CAS Student Analysa Isaac Represents the Regent Royals at the 2018 NCCAA Track and Field Nationals

Ready. Set. Bang! At the sound of a starter pistol, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) student Analysa Isaac ’18 sprinted toward the finish line in the Women’s 60 Meter Dash, becoming Regent University’s first athlete to compete in the NCCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Nationals at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio.

At that moment, every early morning practice and conditioning session was put to the ultimate test. This single race was the fruit of the daily sacrifice she has made for the past year.

Isaac is more than a person with a body that can do the extraordinary. Here’s an insight into the heart behind the athletic ability— the heart of a true Regent Royal.

What were you thinking going into the competition?

“Going into nationals, my mindset was, ‘Alright, I’m just gonna run for Jesus.’ I mean, it was nerve-wracking because I’d never gone to a meet like that before. It was just an amazing experience overall.”

What about the encouragement from your team? Which messages from them impacted you the most?

“A lot of scriptures they threw out to me. Also, just the motivation from them. Some of them were like, ‘Lysa, you’ve got this. Just run. Don’t think about it. You can do this.’”

At the end of the race, you found out you broke a personal record . Did you feel like you accomplished much?

“Yes, I felt very accomplished when I saw my PR! I was happy that I ran with a fast group of girls because they really pushed me, and [because of that] my overall time came down, so I was very pleased.”

Do you have any advice for people who are looking into running track or even hoping to go to Nationals someday?

“Yes, of course! Just keep God first, and just keep working hard. It’s all about hard work and dedication. Those two things are definitely what got me the opportunity.”

Anything you’d like to say to the coaches?

“Yes, I just want to say thank you for the opportunity. I really appreciate it. Y’all are some of the best coaches I’ve had, and I love you guys. I really do. Thank you for believing in me when I have had doubts sometimes about myself.”

Regardless of the accolades and the accomplishment, Isaac’s heart, determination, humility, and sweet spirit perfectly represent what it means to be a Royal. She is fierce, strong and confident in the Lord’s ability to do mighty things through her. Though she reached a huge milestone by participating in the national competition, she is not done yet. Isaac is currently training for the 2018 outdoor season, where she will hopefully get the opportunity to represent Regent again at the national level.