Vandy Runner

TO SAY THAT VANDERBILT FRESHMAN ADRIENNE DIRADDO RUNS WITH HEART IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

ACTUALLY FOR A WHILE IT WAS MORE LIKE A HOLE IN HER HEART.

BUT AS FOX 17'S DAN PHILLIPS REPORTS - DESPITE SEVERAL SURGERIES.

THIS DORE IS GOING THE DISTANCE!


LACING UP HER SHOES AND GOING FOR A JOG HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN AN OPTION FOR ADRIENNE DIRADDO...

HER SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, DIRADDO REQUIRED HEART SURGERY.

((Adrienne DiRaddo: "We had the hole closed, which was causing all these problems for me."))

BUT THE PROBLEMS DIDN'T END THERE. THIS PAST FEBRUARY...

((Adrienne DiRaddo: "On Valentine's day, actually. (Laughs))

DOCTORS AT VANDERBILT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PERFORMED ANOTHER TUNE-UP ON HER TICKER.

NOW, THE ONLY HINT OF HER HEART AILMENTS ARE THIS MONITOR SHE WEARS WHILE RUNNING. APPROPRIATELY NAMED HUGO.

((Nat Sound: "Where ever I go, he goes. Hugo."))

AND DIRADDO IS GOING PLACES...IN A HURRY. THE COMMODORE FRESHMEN RUNNING AWAY WITH THE BEST NEWCOMER AWARD AS WELL AS HER COACH AND TEAMMATES HEARTS.

((Rita Jorgensen: "It never fazed her. She doesn't dwell on it. She's just like, 'Okay, I had surgery, and I'm still really good. And I'm going to work as hard, or harder than everyone else.' And, it's just really neat. She's really an inspiration."))

(Steven Keith: "I have to try and remember that ah, I'm like 'Adrienne, remind me if we're doing something too hard.'"))

WHICH ISN'T OFTEN. ADRIENNE'S HEART TROUBLES HAVEN'T JUST TOUGHENED HER UP.

BUT GIVEN PERSPECTIVE THAT'S RARE FOR SOMEONE HER AGE.

((Adrienne DiRaddo: "I don't need to rush things, because I've got a while here. And it's kind of taught me to appreciate life as it comes."))

OR IN ADRIENNE DIRADDO'S CASE, AS IT GOES. DAN PHILLIPS, FOX 17 SPORTS.

GOOD LUCK TO ADRIENNE AND THE DORES ON FRIDAY.
THEY HOST THE VANDERBILT INVITATIONAL.
SEVEN HUNDRED ATHLETES ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE.
HARD TO BEAT ADRIENNE'S STORY OF SUCCESS!