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Hannah Fields Makes the Transition From NAIA to Professional

Hannah Fields Makes the Transition From NAIA to Professional

Jun 5, 2015 by Taylor Dutch
Hannah Fields Makes the Transition From NAIA to Professional




By Chris Lotsbom for Race Results Weekly

CONCORD, Mass. (05-Jun) -- Among the field of 18 athletes lined up for the women's Adro Mile at the Hoka One One Adrian Martinez Classic last night, Hannah Fields stood out. Taller than the nearly all of her competitors, Fields rose above her peers, her fit frame accented with a white bow perched atop her hair.

After the starting gun sounds, Fields (formerly Hannah Helker) again stood out -- this time thanks to her aggressive racing style, not afraid or held back by her relative inexperience at the elite level. In what was her professional racing debut on Thursday, the native of Edmond, Okla., stayed up front the entire race, rubbing elbows with the likes of IAAF World Championships qualifier Cory McGee, eventual winner Nicole Tully, past NCAA standouts Emily Lipari, Rachel Schneider and Amanda Eccleston, as well as Olympian Genevieve LaCaze.

Even though she graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University --a small National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school located in Shawnee, Okla.-- less than a month ago, Fields felt right at home charging hard in the final stretch of this professional competition. In a very close finish at the stripe, Tully was declared the winner, though both athletes were timed in 4:31.4.

"She barely got me, but great finish on her part. I gave it everything I had so I can't be disappointed," Fields told Race Results Weekly. "I was super-overwhelmed at first, you know, in a field of people who are just as good if not better than me, so I was trying to just stay clam and focus on what I had to do."

Reflecting and analyzing her race, Fields sounded like a seasoned veteran.

"It got out fairly slow. I was a little wary of that because I was trying to drop my times more. But then they really started picking up the pace and I started to doubt in myself just a little bit, but I knew as long as I stayed on [until] the end I have somewhat of a kick so I might be able to kick some of them," she said.

The jump for any athlete from collegiate competition to the professional ranks can be a tough one. Typically, a small group of the top echelon of graduates from the NCAA Division I level go on to attempt elite careers. Not so often does one go from the NAIA level to the pros.

After graduating from North High School in Edmond, Okla., Fields chose to go to Oklahoma Baptist University, a school of roughly 2,000 students, for practical reasons: development and balance.

"In high school, I was a little bit more immature. I was motivated by my fear of failing which really hindered my love for track," Fields explained, a smile on her face talking about her younger self. "I didn't want to go somewhere where track would be my life at first. Ever since the NAIA, beginning with Coach Ford Mastin at OBU, I've just grown to love it and now I am more than happy to run and compete everyday."

Under Mastin, Fields has flourished. This year alone she earned seven NAIA National titles in indoor and outdoor track.

In 2015, Fields has won 18 of 20 races, including a very impressive 4:13.26 victory in the 1500m at the Payton Jordan Invitational, where she defeated Phoebe Wright, Sammy Silva, Amanda Smith, and Violah Lagat. She also won the 1500m at the prestigious Drake Relays.

"[The NAIA was] definitely different. I really appreciated the NAIA because it really helped develop my love for the sport. I wouldn't change it for the world, staying at OBU and choosing to go there," she said.

Toeing the line against the professionals on Thursday while still wearing her OBU uniform, Fields raced with savvy and an intelligence beyond her age. Even though she finished second, Fields thrived off the increased level of competition.

Right now, Fields is focused on the next chapter. She is being managed by Chris Layne at Total Sports US, Inc., and is actively seeking a training group and sponsorship. For now she is still training at OBU in Shawnee, Okla., under Mastin. Yet that will likely change shortly.

"It's familiar as I transition to this whole new world. Its nice to have some familiarity," she said, describing her current training situation during the search period. "I'm looking forward for sure."

With what looks like a very bright future ahead, Fields is focused on the short term. In addition to finding the right training situation, she's determined to achieve the USA Championships qualifying standard for 1500m (4:09.50). That would provide valuable experience, something she's soaking up each meet she goes to.

"If I qualify, I would love to go," she said in a slight Oklahoma drawl. "I just love running and the more I do it the better I feel so hopefully I get to make it there."

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