Ryan Outerbridge On Overcoming Adversity
Ryan Outerbridge is set to compete in the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in Sacramento, California, tomorrow [November 23].
For the 21-year-old, it marks a remarkable journey of resilience and recovery.
In 2021, Outerbridge suffered a heart attack while competing for Franklin Pierce University at the Lewis Crossover meet in Chicago.
“When it first happened, I didn’t even know what had happened,” Outerbridge recalled in an interview with the Franklin Pierce University website.
“I remember waking up on the ground, not much else. The whole ride to the hospital was blurry, in and out of consciousness.
“It’s a pretty traumatising period of my life. I make jokes about it now and then, but it’s a cover-up of how big of a deal it really was.”
Outerbridge spent two weeks wearing a heart monitor, his season abruptly cut short.
Uncertainty loomed over his future in athletics, and the question of whether he would ever compete again weighed heavily on him.
However, by January 2022, Outerbridge made a comeback, reclaiming his form and confidence, earning medals in relays at the NE10 Conference Indoor Championships later that same season. His went on to set personal records in the 5K and 8K races.
Outerbridge also earned All-Conference First Team honours and achieved a top-ten finish at regionals, playing a crucial role in helping his team qualify for nationals—a feat accomplished only twice in Franklin Pierce University’s history.
“It was like night and day, what can change in a year,” he said, reflecting on his recovery and resurgence in competitive running.
Since his comeback, he has amassed an impressive collection of accolades, including three conference gold medals in the 1,500 metres, 4×800 relay, and steeplechase. This year, he also finished second behind Lamont Marshall in the Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby.
“Running has been my passion since I was seven or eight years old,” he said. “It’s hard to speak up about what happened, but running on this stage—it’s what I always wanted.”
“Looking back, words can’t even explain how I feel. To see where I’ve come in my collegiate career—it’s something I carry with me every time I step on the course.”
