Following in her father’s running shoes, Rosary Academy junior Allyson Rahlwes began competing in track as a middle-school student. But the turning point for her in the sport was when she was a freshman participating in the Beach Cities Track & Field Invitational. She entered the 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m relay races, as well as the long jump, and won every one of them.
“I got first (place) in all of those events, and I was really excited about that,” Rahlwes recalls. “That made me want to continue to do track.”
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Since then, Rahlwes has added the 400m, the 4 x 400m relay race and the triple jump to her repertoire, making her a dual threat as both a sprinter and a jumper. But she has her preferences.
“Out of all of those events, my favorites would have to be the 200 (meter race) and the long jump,” she says.
Representing the Royals on the track is special for the three-year varsity runner, allowing her to showcase both her strengths as an athlete and the strengths of her school. Rahlwes’ focus this season is on achieving personal bests, as well as helping her team qualify for CIF in both relay events.
“I like competing for my school because I get to show what Rosary is about,” says the 17-year-old.
With a year-round training regimen that recently has included cross country running each fall, head varsity track and field coach, Jennifer Murphy, feels that Rahlwes’ additional training has improved her overall fitness and strength, allowing her to expand her sprinting abilities to include the 400m event. As one of the top-scoring athletes on the team, Murphy relies on Rahlwes’ skill set for three or four events each meet.
“Allyson is one of, if not the, hardest-working athlete on the team,” says Murphy. “She is an excellent example of how practice and dedication can develop an outstanding athlete.”
Off the track, Rahlwes volunteers her time in the community through being a Key Club member. She also serves as a confirmation leader at St. Juliana Catholic Church in Fullerton, where she helps prepare young church members for confirmation.
Looking ahead to after high school, Rahlwes would love the opportunity to compete in track at the collegiate level alongside studying medicine or psychology. The Fullerton resident’s preference is to attend a school in California so that she may remain close to her family.
Her father continues to be a source of inspiration for Rahlwes, working with her one-on-one on weekends to pass along training tips and techniques to help her succeed.
“One of my biggest role models would be my father, because he got me into the sport to begin with,” says Rahlwes. “My dad always pushes me to do the best I can.”