When Husker runner Blaise Rewaka takes the track at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational this weekend, the spectators in the stands won’t be the only ones watching him.
In fact, the fan the junior from Ardsley, N.Y., cares most about won’t be in the Devaney Center at all. But Rewaka thinks he’ll be looking down on him all the same.
Rewaka’s father, Denis, died six months ago and since he never made it to Lincoln to watch his son compete, Blaise is dedicating every race he runs to his late father.
“I just want to do my best so now he can finally see me run,” Rewaka said.
The elder Rewaka (pronounced Reh-WALK-uh) was supportive of his son’s career, but his work kept him busy in New York City and the African nation of Gabon. Blaise’s father, also known as Ambassador Denis Dangue Rewaka, served as the Gabonese delegate to the United Nations.
Blaise, who was born and raised in the United States, said his father’s hard work and sacrifice in the West African country of about 1.5 million people is the reason he had the ability to attend Nebraska in the first place.
“He came from a small, poverty-stricken family, and he worked his way out,” Blaise said. “He didn’t have this opportunity, but he wanted to give it to me.”
Blaise seems to be making the most of the opportunity.
At last weekend’s Bill Bergan Invitational in Ames, Iowa, he took first place in the 800-meter race. A two-time medalist in conference meets, Rewaka earned his first trip to the NCAA Regionals last season.
After winning the 600-yard run at the Sevigne Invitational last year, he said the expectations are mounting for him to win again this weekend.
“There’s a lot of pressure because I won it last year,” he said.
But Rewaka’s accomplishments go beyond the track. He was a first-team All-Big 12 Conference Academic selection last year and was also named to the sport’s national All-Academic team. He said his father constantly reminded him to stay on top of his schoolwork in high school, something he’s grown to appreciate. As a political science major, he hopes to attend law school and one day follow his diplomat father into the political realm.
“That was basically what forced me to go into the major,” he said. “I really didn’t want to at first, but I started to like it throughout high school.”
Jay Dirksen, a distance coach who is working with Rewaka for the first time this year, said he thought his academic success and intelligence translates well onto the track. Dirksen said Rewaka’s speed and endurance have both increased more than he expected this season. What’s more, Dirksen has been impressed with how Rewaka has dealt with the grief.
“I’m just really happy for Blaise,” Dirksen said. “I knew it was going to be hard for him after his dad passed away. I’m glad he’s using it as motivation instead of it keeping him down.”
Head coach Gary Pepin said Rewaka’s progress and maturity has put him in a position to help the team even more this spring. He said he is a contender to make the 4x100-meter relay team and is already a steady contributor in the 800-meter race.
“He’s improving nicely,” Pepin said. “I think that he’s matured a lot in his competitive outlook on things and the way he has approached his competition and practices.”
That maturity will be put to the test again as Rewaka seeks to return to the top of the Sevigne Invitational podium. The Huskers will welcome several Division I opponents to Lincoln in one of the country’s premier indoor meets. The competition, which begins at 5 p.m. Friday and resumes at noon Saturday, includes Big 12 foe Kansas as well as Arizona, Colorado State, Drake, Iowa, Ohio State, Rice, St. Louis, Texas-El Paso and others.
Pepin is hopeful the tough competition will inspire some of his athletes to post qualifying times for next month’s NCAA Indoor Championships.
There’s no doubt Blaise Rewaka would like to post one of those times. But, he said, he’ll be pleased so long as he gives it his best, so long as he makes his dad proud.
“Whenever I’m on the track, I want to give it 100 percent. Because my dad, he’s a hard-working guy,” Rewaka said. “And he never gives up.”
mitchsmith@dailynebraskan.com
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