Rachel Buser
Biography
Berkeley Springs / West Virginia University (Mountaineers)
Submitted by Mike McMillion
Middle School:
Rachel Buser played basketball and ran track two years ...She was a sprinter and long and high jumper ...She also ran the mile and two mile occasionally
High School Prep:
One of the top high school girl distance runners in state history …She ran for Berkeley Springs High School in Berkeley Springs, WV from 2004-2008 …Coached by John Rowland (cross country) & Dave Mundey (track)
…In 2004 (cross country), Buser earned first place and named all-state cross country as a freshman (18:19), while carving a whopping 25 seconds off the Mineral Wells course record …She was the highest finishing West Virginian at the 26th annual Foot Locker South Regional held at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 27, 2004, while finishing 17th in the Seeded girl’s race with a time of 18:09 …Ran 14:27.20 to win the youth girl’s National Championship at the 2004 AAU Cross Country National Championships on December 4, 2004 at Kingsport, TN
…In 2005 (track), Buser finished second in the McCoy Award voting, by setting Class AA records in the 1,600 (5:08.25) and the 3,200 meters (10:57.43). She became only the 2nd WV girl ever to go under 11:00 in the 32000m. She crossed the line as the All-Time top 3200 performer in any class. Buser also took first place in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:20.84. She was the meet's high-point scorer in Class AA girls with 32.50 points.
…In 2005 (cross country), she earned first place and named all-state cross country as a sophomore (18:22) …She won by over 90 seconds but just missed beating her own Mineral Wells course record ...Her first place finish helped her team win the Class AA/A championship …Finished first at the USATF Region 5 Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, with a time of 19:30.95 …She was the highest finishing West Virginian at the 27th annual Foot Locker South Regional held at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 26, 2005, finishing 29th in the Seeded girl’s race with a time of 18:08 … She took third at the USATF National Junior Olympic XC Championships in 17:58.42, while earning all-American
In 2006 (track), she placed seventh in 800m (2:29.38), first in 1600m (5:17.97), and first 3200m (11:13.50) at the West Virginia State Championships, while earning all-state honors in the 1600m & 3200m …She ran away with the 1600m, winning by over 10 seconds. Buser's time of 11:13.50 was the 9th Best All-Time State Meet Performance regardless of class and the 4th Best All-Time Class AA Performance
In 2006 (cross country), Buser earned first place and named all-state cross country as a junior (20:05.40) … Buser did the expected and easily ran away with her 3rd title on the Cabell Midland course, winning by just under one minute. Her time on the wet, sloppy course stood for the moment as the 6th fastest on the record books (later bumped down to 8th after the AAA race) …She led her team to a state runner-up title …Buser finished ninety-eighth place at the 28th annual Foot Locker South Regional at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 25, 2006, with a time of 19:23 …She had a back problem that inhibited her during cross country season
In 2007 (track), she placed ninth in 800m (2:32.34), first in 1600m (5:16.51), and first 3200m (11:19.77) at the West Virginia State Championships, while earning all-state honors in the 1600m & 3200m … She led from the gun in the 1600m, pretty much constantly increasing her lead to take the win by just over 7 seconds …Buser's time of 11:19.77 was the 5th Best All-Time State Meet Performance in Class A-AA and the 3rd Best this decade for Class AA.
In 2007 (cross country), she had some health issues …She won the individual state championship and named all-state cross country as a senior (19:35) …Buser became just the 2nd runner to win 4 State Cross County titles once again winning easily, this time winning by 40 seconds.
In 2008 (track), ran a couple of regular season meets in the 3200m …One of the state’s all-time greatest distance runners was forced to shut it down for the rest of her senior year, the result of injuries that slowed her down during the track season …She battled a mysterious illness late in the season that was related to a lack of iron in her blood, which could have resulted in her getting stress fractures
“I guess I was given an ability to run, and I’m thankful for it, even though I didn’t get my last two state titles,” Buser said.
High School Bests:
1,600 Meter Run - 5:08.25
800 Meter Run - 2:20.84
3,200 Meter Run - 10:57.43
Three Mile Run - 18:37.00
5,000 Meter Run - 17:58.42
College:
Buser went to Eastern Kentucky on a full ride as a freshman, but then transferred to WVU. She never was the same …She was hurt on and off throughout high school and at the college level …Her injuries consisted of four stress fractures (both femurs and two pubic rami fractures), had tendinitis several times and also had a vein removed in her right leg.
At West Virginia
in 2009:
Saw limited action
At West Virginia
in 2010:
Redshirt season
Highlights:
· Four-time AA/A state cross country champion
· McCoy Award recipient
· 2004 AAU Cross Country Girls Youth national champion
· Third at the USATF National Junior Olympic XC Championships
· Three-time champion who owned state records in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter races
· She led her cross country team to a team championship as a sophomore (2005)
· She led her cross country team to a runner-up team championship as a junior (2006)
· Holds Berkeley Springs school records: 800m (2:20.84), 1600m (5:08.25), 3200m (10:57.43), three mile (18:37.00), 5000m (17:58.42)
· A member of the 4x800 relay state championship team with Valerie Peer, Emily McCoy and Meghan Mock set a state record.
· Berkeley Springs High School Hall of Fame (2014)
· Fifth fastest West Virginia High School Girls 5K of All-Time (All-Classes combined) / Second fastest class AA/A
· Fourteenth fastest West Virginia High School Girls 1600m All-Time (All-Classes combined); Fourth fastest class AA/A
· Ninth fastest West Virginia High School Girls 3200m All-Time (All-Classes combined) / Second fastest class AA/A
·
Also played basketball
Personal:
· Daughter of Steve and Betsy Buser
· Has one brother, Bryan
· Born on May 27th, 1990
· Majored in child development and family studies (Special Education)
· Got her masters in multi-categorical special education.
· Named to the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll
· Lives in Berkeley Springs, WV
· Married to Cody Hess