December 14, 2006

Provo, UT (CSTV U-WIRE) -- Every life has its ironies, twists and turns in the road that lead a person on a path not quite planned. Sometimes letting go of one's dreams can lead to bigger experiences realized in the future.

For Breanne Sandberg, captain of the women's cross-country team at BYU, life is full of those experiences. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

Constant Motion

Running around elementary school in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., for a fun run, third-grader Breanne Sandberg only had one thing on her mind: the big red ball that the person who ran the most laps around the school would win. Well, that and beating the boys running with her. That was the day Sandberg knew she was a runner.

"I've been so competitive my whole life," Sandberg said. "All I could think about is winning and doing the most laps. I wanted that prize, but I also wanted to beat all the boys."

The youngest of seven in an athletic family, Sandberg has always been involved in sports. Some of her siblings ran cross-country and track, while others did different sports. According to her mother, Rose, Breanne decided to do both.

"She's always been in constant motion," Rose said. "She'd have her ballet, soccer, softball, and running clothes all in one bag. She never stops."

Sandberg played multiple sports in high school but excelled in cross-country, winning many awards throughout her career. Her success and achievement landed her at BYU.

Despite the national acclaim, championships and coaching experience that BYU had, Sandberg said what made her decide to run for the Cougars was an experience she had on a recruiting trip with the team.

"In high school, I wanted to run for BYU because it was a church school and they had won a few national titles," Sandberg said. "What stuck out to me when I got to Provo was that these girls cared about each other and were concerned about each other's success. It was like a family. I instantly felt I had good friends."

Point of decision in Provo

In Provo, Sandberg redshirted one year then took cross country by storm. Recognized as an All-American two seasons in a row while helping BYU to a national championship in 2002, Sandberg was looking at a strong junior season. Then came a decision that would change her life.

"I knew girls can serve a mission when they're 21 years old, and it [serving a mission] kept coming up in my mind," Sandberg said. "I wanted to know what I was supposed to do, and after a while, I felt like I was supposed to go. I told myself to have no regrets about it. I knew what I was supposed to do, regardless of whether I ran again ever or not."

Sandberg left to serve in the Chile Santiago East mission in 2004. Although the decision was questioned by friends and associates, some of whom were members of the Church, her mother said Breanne knew she was serving a mission for the right reasons.

"She told me, 'I'm going to decide,'" Rose Sandberg said. "She said she wanted to leave it all behind for the right reasons. A lot of people asked why she would do that after all her success, but Breanne felt it necessary to do. She felt that because she has been blessed with athletic talent, she needed to help others. All of my kids are very determined, so when they make a decision, you just support them and let them do it."

Sandberg took to missionary work with the same intensity and work ethic that she did with her running. Although she knew 18 months without intense training could easily impair her fitness for running, Sandberg said she never had any reservations about the choice she made.

"I never thought about it too much on my mission," Sandberg said. "I just always felt inside that I'd be able to pick it back up."

Barely Moving

A few days before school started in Fall 2005, Sandberg returned from her mission and rejoined the team in time for the upcoming season. Already having used her redshirt year before the mission experience, Sandberg was forced to hit the ground running and work herself back into top running shape the hard way.

"We just didn't have a redshirt for her," BYU coach Patrick Shane said. "She wasn't able to regain form too quickly, but she did regain the readiness to be the best she can be. She was ready to go."

Realizing that she wasn't in great shape, Sandberg started out slow, trying to gradually work her way back to Division I runner speed. In Park City, she'd do some high-altitude training.

"I remember how much energy people had," Sandberg said. "I knew I would be blessed for going on my mission, and I knew that miracles do happen. So I just tried to contribute to the team. It was rough."

Slowly but surely, Sandberg got back into athletic shape. But that spring during track season, she injured herself. From March to June of this year, Sandberg was in rehab and got into shape once again, hoping to help her team one last time in her senior season.

"I didn't think about how I was two years ago," Sandberg said. "I just focused on improving day by day. It gave me confidence when I saw the improvement. My parents also reminded me that I had talent before, and I could get it back again."

Still the same Breanne

One Halloween, Sandberg and others organized a party where all team members dressed up as their coach. According to Sandberg, they showed up to the party in typical Shane attire-plaid shirts and cargo shorts. Then Shane arrived.

"He dressed up in a blue cloak and a blue turban," Sandberg recalled. "That was a fun time. Not many coaches would dress up for that."

Despite everything she has overcome, Sandberg has not changed at all as a person, according to almost everyone that knows her.

"She's very team oriented," Shane said. "She's got a unique willingness to do things for others that she wouldn't do for herself. She really knows what's best for the team."

While Shane describes traits that are mostly in the athletic realm of things, Rose Sandberg says that Breanne is the same girl whether she is running or not.

"She loves people," Rose said. "She is honest, caring and kind. She expresses herself selflessly. Her teammates are her best friends. She's focused on others for the right reasons. She was born on Christmas Day, and I couldn't ask for a better present."

Back at the top, but still learning

In her last year of athletic eligibility, Sandberg is hardly riding into the sunset. As team captain and third runner on a deep Cougar squad, she earned All-MWC and All-Region honors. She said her teammates and parents were a pivotal part of her successes.

"I learned that running brings you close to people," Sandberg said. "When you're running with a teammate, you're stronger. You're more willing to do more for others. It's so much easier than running alone."

Sandberg also said having a coach with Shane's abilities and knowledge has made all her ups and downs worthwhile.

"He's coached so many championships and knows how to train his athletes," Sandberg said. "He looks at the big picture and knows that running isn't everything. For him, spiritual, social and family life is more important than athletics. At some other schools, they lose their focus."

Rose Sandberg said Breanne has learned a lot from her experiences in running, and that has made a difference in other aspects of her life.

"As a girl, sports have done the trick," Rose said. "She's had to learn to deal with things. She learned to work hard, and sometimes you will lose. She never does anything mediocre."

(C) 2006 The Daily Universe via CSTV U-WIRE