Q1: Tell everyone a little bit about yourself. When did you get started in the sport of running? Did you do any other sports before? If so, what? What made you choose running?
I started running in 7th grade on Tatnall's middle school cross country team as a way to stay in shape and ended up really liking it. I had no idea really what I was doing. Mr. Castagno invited me to run with the upper school team in 8th grade and that's when it all became more than just an activity. I had played lacrosse and basketball when I was younger and never really thought about running. I always liked running and did pretty well in field day in middle school. I was also a midfielder in lacrosse, but I never thought I would run competitively in High School.
Q2: Talk about your season this year; the highlights, the disappointments and the surprises.
I trained really hard all summer and had high expectations for the season. Coach Castagno always says that champions are made in the summer. I faced some injuries early on in the season and was sick, which interrupted my training. I took a week on the bike and did not run Sallies Invitational due to an injury. During the summer I had high goals for the Manhattan Invitational so I was pretty disappointed with my finish. However, with all of the support from my teammates and coaches, I had faith in my training and I began to feel stronger as the season progressed. Another disappointment was when we finished second at the county championships. Charter, who beat us, had a great race that day and a great season overall. The county meet motivated us to come back at states, regroup, and run how we knew we could run. It really wasn't until states that everyone felt their best and ran to their potential. We were all so happy and proud of our performance at states. The excitement from states carried on into the southeast regional championship and to nationals. The biggest surprise was when no one expected us to win the regionals! It was really special to us and it was our goal all season to get to Portland! Everyone ran an amazing race at regionals, which we were so excited about!
Q3: How was NXN? Talk about the regional and then national meet. How does this year compare to last year and what are your goals for next year?
NXN was really a great experience this year. Our performance at regionals got us all so excited and pumped for nationals. It was some of our seniors (Kallie Fehr and Molly Parsons) fourth year going, so we knew what to expect. I went last year as a freshman and ran in the championship race. I didn't really know what to expect, but last years experience really helped me. I knew how I wanted to race and focused some of the parts of the course from last year that I wanted to work on. This year was much more about the race for me. With 600 meters to go in the race, I heard a coach say I was in 13th place. At that point, I knew I could be in the top ten if I really pushed myself. I was really happy with my race, but I'm not satisfied. We are already talking about our team goals for next year. We have a strong team returning and we are shooting for our best performance ever.
Q4: Tell us about your relationship to coach. How has he been instrumental in your success?
Without the coaches I couldn't have accomplished anything I did this year, and our team would have never have been so successful. All of the coaches are amazing and are so dedicated to helping us. Each of them has taught me different lessons. I'm so lucky to have coaches that care so much about each of us, especially Coach Castagno. He is devoted to being the best coach he can be, and knows what to do to get us ready for our big meets. I have so much trust in him, and he always gives the best advice. He believes in me even if I have a terrible race. He pushed me to achieve my best and he truly is the best coach. I am so thankful to have him as our coach.
Q5: What is your training like? What is your "secret of success" or main thing you do to stay healthy and continue to improve?
In the beginning of the season we focus on base work, like longer runs and hard, longer interval workouts. Later on in the season we work on faster stuff, and speed work. I think the main thing I do to stay healthy is to keep up my core work and do all of the little things, like eating right and going to bed early. Coach always says that it's the little things, which lead to huge results. I think that the way I continue to improve is staying positive and having faith in my training. I also think that learning from my mistakes has helped me continue to improve.
Q6: How have your teammates helped you in your running career so far?
My teammates are my best friends and we are all so close. We have so much fun together and laugh all the time. We always run together and encourage each other! They have supported me so much this season and my teammates are one of the reasons why I love running so much. We care about each other, and I think one of the reasons why we have had success is because we run for each other. Our senior captain, Kallie Fehr, is an example of this. She broke her foot at regionals but finished the race because she knew how much we all wanted to make it to nationals. She is a great teammate and showed, during that race, how much she cares about the team. I know in races when I'm tired I think that 6 of my teammates are going through the same pain because they care, which just motivates me. We always say run for the team because that's the most important thing!
Q7: Who do you look up to as a role model, runner or otherwise? What do you admire about them?
As a runner, I admire Juliet Bottorff because of the way she carried herself on and off the course. She's a true champion. I also admire my parents for all of the love and support they give me. They never put pressure on me and believe in me when I sometimes don't. They are always helping me in every way they can, and I couldn't do anything without them.
Q8: What did it mean to you to run with such an exceptional runner such as Juliet Bottorff last year as a freshman?
Having Juliet to look up to the last two years was amazing. It changed the way I thought and raced. I was lucky enough to see an example in practice every day of an incredible runner like Juliet. I watched everything she did and how she carried herself in practice. She is one of the classiest people I know and definitely the best leader I have ever seen. I have learned so much from her and I still ask for her advice all the time. She did the right things in practice and outside of practice. She was always all about the team, and happy for everyone. I'm so lucky I got to run with her for two years! She is still a huge role model for me.
Q9: What are your goals for indoor and outdoor?
We won indoor states and outdoor states last year, which was really exciting, so I think our goal is to repeat, this year. I really just want to help as much as I can and run as many events as I need to, in order to help the team win these meets! Our winter season is spent on strength work and very little focus is on sharpening for races. We all just like trying to rally in big meets and see what we can do. Other goals I have are concentrated on improving myself as a runner and in my races. I do have time goals but more importantly my general goals are doing the little things right and having fun.
Q10: Lastly, what are you asking for Christmas?
I don't really know! I guess I'm just asking for some clothes! I just love Christmas because my brother comes home from school and we get to spend time together as a family.
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at January 01, 2010 17:05 EST