Senior Spotlight: Hanna English and Nolan Dozier
5/5/2020 11:36:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
Twice weekly we will highlight spring sport senior athletes on their careers at Saint Mary's.
Of all sports to be impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown, you could make an argument that runners like Hanna English and Nolan Dozier are least impacted. Their sport, by nature of what they do, involves a competition you can do just about anywhere: running. There are plenty of options for both English and Dozier to remain in-shape and at the top of their game, but that doesn't mean this shutdown has come with hardships.
This holds true especially for English, who, unlike Dozier, had to travel home to Auckland, New Zealand once classes moved online and the track and field season was suspended. As a senior international student-athlete, the news that the season and then college was over was very distressing," English explained. "My American college experience came to an end so quickly and I had to pack up my life of four years and return home."
Fortunately for English and all others impacted by the global shutdown that COVID-19 has caused, she was able to take back home countless memories of her experiences at Saint Mary's, both on and off the tracks and trails. Arriving in 2016, English saw four seasons competing at Saint Mary's and almost exclusively ran on the cross country team, sans one 1500m that she competed in during the 2018 season. Her freshman year saw a personal record time at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational, where she posted a 21:54.5, one of the best marks on the team.
So what made English come across an ocean to compete and study at Saint Mary's? "The location and small school size of Saint Mary's were appealing along with the large international student-athlete numbers," recalled English. "I liked the middle distance program they had in place and the competitive nature of a growing, developing team that I could impact from day one."
Dozier's journey did not take him thousands of miles away for his collegiate experience, but rather some 70 miles north as he arrived from Morgan Hill. Dozier was all over the board in terms of competition for SMC, competing heavily in both cross country and track and field seasons. His 2020 track season ended in strong fashion with a pair of personal records in the 1500m and 3000m races, while pacing the Gaels in both events for the year.
His Saint Mary's experience has parallels to that of English, where the college was as appealing to him as the programs in place. "I wanted to be on a team that was good and where I knew I could continue to grow," said Dozier. "SMC helped me with this greatly. I also wanted to major in Kinesiology and SMC provided a solid program for that." Perhaps the best line that Dozier gave about his experience? "Saint Mary's didn't let us get lost in the crowd."
The positive news for Dozier is that he actually is not done yet with competing. Due to a redshirt season being taken in cross country in 2019, he is planning on returning for one more semester to achieve his greatest accomplishment. "My greatest accomplishment as of now is getting 45th (place) at regionals and setting the school record in the 5k," recalls Dozier, for the moment. "I am coming back for an extra semester next year and I am hoping to make it to nationals. If I don't, then whatever comes from that will probably be my greatest accomplishment."
Be sure to check back in on Thursday for the next installment of Senior Spotlight.
#GaelsRise
Of all sports to be impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown, you could make an argument that runners like Hanna English and Nolan Dozier are least impacted. Their sport, by nature of what they do, involves a competition you can do just about anywhere: running. There are plenty of options for both English and Dozier to remain in-shape and at the top of their game, but that doesn't mean this shutdown has come with hardships.
This holds true especially for English, who, unlike Dozier, had to travel home to Auckland, New Zealand once classes moved online and the track and field season was suspended. As a senior international student-athlete, the news that the season and then college was over was very distressing," English explained. "My American college experience came to an end so quickly and I had to pack up my life of four years and return home."
Fortunately for English and all others impacted by the global shutdown that COVID-19 has caused, she was able to take back home countless memories of her experiences at Saint Mary's, both on and off the tracks and trails. Arriving in 2016, English saw four seasons competing at Saint Mary's and almost exclusively ran on the cross country team, sans one 1500m that she competed in during the 2018 season. Her freshman year saw a personal record time at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational, where she posted a 21:54.5, one of the best marks on the team.
So what made English come across an ocean to compete and study at Saint Mary's? "The location and small school size of Saint Mary's were appealing along with the large international student-athlete numbers," recalled English. "I liked the middle distance program they had in place and the competitive nature of a growing, developing team that I could impact from day one."
Dozier's journey did not take him thousands of miles away for his collegiate experience, but rather some 70 miles north as he arrived from Morgan Hill. Dozier was all over the board in terms of competition for SMC, competing heavily in both cross country and track and field seasons. His 2020 track season ended in strong fashion with a pair of personal records in the 1500m and 3000m races, while pacing the Gaels in both events for the year.
His Saint Mary's experience has parallels to that of English, where the college was as appealing to him as the programs in place. "I wanted to be on a team that was good and where I knew I could continue to grow," said Dozier. "SMC helped me with this greatly. I also wanted to major in Kinesiology and SMC provided a solid program for that." Perhaps the best line that Dozier gave about his experience? "Saint Mary's didn't let us get lost in the crowd."
The positive news for Dozier is that he actually is not done yet with competing. Due to a redshirt season being taken in cross country in 2019, he is planning on returning for one more semester to achieve his greatest accomplishment. "My greatest accomplishment as of now is getting 45th (place) at regionals and setting the school record in the 5k," recalls Dozier, for the moment. "I am coming back for an extra semester next year and I am hoping to make it to nationals. If I don't, then whatever comes from that will probably be my greatest accomplishment."
Be sure to check back in on Thursday for the next installment of Senior Spotlight.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Track and Field
/ Men's Track and Field
SB | Saint Mary's at No. 24 Stanford Highlights, 4-3-26
Friday, April 03
BSB | Saint Mary's vs. Pacific Highlights, 4-3-26
Friday, April 03
BSB | Saint Mary's vs. Pacific Highlights, 4-2-26
Friday, April 03
SB | Odhi Vasquez and Hannah Ferguson Highlights vs. Pacific, 3-27-26
Monday, March 30
