Spring Break
Former gymnast standout becomes new asset for track and field team
Kyle Towne
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: Sports
03/27/09 - University of Rhode Island junior Ananda Fraser has come a long way since making the transition from gymnastics to women's track and field this past winter season.
After her record-breaking performance at the Hurricane Invitational, she was named Co-Atlantic Rookie of the Week.
"I had been competing in gymnastics for 18 years," Fraser said. "I competed on my country's [Trinidad] national team, so I am much more accomplished as a gymnast."
After the decision was made to cut the women's gymnastics team, Fraser took the lemons that life had given her and made lemonade by joining the women's track team. For now, she feels an equal alliance to both sports.
"If gymnastics was reinstated as a varsity sport, I would definitely compete in both gymnastics and track," Fraser said.
Fraser had competed at track in high school, but favored gymnastics, which was the reason she attended URI.
"It was my first outdoor meet since high school," Fraser said. "I was trying to duplicate what I had been doing in indoor season."
As a gymnast, Fraser was one of the leading performers on the team, posting multiple first place finishes in her two-year career with the program.
Her rookie season in track has been nothing short of successful as well, as she has been the highlight of many of Rhody's meets thus far.
"I couldn't have asked for my indoor season to go any better," Fraser said. "I'm excited about where I am and where I can be in the future."
In her most recent meet, Fraser broke the school record for triple jump in a first-place effort at the Hurricane Invitational. The previous record was held by Pascale Delaunay, who posted a leap of 40-8.5 in the 2003 New England Championships. Fraser broke this record by 2.5 inches with her leap of 40-11.
"The girls on the team have been amazing," Fraser said. "Every one of us has a different personality and dynamics that mesh."
Fraser's performance qualified her for the NCAA Track and Field Regional Championships, which will be held May 29-30 in Greensboro, N.C.
"The girls on the team are very sweet and we have a very strong bond," Fraser said. "We get along great and are like a family."
It is difficult for athletes to transition from one sport to another, especially at the collegiate level.
"The biggest difference between track and gymnastics for me has been staying fit as a gymnast and staying fit for track," Fraser said. "The competition between the two sports is similar, and neither is more time consuming than the other."
The next meet for Fraser will be the 2009 Bryant University Invitational, which will take place on March 28 at 10 a.m. in Smithfield, RI.
After her record-breaking performance at the Hurricane Invitational, she was named Co-Atlantic Rookie of the Week.
"I had been competing in gymnastics for 18 years," Fraser said. "I competed on my country's [Trinidad] national team, so I am much more accomplished as a gymnast."
After the decision was made to cut the women's gymnastics team, Fraser took the lemons that life had given her and made lemonade by joining the women's track team. For now, she feels an equal alliance to both sports.
"If gymnastics was reinstated as a varsity sport, I would definitely compete in both gymnastics and track," Fraser said.
Fraser had competed at track in high school, but favored gymnastics, which was the reason she attended URI.
"It was my first outdoor meet since high school," Fraser said. "I was trying to duplicate what I had been doing in indoor season."
As a gymnast, Fraser was one of the leading performers on the team, posting multiple first place finishes in her two-year career with the program.
Her rookie season in track has been nothing short of successful as well, as she has been the highlight of many of Rhody's meets thus far.
"I couldn't have asked for my indoor season to go any better," Fraser said. "I'm excited about where I am and where I can be in the future."
In her most recent meet, Fraser broke the school record for triple jump in a first-place effort at the Hurricane Invitational. The previous record was held by Pascale Delaunay, who posted a leap of 40-8.5 in the 2003 New England Championships. Fraser broke this record by 2.5 inches with her leap of 40-11.
"The girls on the team have been amazing," Fraser said. "Every one of us has a different personality and dynamics that mesh."
Fraser's performance qualified her for the NCAA Track and Field Regional Championships, which will be held May 29-30 in Greensboro, N.C.
"The girls on the team are very sweet and we have a very strong bond," Fraser said. "We get along great and are like a family."
It is difficult for athletes to transition from one sport to another, especially at the collegiate level.
"The biggest difference between track and gymnastics for me has been staying fit as a gymnast and staying fit for track," Fraser said. "The competition between the two sports is similar, and neither is more time consuming than the other."
The next meet for Fraser will be the 2009 Bryant University Invitational, which will take place on March 28 at 10 a.m. in Smithfield, RI.
