Heathwood Hall track and field athlete Arayael Brandner talks about her final season and the future. Brandner will compete in throwing events and the 4x100-meter relay this weekend at the SCISA Championships at Heathwood Hall in Columbia. Editor's note: scrunners.com will be onsite Saturday.
Full name: Arayael Eloha Brandner
Date of birth: July 5, 1991
Academic interest: Sport Psychology or communications
Brothers / sisters: 1 younger brother, Gabriel
Hobbies: Basketball, Track, sports in general, Drama, Chorus, and I LOVE going to the BEACH!!!!
Personal records: All state for basketball Jr and Sr years, made my 1,000th point this year, going to play D1 bball for Elon University, All State for track and field soph., junior and probably senior years, hold the school record for shot and discus at Heathwood.
scrunners: When and why did you start compete in track and field?
brandner: I started my freshmen year, and coach (Willis) Ware wanted me to come out and try throwing and at first I hated it, I wanted to run, but then I came back for a few more practices and got the hang of it and then he let me try the 4x100-meter relay and fell in love with that race. I have been a track fan ever since.
scrunners: Do you have any family members that compete or competed in the sport?
brandner: My mom and dad were both college athletes at West Virginia University. My dad played offensive line for football, and my mom played tennis. My little brother is into sports too, his main sport is baseball.
scrunners: What is your role at Heathwood Hall as team captain?
brandner: I feel like the mother duck with all my little ducklings. The team is mostly made up of middle school girls. Even with the older girls, I always stay positive and encourage them to push themselves every practice and every meet.
scrunners: How do you set your goals each season?
brandner: When I first started, my goals were to qualify and then place in the state meet. I reached that goal and qualified my freshman year in both the shot and discus, and placed fifth in shot then seventh in discus. Entering my sophomore year there were two girls I knew I wanted to beat in the shot and discus, and I knew they had a lot more experience than me but I went for it. I placed second in shot then third in discus. Then my junior year, the two girls graduated and I knew I could take it this year, so I worked hard everyday, and kept focus. Coach Ware supported me and encouraged me, and I won the state title for both shot and discus. Then during my junior year I broke the shot put record too, and I was about two or three feet off from getting the discus record. Now it's senior year and I know that I want to break my own record for shot and then break the discus record, so again I came to every practice focused and I broke both records!!!! It was very exciting. It is all about focus and having the right mind set for me.
scrunners: What individual and team goals do you have this year?
brandner: I really think we have a good shot at defending our title as a team. We know that all the schools are after us, but we have to remain focused and perform to our best potential. Now for me, I want to break the state record for discus, which I believe is 112-feet, I want that soooooo bad, and then again break my record for shot.
scrunners: What are your future plans?
brandner: I am going on to play college basketball at Elon University and plan on doing something in either mass communications because I love talking and working with people, or sports psychology/therapist/counseling, or even being a teacher. I have a big decision to make, but there is still time.
scrunners: What has been your biggest challenge in the sport and life?
brandner: Well I also run the 4x100, and I LOVE RUNNING it. I am a big girl. I am a little over six feet tall and when people see me walk up to my starting mark I get the weirdest stares, haha, but I am pretty quick for a big girl, and to be honest, I am good for only that 100-meter stretch and after that I start to lose my speed a little, but still I remember this one workout, I thought I was going to die. I could not feel my legs, I was dizzy, it was hot, but I got through the workout and after getting over the nauseated feeling I actually felt pretty good. It is all in the head, but that is probably the hardest thing I have gone through for high school. Now for college I know and am fully anticipating hard running workouts. Weights do not bother me that much, I love to lift!!! Recently this past summer during AAU and my senior season for basketball, I got injured. It seemed like every week something was wrong with me. I first had a deep pull in my left quad, then I separated my AC joint in my right shoulder, then this season I found out that I had two bulging discs in my lower back, and this injury has carried through all year even into track. So I have constantly been in the training room taking care of it and making sure I am ready to compete at my highest potential. So injury has been a pretty big challenge this past year. In my life, my greatest challenge up to this point would have to be getting into college. All those summers of AAU basketball and time spent and effort with grades and worrying about if I will go to a good school? Is it going to be hard? Am I going to like it? Am I even going to make it? I mean worrying and stressing is very tiring :) and I am glad I made it through that part of my life. Now I am ready for the next challenge!
scrunners: Have you met any professional athletes?
brandner: Well...Dawn Staley I have met, who played professional ball for the Charlotte Sting, and I got to interview the Women's Olympic Head Basketball Coach, Anne Donovan for my senior thesis I have been working on this year, and meeting her was incredible!!!! She is like 6'8" and so nice. It was truly a pleasure to get to meet her.
scrunners: Who do you admire the most and why?
brandner: This is a hard question. I love Candace Parker and her mentality during a game and the way she moves and plays in a basketball game. I also have always admired Brionna Dickerson. She was a former teammate for a little while until she tore her ACL her senior year, but she has always been an inspiration to me. She is a senior at USC and finished up her senior season. Her whole family has been there for me, her dad, Coach Dickerson has always been my support and coach, and my good friend Kristen, the little sister, well me and her have been through a lot together for basketball, so they mean a lot to me. Really to sum it up I would say Brionna, my parents, and all my coaches both for basketball and track. They support me and take the time to make me better as an athlete. Coach Ware has supported me since day one as a freshman. And he humored me when I said, "Coach I want a spot on that 4x100 relay team. I am going to prove to you I belong on it!" And bless his heart, he gave me that chance and I work hard to maintain that second leg spot!!!
scrunners: What do you want to achieve the SCISA state meet Saturday?
brandner: I want that state record in the discus, but really I just want to do my best and try and break my records.
scrunners: Do you prefer to have the meet on your home track?
brandner: Yes I do. I do feel like Heathwood has the best facilities in SCISA and it is just a plus that I get to practice there every day, and I am use to the territiory.
scrunners: Do you monitor public school marks compared to SCISA?
brandner: Well not really. I am aware of them, but I do not focus on those marks. I recently found out from a coach that I am second in the Columbia area both private and public that has the second longest discus throw, so that is pretty exciting.
scrunners: What do you feel it takes to be a thrower?
brandner: It is pretty much all mental. You have to be mentally tough. Of course you need proper technique and strength is a plus, but a thrower should be mentally strong.
scrunners: When preparing for a throw do you have a specific routine?
brandner: Haha, yes I do, and I do not want to give my secret :) -- in warm ups I really don't try to throw it hard. I focus on my technique and make sure I am not scratching my throw, aiming for the center, look for my focal point and breathe. Then when it is time to throw I kick it up and get into it and I also like to grunt when I throw, it makes me feel better, like I released all my energy I placed in that one throw. So I make noise when I throw; I am a grunter and proud of it! :)
scrunners: What do you feel before making a throw?
brandner: I am completely relaxed, but mentally focused. I really feel at peace when I am in the circle, then as soon as I am about to release my throw I channel all my energy or built up stress from school or life and let it all go...and then I feel better and then prepare for my next throw.
scrunners: What have you learned from the sport?
brandner: Again mental toughness, and detail on technique. The discus can be a hard event if you do not know how to throw it and position your feet. Then with shot its all in the legs and I like the shot put because it is a great way to release stress or tension. Then in the 4x100, I really just love sprinting that one stretch of the track and by running this event, I know I am NOT the fastest person, and I do not have fear of losing my leg. I do know that I want to beat whatever girl is near me, and I run my fastest and do my best and try not to let my team down!
scrunners: What keeps you motivated on a daily basis?
brandner: Working with my throwing coach, India Green, and hearing her yell, "come on Aray! drive that foot or focus on your focal point aray!" I get really pumped up when she encourages me. Also just the basic fact that this is my last track season ever! I am a senior and a defending state champion and I am not going to take my title for granted, I want to beat my own records and I work towards doing that every day.
scrunners: Breaking a 18-year school record in the discus throw, were you expecting this? What does it feel like?
brandner: When I first broke it, it was at like 98 feet or so, and of course I was thrilled, and when I released that discus I knew as soon as it landed that had to be a new school record. I was even more excited when I finally broke the 100 mark. I walked out of the circle and pretty much fell over I could not believe I had finally done it.
scrunners: Who is your biggest individual and team competitor?
brandner: For shot put there is a girl from Laurence Manning who can toss it out there pretty good, and then in discus, Kaki Smith from Hammond School. She almost beat me at the Woodward Invitational. SO I know not only those two girls but other teams are out to beat me. I am their target, and they are focused on my distance and beating that. As a team, I know that being a rival school, Hammond is thirsty for our title and they are one of our biggest competitors, along with Wilson Hall and Ashley Hall. It will be the three Halls running for the gold plus Hammond.
scrunners: If there is one thing you could say to your coach what would it be and why?
brandner: Thank you for everything and believing in me, and being there for me during this journey throughout my high school career. Coach Ware has always supported me and I just want to thank him for everything, his coaching, his support, his input, and honestly there is not a way to thank him enough. I have truly been blessed with a great head coach. Coach Young has been fun to work with for my sprinting and then coach India Green has just been a blessing, helping me this year with discus and shot. I am really jealous of the other throwers that get to have her for the rest of their career. She truly makes every thrower better, and I was so fortunate to have her my senior year.
scrunners: Do you see yourself coaching in the future?
brandner: I definitely can see myself coaching, maybe not track, but basketball. I love working with kids and sharing the same passion for the sport and to help them grow into a better athlete is something I would love to be apart of one day.
scrunners: Where do you see the sport going in the future in South Carolina?
brandner: Girls track has made its mark at Heathwood, and I know it is only going to keep making bigger marks, and if we are doing that in SCISA, then I know the sport will grow leaps and bounds over the next couple of years in South Carolina. I am predicting some pretty great athletes in the future will be apart of track and field. It is such a great sport. There is an event for everybody. Plus another reason I love it is because it is an individual sport and at the same time a team sport too.
scrunners: In the offseason, what kind of activities do you do to maintain a level of fitness for your events and while taking a break from the sport?
brandner: I would say I try to stay in shape all year. I really don't take a LONG break, maybe two or three weeks at the most, but I am constantly active, either running, lifting weights, doing agility drills, shooting a basketball, playing pick up...I get really figity if I do not exercise or do something. I know that I am going to start training for college ball here in a few weeks, like the end of May. I will be working out with a personal trainer and weight coach. And basketball comes right before track season so I go into track well conditioned. All I have to do is get my muscle memory back for throwing and take it from there.
scrunners: If there is one thing in the world you could do, what would it be and why?
brandner: A big and I mean BIG dream would be to go to the Olympics. I think that would be really cool to win a real gold medal. And to be known around the world for being a top athlete would be a huge honor. I still feel girls athletics are not as strong as boys, but I would be content knowing that I was one of the top female athletes in the world. Also I would be competing with all the greatest athletes from around the WORLD. That is sooo fascinating to me, and wow that would be really neat.
Photographs courtesy of Heathwood Hall.