Boulder – Elva Dryer will be running for the United States today in the Bolder Boulder’s International Team Challenge, but the two-time Olympian hopes to represent and inspire Hispanic Americans most of all.
Dryer, whose maiden name is Martinez, grew up in Durango the second youngest of eight children whose parents were Mexican immigrants. She ran decent but unspectacular times at Durango High School, earned a scholarship to Western State and went on to become one of America’s top distance runners, running the 5,000 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 10,000 last year in Athens.
She sees few Hispanics in her sport and wants to do something about it.
“If you don’t expose them to what’s out there, they just don’t know,” said Dryer, 33. “All you need is a pair of shoes and some guidance. I was fortunate to have a coach in high school that took interest enough to encourage me to open my mind to the possibilities. That’s where it all starts, getting in these kids’ minds early on.”
There are Hispanic role models. Longtime Boulder resident Arturo Barrios, who grew up in Mexico, is a former world record-holder in the 10,000 meters and a four-time Bolder Boulder winner. Boulder’s Jorge Torres, a former NCAA cross country champion at Colorado, is one of America’s top young distance prospects. Torres recently won the U.S. 8K championship.
Another hot prospect is former Adams State runner Zoila Gomez, a six-time Division II national champion who will be running for the Mexican women’s team today. A native of Mexico who came to the States at 16, Gomez expects to become a U.S. citizen this year.
Dryer said traditional Mexican parents often believe sports are inappropriate for girls. Her parents didn’t discourage her, but they didn’t encourage her, either.
“For me to have such an interest was something they never expected,” said Dryer, who lives in Albuquerque. “My older sisters married young, so they were out of the house. I had my brothers, and they were involved in sports. I wanted to be like them.”
Dryer said her parents have seldom seen her run as a professional, but they drove from Texas to Sacramento, Calif., last summer to see her compete at the Olympic trials, where she finished second.
“My father was like, ‘You know, that was worth coming out here for,”‘ Dryer said with a laugh. “I’m like, ‘Dad, thanks, I’m glad it was worth your trip.”‘
Dryer’s husband and coach, former Western State runner Russ Dryer, said the couple haven’t figured out how Elva can create interest in running in the Hispanic community.
“I’m not sure how you go about it,” Russ Dryer said. “She’s not a big noisemaker or rock- the-boat kind of person.”
Her primary focus is making the U.S team that goes to the world championships in August.
“Right now I’m sort of consumed, but I think it’s an issue that needs to be addressed,” Elva Dryer said. “There’s a lot of athletes who fall through the cracks because nobody ever exposed them to it or made them think they could do it.”
