First-year Daphné Dornic joined the cross-country team this season hot off a strong performance in the U-20 World Championships representing her home country, France.
First-year Daphné Dornic joined the cross-country team this season hot off a strong performance in the U-20 World Championships representing her home country, France.
This season, Loyola’s cross country team features a new athlete — first-year Daphné Dornic. She competes in long distance, and runs both cross country and track distances.
A native of Clermont-Ferrand, France, Dornic recently had the opportunity to represent her homeland at the U-20 World Championships in Peru in late August.
She made it to the women’s finals for the 1500m by clocking in just six seconds more than her personal best time of 4:16.16, and coming in fourth in the first heat she ran. In the finals, Dornic came in sixth to beat nine other competitors with a time of 4:20:80.
Dornic had achieved her personal best time only two months earlier.
Immediately after wrapping up in Peru, Dornic had to quickly turn around and travel to Chicago to get situated at Loyola.
Dornic arrived at Loyola later than the rest of her peers. She had to adjust to new classes, new people and new teachers, all while being a week behind.
The first-year struggles were added to other factors such as international adjustment and helping maintain Loyola’s strong reputation in the Atlantic 10 conference.
It has been a difficult transition for Dornic who said she was “a bit lost at first.”
Head coach and director of the track and field program Gavin Kennedy said he’s been looking out for Dornic during her transition.
“She’s been slowly getting acclimatized to life in America,” Kennedy said. “Life in the dorms, classes, then obviously being with the team and hopefully competing at some point.”
Dornic had several reasons for choosing the Ramblers, including wanting the opportunity to compete in America.
“I want to try the American experience,” Dornic said. “And Loyola seems to be a good opportunity.”
She was also drawn to the location and campus layout —she said Loyola gave her a “good feeling.”
Kennedy had been looking at Dornic for the better part of a year and said he was grateful she chose Loyola. Kennedy said it’s his job as coach to ensure Dornic is comfortable.
“You would think as the coach my priority is the running side of things, but my priority right now is getting Daphné adjusted to life in America,” Kennedy said.
He said he’s also looking forward to getting to know Dornic better, and is excited to see her compete for the first time.
One of Dornic’s main goals during her time at Loyola is to attempt to beat the French record for the mile — an uncommon distance for French runners, who typically use the metric system.
“It’s not hard to believe, because nobody ran that distance,” Dornic said.
Dornic said she also wanted to try competing in American cross country because of the route layouts. Race courses are typically flatter compared to their French counterparts, according to Dornic.
When Dornic is running, she said she attempts to unfocus on the sensations in her body, and instead focuses on who’s around her, the spectators and how much longer to go until the finish line.
Dornic also said she thinks positively while running, and doesn’t feel anxious before her races.
Dornic also likes the food in the U.S., specifically American yogurt. She’s also appreciative of how Americans are kind and patient with her.
Dornic said she’s now looking forward to achieving her goals at Loyola and to sporting the maroon and gold.
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