Olympic dreams are real for local runners

(Above) Ventura graduate Andrea Toppin (left) and Alana (Enabnit) Scarano, who ran at Clear Lake High School, will compete in the Olympic Trial for marathon runners in February 2020. -Submitted photo.

by Marianne Gasaway

A pair of local runners who each captured state titles in high school and success in the collegiate ranks will test their talents in the 2020 Olympic trials for marathon runners in Atlanta, Ga., in February.

“Qualifying for an Olympic Trials has been something I have always dreamed about. Even before I fully could comprehend what that fully meant, I knew I wanted to be in a position to compete with some of the best athletes in the country on the same stage,” said Alana (Enabnit) Scarano.

The same story holds true for Andrea Toppin.

“I feel as if the Olympics are in the back of every high level athlete’s mind whether high school, college, or beyond.  I have never taken the thought seriously.  I have always just thought of the idea as ‘what if’ more so than a reality.”

In 2011, high school seniors Enabnit and Toppin were two of the best distance runners in the state.  Enabnit, who ran at Clear Lake High School, stayed in the sport as an undergrad at Wartburg College, earning two NCAA titles and becoming a five-time All-American.  Toppin chose Iowa State University after graduating Ventura and was a member of it’s Big 12 championship teams in 2012, 2013 and 2014.  She was an NCAA cross country qualifier, as well as a top 10

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finisher in steeplechase as a member of ISU’s Big 12 champion outdoor track team.

Both women say they felt ready to give up competitive running after college.  Injuries had become chronic and post-graduate studies and opportunities were calling.  But it wasn’t that easy.

“I wanted to go to grad school, and in the process of looking for options I had the coach at California Baptist University reach out to me and give me another chance to use my last year of NCAA eligibility.  I fell in love with the sport again, and from there I have made a long journey back to consistent health,” said Scarano.  “Honestly, after the first marathon I ever watched I knew I wanted to be good at the event, and qualify for an Olympic trials. This goal kept my competitive fire alive. I love the sport and the people it has introduced me to, and that is why I do this.”

After college, Toppin said she was completely set on just running recreationally.  “I was sick of competing and pretty burnt out. I had a lot of injuries in college and a lot of wear and tear on my body and mind. One of my former teammates at Iowa State convinced me to run the Twin Cities Marathon during my first year of chiropractic school because he thought I had a future in marathon running. I thought he was crazy because in college the most I had ever raced was barely four miles in cross country (6k), there was no way I could race 26.2 miles. I didn’t train very well at all, and I ended up placing 10th female overall with a time of 2:53. I took about six-months off and focused on chiropractic school. Then in May 2018, I decided I wanted to go for the Olympic Trials standard of 2:45:00.  In December of 2018, I set an 11-minute personal record and qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials in the marathon running 2:42:12. It was an amazing feeling, and that’s when I regained my love for running.”

Scarano posted her qualifying time for the Olympic trials more recently.  On Nov. 9, she secured her spot by running 2:44:23 at the CNO Indianapolis Monumental Marathon.

Scarano currently resides in Huntsville, Ala. and is a coach for a company called RunningLane which does coaching, race timing and puts on events.  She works with everyone from new runners and high performing high school athletes to experienced adult runners.

“I am blessed to work with some awesome people. My own athletes inspire me and make me have an appreciation for the sport in every stage. My job, though still a job, really allows me some flexibility with my own training.”

Both women enjoy great support from their families and attribute a good share of their success to them.

“My husband is my best teammate in life and running. He coaches me and actually runs himself. It makes our training and life balance that much easier because we can work together and have a lot of fun along the way,” said Scarano.

Toppin is currently a chiropractic intern in St. Paul, Minn.  While she works with patients of all kinds, she wants to specialize in treating endurance athletes once she becomes a chiropractor next year.

“While school can be very stressful, it provides free treatment and rehab for my training,” she said.  “I train alongside Team USA MN (a professional running team in the Twin Cities). Their head coach is my coach, as well, so I have access to a lot of their training facilities.”  Toppin’s brother, Joel, also lives nearby and the two run together often.  “He is my training buddy and a huge part of my success.  I also am currently sponsored by Oiselle, a women’s running apparel company. I am a part of their professional team called the Haute Volee, which is a group of emerging elite women who have the goal of competing at the highest level in running.”

According to Scarano, the women competing for the top three placements and a spot on the Olympic team have all run under a 2:26 marathon, so the local runners have their work cut out for them to keep their Olympic dreams alive.

“The Marathon Olympic Trials are going to be stacked, so my goal is to finish within the top 20-50 women,” said Toppin. “ I think that would be amazing in itself as 400 women have qualified, I believe.  Many pro women in that field have been my role models growing up, so to be able to be a part if that is a dream come true.”

“I am totally blessed with a family and support system that has instilled that ‘You can do whatever you put your mind to, if you work for it’ attitude in me,” said Scarano.  “I am so fortunate to have learned all I have through trials of the sport because that has made working for this so much sweeter.”

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