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Volume CXXXIII, Number 4 |
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Learning about the life of a superstar
ALLIE YANIKOSKI
STAFF WRITER
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| Lynne Davies '04, co-captain of the Women's Cross Country team, always remembers to smile and keep her sense of humor at practice. (Nancy Van Dyke, Bowdoin Orient) |
Lynne Davies, senior co-captain of the cross country, indoor and outdoor track teams, biology and art history double-major, repeat winner of the team's "Most Jacked" competition, and hopeful environmental lawyer, does it all. "I just can't believe that she can stay so enthusiastic about all of her activities when her to-do list is miles long," says teammate and roommate Ellen Beth '05.
Beth said of Davies, she "has this crazy biology honors project, she's a teaching assistant in art history, she's studying for the LSAT's, she has more team captain duties than anyone else I can think of - and when she comes home at night she still has the energy to joke around."
"Lynne is a very outgoing person who you immediately like because of her sense of humor," said fellow roommate and teammate Katie Landry '05. "Lynne is very friendly and has an optimistic attitude toward anything. She has a deep dedication to the cross country and track teams and is incredibly motivated in just about everything she does."
Aaron Goldstein '05, a member of the Men's Cross Country Team, "thinks Lynne's sense of humor stands out above everything. Lynne attempts at making even the worst situations into a comical event. That is how she deals with the rigor of academics and athletics."
"Lynne is evidence of pure hard work," said Goldstein. "She started cross country sophomore year after years of soccer, which requires a completely different training plan. After much adversity, she has made the top seven. Lynne just wanted it!"
After playing soccer the fall of her freshman year, Davies did not feel satisfied with her ensuing track seasons. "I was not improving my times enough in the 800 and 600, and I wanted to beat my high school times," said Davies. "I thought that switching to cross country would help me to attain my goals."
Davies began running competitively in middle school. Her father was a nationally-ranked collegiate hammer thrower, and "running has always been a family activity." However, Davies has continued to run through college because she "love[s] the girls on the team, and likes to feel in shape and be competitive."
"The team is so lucky to have Lynne's presence," said Landry. "She is a great leader who always has the team's best interest at heart. When a workout needs to get done Lynne is all business, but she can definitely pump up the team and get us psyched for our races or just make us laugh on regular distance days. She's a great role model for the first-years and even the sophomores, juniors, and her fellow seniors."
As a captain, Davies strives to be a role model for her teammates. "I want the other girls on the team to feel how much love I have for the sport, and hopefully that will transfer to them," she said. "After four years I hope that my teammates say that running at Bowdoin had an influence on their lives, and a good impact."
Her teammates feel that she herself is a significant (and very positive) impact on their Bowdoin running experiences. "Lynne is probably the most dedicated person on the team - not only through her training, but also through her commitment to the other girls," said Beth. "Without her displays of enthusiasm I don't think we would do as much together as a team. She's like a really stable net that keeps us together."
Perhaps Davies plays such an integral role on the team because she looks for the same characteristics from her teammates that they admire in her. Lynne expects "enthusiasm, commitment, optimism, and discipline, but not over-discipline" from her fellow athletes.
Ascribing her own success to "a perfect balance between academics and athletics," Davies sees the tendency toward excessive discipline as detrimental to both the individual and the team. "Running should be a healthy aspect of your life, and there should not be so much pressure that it becomes a stressful activity," she says.
Many members of the team praise Davies for her attitude. Goldstein said that is because "she maintains a very healthy lifestyle by always getting enough sleep and eating properly. Both men and women on the team could benefit by following Lynne around for a day." However, Davies's personality is of equal importance on the team. "She also addresses problems within the team and looks out for everyone," Goldstein said. "Lynne has this innate ability to identify problems before they become severe. That is what makes her an integral part of the team."
Davies may well be considered the geist of the cross country and track teams. A dominant force on the teams, Lynne inspires and motivates her fellow runners through her loyalty to both the sport and her teammates.
"I can tell her anything and I just know she'll understand me," said Goldstein. "I never feel like I have to worry about offending her." Beth agree and adds "she's got your back anytime something's bringing you down - she has a great sympathetic ear."
Davies is the rare athlete who comes to practice with the equal priorities of helping herself and her teammates. As much as Lynne says that she runs for "the physical challenge and the triumph after a hard workout," she emphasizes that "the most important part is running with the team." On the rare day that Lynne cannot practice with the team, her tireless energy and passion for everything from seven-minute abs to heartfelt talks leave a distressing void.
"I have truly never met anyone like her before," said Goldstein.
As a teammate and shameless worshipper of Lynne Davies, I know that at
least I never will again.
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