Photographs have the ability to capture important pieces of our past and help us recall people, places, feelings and memories that made an impact on our lives. For many scholar-athletes, pictures secure those special moments and assist in making their collegiate careers last forever.

In a new feature called “Fab Five”, Triton scholar-athletes are tasked to pick five of their favorite photos throughout their career to be highlighted on UCSDtritons.com.

LA JOLLA, Calif. – This Monday, UC San Diego women’s track and field hurdler Zeinab Torabi shares her collection. 

A native of Murrieta, Calif., Torabi is a communication major at Roosevelt College. She serves as a member of the Triton Athletes’ Council's (TAC) executive board and helps out in the video production of other intercollegiate athletic events when she's not competing. Torabi will enter her senior year this fall. 

1. Home Field

California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championships my sophomore year was definitely one to remember because it was our turn in the conference to host. Not only did we have our teammates there to cheer us on from the sidelines, but our friends and family crowded the stands to watch us compete. Although we were the runners-up in the standings, the energy those few days was unmatched and our performances as a team were incredible. I'll never forget the dance off we had at the end of the meet with our rival schools, like it didn't matter we were competing against each other just a few minutes prior.

2. Expect the Unexpected

This photo is one of my favorites because it reminds me of some valuable advice given to us by our coach, Coach Darcy [Ahner]. She always tells us, "Even if the weather is bad and the temperature is not ideal, use it as an advantage where other teams might see it as a disadvantage. Rise up against the conditions, don't let it faze you, and you'll outperform your competitors who are not quite as prepared." The weather conditions at the Long Beach meet that day certainly fell into that category. Cold rain and brisk winds made our legs tight if we weren't properly warmed up, however, despite the weather conditions, our team and myself included, put up some really great marks against many accomplished competitors.

3. Guidance and Encouragement

I included this photo because I wouldn't be where I am today without the coaching I've received at UC San Diego. Although she's not pictured here, my primary coach, Coach Darcy [Ahner] has been through thick and thin with my teammates and I. In addition to being an amazing coach, she's also an amazing individual, always making sure we're taking care of ourselves off the track as well. 

Pictured here is Coach Mick [Gieskes], our sprints coach. I love joking around with him, even in the midst of practice or a competition. He keeps me grounded and eases my nerves which happens a lot in these high intensity situations. In this photo I was probably asking him in which direction do I run, to which he replied "I think straight."

4. My Biggest Supporters

The support system you have on an intercollegiate sports team is unmatched, and in addition to the coaches, my friends and teammates make up a big part of why I run. Track is an interesting sport because even your teammates are your competitors, yet on this team they are my friends before anything else. In my experience, we build each other up rather than bringing one another down, constantly exchanging advice and tips on what works for us and what doesn't. We evolve as a team. This moment pictured is my friends and I celebrating how we swept first, second and third place in the 400 meter hurdles at one of our home meets. That day I accomplished a huge personal record and reached a pro-mark to qualify for nationals.

5. The Moment

This photo is that "moment” – that moment right before the gun goes off and all you have to think about is literally the road ahead of you. As track athletes, we try to clear our minds at this time and only focus on reacting to the sound of the gun, but sometimes I swear I feel like my life flashes before me. It's the longest three seconds of my life, but as soon as the gun goes off, everything I am thinking of disappears and I have to trust that practice has paid off. Despite all the fear and nerves I feel before a race, I push through it and let it all go. That's probably the most important thing track has taught me - to face your fears head on.

Stay tuned for future editions of “Fab Five” from other UC San Diego scholar-athletes. 

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as amember of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I.  The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in DivisionsIII and II and helped guide more than 1,300 scholar-athletes to All-America honors.  A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.