Senior distance runner Abby Regan wasn’t sure she could compete last weekend at the Husky Classic in Seattle, let alone break a school record.

A hamstring injury late last year ended Regan’s cross country season just before regionals. Two-and-a-half months of rehab followed, with just a few weeks of training before the current indoor track season.

“That was a little bit gut-wrenching,” Regan said. “Especially coming towards the end of the season where I had made a lot of progress and it looked I was going to make it to nationals.”

Regan said it hurt to have her hamstring fail right at the moment that it shouldn’t — the most important race of her year at that point in the season. She spent the next couple months lying low back home in Australia, working her way up from running two minutes a day to ten.

Her teammate, junior distance runner CharLee Linton, said Regan’s work ethic is incredible.

“She somehow manages to work hard at practice, keep up with schoolwork, spend an excessive amount of hours in the studio, and still have energy to be the team leader we need right now,” Linton said. “I don’t know how she gets sleep, and judging by her studio snap chats at 2 a.m., I don’t think she does.”

In Pullman, Regan interweaved cross-training exercises like swimming and stationary biking. She said she still spends two hours rehabbing after practice, which takes up a lot of time — time that is extremely precious in the life of any student athlete.

When last weekend’s race in Seattle came around, Regan said she was excited just to be a participant. What she did next was go on to set a school record in the mile with a time of 4:43.91.

“That was really exciting,” Regan said. “To be able to break the record on my first race was something I really wanted to do, but I wasn’t sure my body was quite up to it.”

For perspective, most people are thrilled to see their mile time around the six or seven minute mark. Throw in a hamstring injury, and they forget about running all together.

Head Coach Wayne Phipps said it was especially exciting for him to see Regan break the record because it is the first time he ever coached an athlete at WSU to break a school record.

“School records in track are a huge accomplishment, especially at a place like WSU that has such a strong tradition in track and field,” Phipps said. “She was very excited about the record and to get her name beside one of the greatest distance runners in the history of the sport (and WSU indoor mile record holder for the men), Bernard Lagat.”

Phipps said Regan’s work ethic and desire propelled her into being the successful athlete she is today.

“Her sweet demeanor off the track is belied by her toughness on the track,” Phipps said. “She is an awesome competitor who has the ability to battle through even when very tired.”

Linton said it is Regan’s fearlessness on the track that sets her apart from other distance runners.

“She’s gutsy,” Linton said. “While I was shocked, I knew it was her give-it-your-all attitude that got her name up there next to Bernard Lagats’ in the record book.”

Regan’s story is a unique one, considering she came to WSU to complete her master’s in interior design after completing her undergraduate degree in Australia. She was granted two years of eligibility after committing to WSU for their facilities.

She said running in America has afforded her opportunities Australia couldn’t.

“In Australia, we have some high-quality runners, but not at the depth that America does,” Regan said. “It’s a chance to race overseas, which I never had the opportunity to do before.”

Regan said she’s learned a lot about the different styles of training, and will apply those as she sticks around helping the team next year while she finishes her master’s.

“Coach Phipps is very educated, so I’ve been learning a lot about training, and how to compete which Australia doesn’t offer,” Regan said. “Just knowing how to race people you’ve never raced before and to push yourself to higher standards.”

Linton said Regan already takes on a leadership role with the team. She said that while Regan is focused on her own success, she takes time to check in with younger runners’ training, injuries and overall well-being.

“Personally, she is one person I go to to get advice from on or off the track,” Linton said. “Aside from just pep talks and heart-to-hearts, she once offered herself to be a pacer for a 3k race where I was trying to hit a specific time.”

For now, Regan will look to finish her senior season strong, and try to qualify for nationals in the mile – an event she wants to shave about six seconds off her times for. Linton said Regan isn’t done yet, and she is excited to see a lot more success from her.