Some might believe she's quiet, even shy. USF women's track and field athlete Rushana Dwyer doesn't see it that way. She's economical with her words. She speaks with purpose. There's no wasted motion.
Sort of like her all-business approach to the 400-meter run.
When Dwyer lined up in the blocks at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships, with her nerves fluttering a bit, she silently spoke the sentences that have become part of her pre-race routine.
I am a winner. I am going to win.
And then she did.
Dwyer won the AAC's 400-meter title with a USF-record time of 52.12. Additionally, she anchored USF's 4x400 relay team capture an AAC championship in 3:32.97 and will compete in both events during the NCAA East Regionals (Wednesday through Saturday at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville).
The top 12 finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA Championships at Eugene, Oregon. Dwyer has the 15th-fastest 400-meter time at the East Regionals.
"It's a good accomplishment to make it this far, but I would like to accomplish more,'' said Dwyer, who has improved her 400-meters time by more than five seconds since high school back in her native Jamaica. "If I can make it to Oregon … oh my gosh … I have to work for this.''
But hard work has never been an issue.
"Rushana is about as laid-back as they come, but make no mistake about this, she wants to be good,'' head coach Erik Jenkins said. "She has been really, really good for us and she's an important part of our team.''
Dwyer's contributions helped the Bulls finish a surprising second in the AAC Outdoor (the USF women scored 108 points, a strong challenge to first-place Charlotte at 123). Considering the AAC Indoor performance — the Bulls were fourth, but just 13 points out of first — the USF women are clearly on an upward trajectory.
"Quite honestly, a fellow coach came over and said, 'I just didn't think there'd be any way you guys (USF women) would get close,' '' Jenkins said. "You know, that's why you run championships. Everybody starts at zero and you have to earn it.
"Our women were not even supposed to be in the conversation, I mean, according to other people. But when I looked at it, I figured we could be awfully close and if we had some things go our way, we could probably come in here and take one (win the championship). I think we finally have some young ladies who believe in themselves and understand that they can do it. The future is right on track for our women's program.''
Dwyer helps to lead that confidence-fueled approach.
She's from a Jamaican town called Ridge Pen in St. Elizabeth Parish. It's near the mouth of the Black River, a place of luxury vacation properties, deep vegetation, sugar factories, rum production, waterfalls and, some say, the best peppered shrimp on the planet.
She developed into a championship 800-meter runner, one of Jamaica's best, and arrived at South Plains College, where she won the national junior-college 800-meter title, while also leading national-title relay teams in the 4x400 and 4x800.
When Dwyer emerged at USF this season, after being recruited by assistant coach Remuro Henry, Jenkins said he saw much more than an 800-meter runner.
"Right now, maybe the 400 fits her, but she could be very good at 200 meters and we know she could be good at 800 meters,'' Jenkins said. "I saw her do a workout with some of the shorter sprinters and she was giving them all they could handle in a short workout. I already knew what she could do in longer, more rigorous workouts.
"I told her, 'Hey, you can't fool me anymore.' There are so many things that take time to teach and we're looking to dig into those things with her. But look, she won the indoor and the outdoor (400 meters), both of them in pretty convincing fashion. She's going to find her way into whatever event works best for her. We don't want to do too much. She's doing just fine right now.''
Dwyer said she feels great pride in her performances, which are greatly enjoyed by her mother, Christine, back home in Jamaica. Ultimately, Dwyer wants to represent her country on the highest international stages. For now, she wants to reach her potential at USF.
"I feel like I have a great attitude toward my training,'' said Dwyer, who is studying public health at USF. "I stay disciplined. I listen. I do what I'm supposed to do.
"I feel like it's that way with our entire team. We are working hard. We have our eyes on the prize.''
