If Eastern’s junior sprinter Alicia Harris sounds like a broken record there certainly is a good reason why, and the constant repetition isn’t with her mouth but with her feet.

That was the case last weekend at the EIU Quadrangular meet when Harris broke the school mark in the 60-meter dash with sheer speed, poise and determination that produced a blazing time of 7.64 seconds. Harris’ sprint was well ahead of second-place finisher Sherlonda Johnson (7.79) from Austin Peay State University to obtain the victory and the new Eastern top spot.

The EIU Quadrangular was the first time Harris competed competitively in the 60-meter dash since last season. Her new school record wasn’t a shock to Eastern coaches Mary Wallace and Tom Akers who said the junior has been running phenomenally all year.

“Alicia is off to a tremendous start to the indoor season,” Wallace said. “She worked very hard all fall and is really running well.”

Akers needed only a few words to describe Harris’ performance to date.

“Obviously she’s been outstanding; that pretty much sums it up.”

Shattering school records is nothing new to Harris. The Wheaton North graduate broke both the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash within a matter of weeks in February of 2003. This season she broke her record in the 400-meter with a time of 56.01 against Indiana State on Dec. 13. Harris also set the new best 600-meter time (1:34.36) last month at the EIU Mega Meet.

“Breaking the 600-meter meant the most to me,” Harris said. “But setting the record in the 60 (meter dash) was very surprising because it was my first time running it all year.”

Statistically speaking, Harris has the fastest Panther times in the 60, 200, 400 and 600-meter dash this year. Which begs the question; is Harris the fastest women’s runner the coaching has ever seen?

“I have not witnessed a faster runner than Alicia here at Eastern,” said Akers, whose been a member of Eastern’s staff since 1983.

Wallace has assisted at major programs like Arkansas and Rice as well as Midwest schools including Central Michigan and Illinois State over the past 15 years, but comments Harris is right up there with the best runners she has been around.

“I’ve worked with a few competitors equal to Alicia,” Wallace said. “It’s really their work ethic and commitment to success that sets them apart from the rest.”

Harris’ work ethic involves some long distance training and cross training. When the weather turns warmer she’ll go on morning runs and then head to practice.

“On Monday, Wednesday and Friday we have “hard days” which consists of intense training,” Harris said. “Then on Tuesday and Thursday we have laid back days and that is when I go on 30 minute morning runs.”

Wallace said not all off Harris’ training involves running around the track at Lantz Fieldhouse.

“Alicia does a lot more than run,” Wallace said. “She trains (muscle building exercises) off her feet in the recreation center and just works very hard.”

Not only is Harris’ hard work paying off on the clock, but the dedication is also wearing off on her teammates who are running with a leader.

“She’s definitely a vocal leader and a runner who leads by example,” Wallace said. “Alicia is one of our four co-captains and she leads by both angles. The other girls really look to her.”

Akers deals with Harris more closely on a daily basis coaching the sprint crew and said she utilizes one leadership method over the other but shows both qualities found above.

“She really leads more by example, although Alicia will be vocal when she has to. Most of the time she is a quiet humble runner.”

While the rest of the Ohio Valley Conference ponders where Harris gets her speed. The answer seems to lie in good family genes. Both of Harris’ parents were runners and her father later played football at Wheaton College. A.J. (Alicia’s brother) was a four-time letter winner in track at Wheaton North and will go into the 2004-05 NCAA Football season as the starting tailback for Northern Illinois.

“All of my family was very active in track,” Alicia said. “My family has been a very good influence on me athletically.”

One question the coaches had no problem agreeing on was if Harris could improve her time’s and break her own records. The answer was a resounded yes!

“I think the more closer we get to conference and the more we prepare we’ll see her improve her numbers,” Wallace said.

“I definitely think she will,” added Akers.

The main goal for Harris isn’t the personal accolades but rather winning an OVC Championship which has alluded her the past two seasons.

“Oh yes, that is definitely what I’m striving for.”

Harris will get the chance later on this month to win the OVC, until then she’ll have to settle for setting more Eastern records.