Lawrences: Sister Act Shines

by Marc Bloom

They're certainly not the first pair of sisters to excel in high school distance running, but the Lawrence sisters of Reno High in Nevada--Collier, a senior, and Mel, a freshman--may be the first to run first and second in every cross-country race all season including some high-profile events with top national talent.

Collier's the strong-minded sister. "It's my mentality. I have to be up front in a race. I can't be in the back of the pack."

Mel's the one with the immaculate form. "My coach says I have a perfect stride. When I run with a teammate, we look down at our feet and laugh. Our strides are the same." Collier's the older and wiser sister. "I try to make sure the team does the right thing and makes us look good at meets," she said. "I think it's more important what you do off the course than on it."

Mel's the spontaneous one. In her state cross-country race last November in Reno, Mel chewed gum while competing. It didn't seem to matter. She crossed the finish together with Collier, who was inches ahead for the victory. The girls were 88 seconds ahead of the field in the 5,000-meter race, leading nationally-ranked Reno to the class 4A girls team title with a mere 22 points.

Collier, who trains with the Reno boys squad, can be spontaneous too. Well, for her, impulse has become more of a routine, like when she must compete in her "chili pepper socks"--her running socks with the chili pepper design. Sporting those last fall, Collier was undefeated during the regular season, with victories in prestigious California meets like the Stanford and Mount San Antonio College invitationals. In each meet, Collier was right behind. No other runner was close.

At Stanford, the sisters ran 17:34 and 17:40 for 5,000. Third-place was 17:54. At Mt. SAC, the sisters ran 17:32 and 17:33 for 5k. Third-place was 18:03.

Their racing strategy is simple. Collier, the impatient one, "just goes hard when I hear the gun." Mel, the young pup, follows. And before you know it, they've got victory (and runnerup) in hand. Anything that interrupts that system can be jarring.

Take the time last fall in a cross-country meet in northern California. While leading, Collier was mis-directed off the course by an official. Mel, second, was stunned. Where did her big sis go?

Finally, Collier turned around and got back on course. "There were ten people ahead of me, and I sprinted back to the front," said Collier. Mel was leading and as Collier pulled alongside, Mel asked her, "Do you want me to sing to you?"

When's the last time a lead runner--or any runner, for that matter--got serenaded in a cross-country race?

"She started singing one of our team warmup songs," said Collier. "She felt sorry for me and thought the song would make me feel better." The practical one, Collier told Mel, "Save your breath and run."

Mel may get her charming quirkiness from her name. It's not really Mel. It's Marie Elizabeth Lawrence. Long before she was a runner, in fact when she drew her first breaths 14 years ago, parents Jack and Lee took the first initials of her names and came up with: Mel.

Mel's game for anything. She took years of dance and admits she was pretty good. Then she followed Collier into running, winning city titles in middle school. Collier has won five state championships in track and cross-country. Her best track times last year were 4:57 for 1600 meters and 10:43 for the 3200. She hopes to add more titles and run faster this spring.

Mel will be content to follow Collier, and then, next season, the state titles could be hers for the taking. Reno coach Bruce Susong, 71, a local legend who also coaches the Silver State Striders youth program, said that while Collier is the most conscientious runner he's ever had, Mel may have the gifts to go farther.

"Everyone who sees Mel run comes up to me and says, 'Boy, her stride is perfect.' She exudes talent," said Susong, who still runs himself, far behind the sisters of course.

The Lawrence family credits Susong for the girls' progress. "Bruce walks on water," said Lee Lawrence. "He's like a race horse trainer who looks at a horse and says, 'That horse needs early morning gallops.' Bruce can do that. He brings out so much talent in his runners."

Collier and Mel have two coaches, apparently the best of two worlds. In addition to Susong, the training guru, Reno is coached by Roland Martin, a lawyer who handles administrative work, academics and college choices and scholarships.

Little is left to chance at Reno High. And Collier can be sure that if she falters in a track race this spring, Mel will pull up with a beautiful stride and a song in her heart to make her feel better.

Collier went on to Washington State. In fall '04, Mel took her second straight 2 nd -place in the Foot Locker nationals.

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