Ruby Ray had a unique summer vacation. While many of her fellow St. John’s University students took on jobs or internships, Ruby, from Port Jefferson, NY, competed for a spot on the United States Olympic team.

A novice race walker, Ruby finished ninth at the US Olympic Trials in Springfield, OR, in June. Her time in the 20-kilometer (12.5-mile) race of one hour, 54 minutes, and 15 seconds was 17 minutes behind winner Robyn Stevens.

A promising effort for a 19-year-old sophomore who turned to track and field two years ago after Earl L. Vandermeulen High School eliminated its field hockey program.

“The school did not have enough field hockey players; I didn’t know what to do as an athlete,” Ruby recalled. “I picked up race walking to help the track team and, surprisingly, I turned out to be good at it. I come from a Swedish background, and many Swedes are good at it. Maybe it is in my genes.”

Race walking has been a medal sport at the Olympics since 1908. Originally known as pedestrianism, it has roots in Victorian England where footmen used to walk distinctively alongside expensive horse-drawn carriages.

The rules may seem quirky to the uninitiated. Unlike running, race walkers must always have one foot in contact with the ground. Also, the knee of a race walker’s leading leg cannot bend and that entire leg must straighten as the competitor’s body passes over it. Teams of judges ensure rules are enforced and walkers are penalized for infractions.

“For people who don’t do it, it can be a little difficult to understand,” Ruby explained. “The technique is challenging and you must build up your endurance. You also have to lean into your mental discipline. You have to envision that you can compete over 12 miles.”  

In addition to finishing among the top walkers at the Olympic trials, competitors must meet an Olympic standard time. For the first time since 1908 no Team USA walker met the standard leaving the country unrepresented in Paris.

Ruby is hoping to change that ahead of the 2028 games in Los Angeles.

So how did a potential Olympic race walker find her way to St. John’s? The story dates back to 2022 when Brian Snow, Head Women’s Track Coach at Vandermeulen High asked Ruby to give the sport a try. In a brief time she was excelling at high school meets en route to being named USA Track and Field’s 2022 Athlete of the Year among race walkers under 20.

Ruby later medaled at the 2022 Junior Olympics in Sacramento; won the 1,600-meter walk at the 2023 Adidas Indoor Nationals in Virginia Beach; and won the 1,500-meter walk at Joe Brandi Relays in Bohemia Those performances caught Gary Westerfield's eye—the Hall-of-Fame coach of Long Island-based club team WalkUSA—who was eager to work with her.

“She was so strong you could see it,” Mr.Westerfield said.“I had not seen someone at nineteen without any genuine experience perform as well as she did.She had this intense desire not let other people beat her.”

Unrecruited out of high school,Ruby wanted attend college close home where she could continue work with Mr.Westerfield.She also wanted high-quality liberal arts education support goal becoming attorney like father John

St.John’s ideal destination“There so many opportunities here great teachers”Ruby said“I loved Vincentian community commitment serving others”

Majoring English part University Honors Program College Liberal Arts Sciences,Ruby completed first year with grade point average She joined Red Storm Battalion University Army ROTC chapter fulfilling spirit military commitment dates back grandparents Sweden

Up early most mornings complete cadet training,Ruby got taste discipline required compete Olympian where races contested more than twelve times high school distance“It different race from high school”Mr.Westerfield explained“You totally disciplined race walk ninety minutes”

Growing more comfortable distance,Ruby recorded best-ever twenty-kilometer time March meet El Cajon Hopes were high weeks before trials but competition day awoke fever cold Rather than withdraw,she did best under less-than-ideal circumstances

“It disappointing.I had all these people supporting me:coach,family several St.John's expecting me well”Ruby recalled“With all training put,I could not withdraw because sick.I try”

If anything disappointment left more determined succeed four years That true character according Lt.Col.Cole M.Therkildsen Professor Military Science head University ROTC program called “an incredibly determined cadet” whose commitment excellence demonstrated track,classroom,and drills

At St.John's,Ruby member Campus Ministry choir singer Thomas More Church member Constitutional Law Society

“Ruby great athlete going great officer”Lt.Col.Therkildsen said“She well-rounded person goals structure life role model Hopefully see Olympics four years”