LYNN — The City of Lynn has produced some standout athletes, and its latest one recently made history. Lynn Classical alumna Rachel Brennan became the first runner in Gordon College history to earn U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-American honors.
Last spring, as a senior at Gordon (Wenham, Mass.), Brennan went to South Carolina to compete in the NCAA Division 3 Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. Brennan qualified for nationals in the 10,000-meter race (35:16.00). She was one of 22 runners to qualify. On the day of the event, she finished 12th, which was good enough to earn her All-American Second Team honors.
“It [feels] good because I know Gordon hasn’t always been seen as an athletic school. It’s starting to increase more and more in the last couple of years. I think it’s cool because other schools, maybe, haven’t heard of Gordon and when someone does well from the school, it definitely sticks out and it’s good to bring a positive light to the school,” Brennan said. “I’m hoping more people who come in see that I was able to do this, and they believe it’s possible to have the same goals.”
Leading up to the spring track season, Brennan said it was a goal of her coach, Cordon Louco, to make All-America during cross country in the fall. Unfortunately for Brennan, she didn’t accomplish that goal, but it made her work even harder to try and earn the feat in the spring.
“It was a goal in cross country to get All-American honors because it’s top 40… I got 63rd. My coach was the one who put it in my head that it’s possible,” Brennan said. “I did really well, but I was disappointed because it wasn’t the goal we set out. We decided that I needed to commit more things to running and spend more time with it during the day [regarding] the recovery side of it and lifting – even eating to make sure I get enough protein right after I run. My whole life had to really turn into running for everything to go right in the spring.”
And come springtime, Brennan was reaching new heights with no injuries to derail her, but it wasn’t smooth sailing, since she had to compete in the southern heat.
“It was hot. I wasn’t used to that. Here in the spring, it’s… 40s and 50s. But my coach would make me wear long sleeves and leggings, even when it was, like, 60 degrees, so that I was used to the heat the entire spring,” Brennan said. “The whole summer, I was thinking that it was so annoying, but I’m glad I did it. It was definitely helpful to adjust a little bit because that was all we could do.”
Despite the heat, Brennan made history. But if it wasn’t for a soccer teammate during her freshman year at Lynn Classical – as well as her coach’s motivation – she may not have given track a shot.
“I had a coach my freshman year in high school named Scott Fiore, and he was really helpful. I started running track because one of the seniors on my soccer team told me I should do track because I didn’t have a spring sport, and since she was a senior, I knew I had to do it. I started running track and coach Fiore had me do the mile and the 2-mile,” Brennan said. “One of my first races, I got second place and my coach was like, ‘Man, I’ve got another second-place runner. I thought I finally got a first-place runner.’ That lit my fire. He was really helpful and I work really well with coaches who get under my skin, because it was never anything mean.”
Brennan still comes home, where she enjoys going back to Lynn Woods and catching up with old friends.
“I really love Lynn and I loved growing up there. You go to school with so many different types of people. Everyone is totally different and that’s not the case in every town. It’s nice to get to meet people who are different than you,” Brennan said. “I’ve always treated that and I hope to have the same thing for my family when I’m older.”
“It’s nice to come back home during the summer and see people during the Lynn Woods run and they’re super excited for me, and I get to see all the people who supported me during high school,” she added. “It feels good to come back and talk to them about it and they care so much. I hope that means as much to them as it means to me.”
Due to COVID-19, Brennan has one more year of eligibility. She looks to become an All-American runner once again – this time, in cross country.
