultimately why I came here.""
Coach Craddock asked Verplank if she would consider a medical redshirt"" but she wanted to get back as soon as she could.
""She's a ferocious athlete"" Craddock said. You can see fire in her eyes. She brings it to practice. I know she's a fierce competitor.""
At the Virginia Tech Challenge" Verplank had to run unattached meaning she was not able to wear a UNC jersey or be considered part of the team.
Verplank won her heat and finished sixth in the finals with a time of 4:53.57 setting up the opportunity to run at the ACC Championships.
On Friday Verplank finally donned Carolina blue and finished fifth in her heat the fastest of the three heats and advanced to the finals with the ninth-fastest time in the prelims. The freshman finished sixth in the finals" in which Florida State's Susan Kuijken notched an ACC record in the event.
""I went my own pace and did my own thing" Verplank said. I was running second-to-last" and on the last lap I had enough to catch three girls.""
Verplank" being the fierce competitor Craddock described" was upset she didn't place higher in the event. But she was also aware that her three points was ""better than nothing"" and helped separate the national 13th ranked Heels from the competition.
""Of course" the baby blue is always cute Verplank said of getting to wear the UNC jersey.
It's about team" it's about trying to do something for the team and finally representing something more than just yourself.""
ACC Championship final results
Men's championships
1. Florida State 124 points
2. Virginia Tech 98.5
3. Virginia 94
4. North Carolina 61.5
Women's championships
1. Florida State 132 points
2. North Carolina 104
3. Clemson 85
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
