Andy Williams of Eau Claire has finished the Paris-Brest-Paris 1200 (1230 actually) kilometer Randonneur cycling event that happens once every 4 years. 

What is Randonneuring? Long distance, unsupported cycling. Generally, a cyclist that completes specific and approved routes by stopping at designated checkpoints before completing the route in the allotted amount of time. 

PBP, as the cycling world calls it, is a 764.28 mile bike ride across France that sits atop many cyclist's bucket list. If the ride itself doesn't seem challenging enough, the road to get there is not for the faint of heart - or lungs....or, legs.....or, your mind. 

There are a few small pieces to add to this puzzle before you can even toe the start line for PBP. A Randonneur cyclist must complete with a qualifying time at least one of each 200k, 300k, 400k and 600k events by mid June of the same year PBP takes place.  

Then after you complete those requirements, you register. When you register, you know you get 90 hours to complete the route and stop at all the check points. That is like asking someone from Eau Claire - to ride to Washington DC in 90 hours. 

Congratulations, Andy! 

Words and Photos by Branden Nall

Before her senior year gets going, Brooklyn Sandvig, crowned State Champion in the 100m, 200m and 400m dashes, last month, will embark on a trip to the AAU Junior Olympic Games at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro.

Sandvig’s dominance has taken the Track and Field scene by storm over the past 2 years. Not just in the Chippewa Valley or the state, but nationally as one of the fastest humans in high school – ever. Presumably, powered by small multi-colored crunchy round cereal?

Snuggling with a box of Fruit Loops and popping a few into her mouth as she walks shoeless on the track, it was as if I was witnessing a metaphorical mindset crushing multiple-colored rings resembling those of the Olympic logo.

Maybe it’s an ‘unknowing’ competitive mentality that keeps the recent high school junior humble and fun witted, or maybe it’s because she tells those work/life scales to stay equal. Either way, there is never a dull moment with her spirit.

Smiley. Funny. Relaxed. As a kid should be.

Then – she steps on the track.

Closes her eyes…

…breathes.

"Relax your face."

"You want every bit of energy in your legs.”

To we onlookers, that track, and those competitors seemingly turn into that box and crunchy rings. The gun shocks the system waking up a giant. As quickly as the gun’s echo dissolves, she is already 3 steps out of the blocks and hugging that track like that multi-colored cereal box.

Each competitor a ring. Crushed one-by-one as her apparent love/hate relationship with those shoes comes to an agreement – 2nd is the first loser.

She does not like losing.

As she makes the last turn into the 400's final 100 meters, voices start in her head. "Relax your face", she hears from her coaches.

“You want every bit of energy in your legs”, she states after I ask about her prowess and maturity regarding relaxation during races. “You want to feel your face jiggle. You don’t look good running, so why even try?”  

Sprinting down the final straight-a-way she looks as though her eyes are closed, but she assures that they are open and she is paying attention. As she crosses the line, typically seconds before her next competitor, it’s like she awakes from a meditative state of propulsion, to wondering on-to the infield knowing her goal was accomplished – they all could read the back of her jersey.

This spring WIAA track season was filled with a couplet of weather challenges. “Winter took a little bit longer and meets were cancelled. I didn’t hit my best until it started getting warm again.” She said. This worried her a little as she only hit her best a couple times before heading to state.

“I feel like state is going to be a big day for me”.

And it was. Gold in the 100, 200 and 400.

Comments, Ohs and Ahs, from the crowd as spectators watched her dominance were not secluded to a section, but everywhere. Some of the boy sprinters that were gearing up for the finals were in complete awe and event workers were taken back at her speed.

Summer, now that warm weather has descended up the Chippewa Valley, is filled with morning workouts and evening gym sessions. Sprinkled with work, watering flowers(pun intended) and sharing her green thumb, then some fun on jet skis buzzing around the lake.  – but not too much and not right before competitions.

During the summer, she runs and competes for the Milwaukee Mustangs Track Team. “They have way more medals than me. They are so good!” She says about her teammates.

This summer she has earned her second trip and year-in-a-row, to the AAU Junior Olympic Games. She will be running the 100, 200, 4x100 and 4x400 relays for the Mustangs. Competition starts Monday August 1st and lasts the week.

Brooklyn in seeded 2nd in the 100 meter, just .09 sec behind the first seed.

4 seed in the 200 at only .46 seconds behind the top seed.

Top 8 for both the relays.

These seeds project her and her team to be in the finals for every event.

She tries to eat as healthy as possible – fruit rings not included. And has an affinity for oceanography which she would like to study in her collegiate future. She has been touring some possible colleges and even has had some collegiate coaches head to her. Such as the home state NCAA D1 Wisconsin Badgers.

You can catch al the action in Greensboro via livestream, here.

Every year Fierce Freedom (fiercefreedom.org) holds a running event in Eau Claire to raise funds for the organization. We 100% support their mission to eliminate all Human Trafficking. We are excited to have captured some bits of the action!

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE PHOTO GALLERY WILL GO TO FIERCE FREEDOM!

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PHOTO GALLERY