How a top runner finds fitting in more challenging than her races

Jhean Andrin (second from right) is joined by (from left) her father Ronila Andrin, siblings Lovely Fe and Cherry, and trainer Alex Loloy in this 2012 photo at the Cebu IT Park.

Jhean Andrin, a member of the famous Andrin siblings of Lapu-Lapu City, has endured a lot of adversities before she became one of the region’s best long distance runners.

Now, she faces a new and “tougher” challenge.

The eldest among the multi-titled running sisters, Jhean, 17, is currently enjoying a full college scholarship at the Southwestern University (SWU) being a member of the school’s powerhouse athletics squad. But coming from Pajo National High School, the soft-spoken runner claimed that the shift to SWU is tougher than she thought.

“It’s more challenging than running,” she said. “You meet new faces and there’s a lot of people around you so it’s very difficult to adjust.”

Still Jhean, the winner that she is, is unruffled.

“I came from a public school and jumped to a private school so there’s always awkwardness. But I am not trying hard to fit in. I just want to be my self. My parents, my siblings are actually very proud that I am now part of a school that is recognized in sports.”

Aside from being thrust in a new environment, Jhean, who is a freshman Bachelor of Science in Physical Education student, is also facing added pressure in the fact that she belongs to a school with a solid winning tradition.

“There’s a lot of pressure because I know SWU has big expectations on me,” Jhean said.

SWU is home to one of the best runners in the country today in reigning National Milo Marathon queen Mary Joy Tabal, which means Jhean can’t afford to take anything lightly.

“She (Tabal) comes from this school so I have to get better so that I can continue the winning legacy of SWU. I also want to prove critics wrong that I am taking this scholarship for granted. I want to prove them that I have earned this scholarship,” she said. “One day, I will be in my best form and I will win gold medals and running events.”

This is the motivation that drives Jhean and the reason she decided not to stay in the athletes’ quarters of SWU. Instead, she goes home to Lapu-Lapu everyday to train with her sisters who are still at Pajo NHS.

“My mother wakes me up at 4 a.m. to jog and after that, I train with my sisters with our trainer in Pajo NHS before I go to SWU. In the afternoon, after school, I train with my fellow SWU athletes at the Cebu City Sports Center. That’s how I spend my day,” Jhean said.

Asked about how Pajo NHS helped her become what she is now, Jhean said, “Our coaches in Pajo NHS were the ones who molded me to become a strong runner. Without them, I could not be a scholar at SWU.”

Jhean’s sisters Lovely Fe and Chery, who are also multi-titled  runners, are still with Pajo NHS. And like their ate, both believe Pajo NHS played a big part in their success.

“Our training in Pajo is very difficult. “We have to run long distances to improve our endurance. That’s why we improved a lot,” 16-year-old Lovely Fe said.

Lovely Fe also has scholarship offers from both SWU and the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation. But she said she prefers to join ate Jhean at SWU.