If the truth be told,
Sara Manning wasn't even considering competing in track and field in college. The Belleville High School graduate was thinking about studying criminal justice at either Montclair State or Rutgers-Newark and was prepared to put running track in the rear view mirror.
"I wasn't really thinking about running track," Manning said. "I really wasn't planning on it."
But then Manning met Chelsea Washington and things suddenly changed. Washington was a graduate assistant coach at Rutgers-Newark, where she excelled for four years and earned All-New Jersey Athletic Conference honors three times. Washington was a member of four different relay teams that set school records during her career.
It was Washington, a native of Newark, who changed Manning's life for the better.
"At one track meet, she came down to me and said hello," Manning said. "She told me to keep in contact with her. She was just sweet and nice. Her personality was positive and upbeat. It kind of drew me to her."
So Manning decided to attend Rutgers-Newark and because of Washington's influence, Manning joined the Scarlet Raiders' track and field program.
There was only one obstacle. Head coach
Juan Edney requires all of his athletes to compete in cross country.
"I ran cross country in high school, but I'm more of a sprinter," Manning said. "But if it was something that I had to do, I was ready for it. After a while, I got used to it."
Edney liked what he saw in Manning's physicality.
"She was a promising athlete," Edney said. "She could do legitimate push-ups and clap her hands while doing the push-ups. She's a pretty strong girl."
And Manning made an immediate impact as a freshman.
"She became our No. 1 runner in cross country," Edney said. "She thinks she's a sprinter, but I think she realized that she can run anything. She doesn't like running distances, but she can."
During the indoor and outdoor seasons, Manning settled in as a key member of the team.
"She can run anything from the 400 [meter run] to the 800 [meter run]," Edney said. "She ran a 60 [seconds] flat in the 400. She just has that raw talent. I was telling her all year that she wasn't a sprinter and she started to realize that maybe I was right."
"He knows what's best for me," Manning said of Edney. "Last season was the first time I ever ran the 800. It was all brand new to me, all new experiences. I thought it was crazy, but I did it."
Manning was part of the Scarlet Raiders' 4x400-meter relay team that won the East Coast Athletic Conference championship last spring.
So it was safe to say that the promise was evident and potential was strong for Manning.
But then Manning hit an obstacle. She worked in her job delivering groceries for a local supermarket and didn't train for her sophomore season.
"I just got too busy," Manning said. "I was taking a summer class, then I was working. I was trying to work to get back into shape. I wanted to do what I did, but I wish that I had trained."
"She didn't train over the summer and she came back out of shape," Edney said. "She really needs to focus. She came back and was like our fourth or fifth runner in cross country after being our best last year. She really was struggling because she was out of shape."
Edney said that Manning has been working diligently on returning to form.
"I think she's coming around," Edney said. "She's moved back up to being our No. 3 [runner in cross country] now. We're using the cross country season as training for indoor and outdoor. She needs to consistently do her drills, to take the ice baths, to lift weights. She needs to be more dedicated and consistent."
Manning knows that she hurt her chances to succeed by failing to train over the summer break.
"It's a little frustrating," Manning said. "I know I could do better. I'm working hard to get back."
Manning is majoring in criminal justice at R-N, with the hope of getting into law enforcement.
"Maybe I could be a police officer," Manning said. "Maybe I could work for a detective agency. I always watched police dramas on TV. They intrigued me, shows like Blue Bloods. It's like doing a puzzle, solving the mystery."
Edney loves Manning's personality.
"She's a nice, quiet girl," Edney said. "She really works hard during the season. If she took it more seriously, she could be one hell of a runner."
Manning said that she has learned a valuable lesson by not training after a successful freshman campaign.
"I am working to get my times down," Manning said. "I'm trying really hard to get my PR (personal records). As the meets go on, I feel like I'm getting stronger. I'm looking forward to the rest of the year."
Manning is also looking forward to the next three years with the Scarlet Raiders.
"I'm real glad I came here," Manning said. "If I went someplace else and didn't run, I wouldn't have the experiences I've had or met the people I've met that are in my life now. I'm enjoying myself big time every day."
