Interval Session #6 - Alex Banfich Fans at the Portage Invitational in Michigan have always witnessed the top competition in the state and some of the best in the Midwest, but they will have a special treat this year with two-time Foot Locker Finalist Alexandra Banfich headlining the girls field. Each year, the meet attracts a few out-of-state schools, with Banfich’s team – Culver Academy of Indiana – among those for 2007. After this meet, Banfich’s attention will return to winning her third straight state title in Indiana and returning to the Foot Locker Finals in San Diego. As a soph, Alex qualified 8th, then was 35th in the finals. Last fall she snuck in for the 10th and final spot at Kenosha, but enjoyed a big improvement at Balboa in taking 17th. Last spring, she won the 3200 at her state meet in 10:36.47, then ran 10:39.40 for the full 2M at NON. So far this fall, Alex unbeaten with a best of 17:58 at the New Prairie Invite. For a few miles and insights with her, DyeStat News Editor SteveU heads to the Heart of Hoosier-land (and the original stamping grounds of a certain DyeStat founder).

1. How was your summer of training and how do you feel about the way the season has started for you so far? My summer training was a little bit more mileage than last summer, but that’s how it’s been every year – I’ve increased probably 5 miles/week every year. The summer was great, but I ran by myself a lot because none of my teammates live close by, so it would have been nice to have some company on the runs. As for the start of the year, it’s been great! The change from girls running 4k to 5k (in Indiana) is a welcome change to me because it makes the transition to Foot Locker nonexistent, and it’s easier to compare times to girls in other states. Also making the transition to 6k in college will be easier coming from 5k instead of 4k. 2. You have a chance to become a three-time Foot Locker qualifier. How does it feel going for it this year compared to other years? What are your goals like this year? I’m definitely a lot less nervous and intimidated by the whole post-season racing like I was when I was younger. Being so nervous in the hours preceding meets probably hurt me a little bit, so having a little more confidence and knowing what to expect at these meets will really help me. My goals are pretty simply to improve every year, so I’ll definitely be going for something better than 17th at Foot Locker this year! Other goals are just to have fun, hopefully get the team to state again, and win state myself. 3. Last year, it seemed like you kind of squeaked in to qualify, but then in San Diego, you improved quite a bit from your first year. Talk about how the end of the season went for you last year. Last year’s race in Wisconsin was definitely not a comfortable one for me – I think because I was so nervous I got a cramp and I was not feeling well for almost the entire race. On the same note, San Diego my first year was also not a strong race whatsoever, and I definitely improved last year and had a solid race. This year, I’m obviously looking to have great races at both FLMW and (hopefully) the finals, and I think learning what I did wrong at both races in years past will really help me do that. This being my senior year, and going into my last couple of high school cross country races, I really want to just see what I can do and have fun racing as hard as I can. 4. It seems like you're a bit more of a natural in XC compared to track. Do you like XC a lot better, or do you enjoy track just as much or more? Do you have any thoughts about how you'd like to run this coming spring? I’ll admit that I do enjoy XC more – probably because I love running through trails and up and down hills. XC, to me, is more about racing the person next to you than it is about times and splits. However racing is racing, no matter where you are, so both are fun. This coming spring I’m looking to really improve and run some fast races! 5. Culver Academy seems like a pretty demanding place academically. Can you talk about the challenge there of juggling school and sports, and what are some of the special aspects of the school you appreciate? The academics here are definitely challenging, but more than that, Culver’s goal is to make you balance a lot of different things. I’m involved in a lot of different projects and clubs on top of sports and, obviously, academics. Another unique thing about Culver, other than that it’s a boarding school, is that the girls have a leadership system in which I’m the highest ranked “leader.” Like all things, doing a lot of activities at once can be really stressful, but I’m having fun with it. I like being busy and involved, and even though I get a little stressed at times, I probably wouldn’t have it any other way. 6. You've been the best runner on your team for a long time, but being fast may or may not translate into leadership as a runner. Now that you are a senior, what does that mean to you in terms of relating to your teammates? Being the No. 1 runner kind of forces you into a leadership position, because whatever you do, the younger girls will be looking for an example, so leadership on the team is definitely something I’m aware of. I’m one of two team captains this year and we really work on just having fun with the team and striving to do our best, just like any other team. 7. Can you talk about the relationship you have with your coach (Michael Chastain) and your family in terms of how they support you as a runner? I live 15 minutes away from the school, so I see my parents often – they come to all the meets and I see them a lot. They’re definitely my biggest supporters! My dad still insists on making me dinner the nights before all my meets; no matter what they’re serving in the dining hall, I always have pasta from home. I’m definitely going to miss that next year! My coach and I also have a great relationship, probably because of all the time we spend together traveling to and from meets and all the time over the summer, and it’s great! I’m lucky to have a coach that knows what he’s doing and looks beyond high school to my long-term career as a runner. 8. Obviously, you have to put in a lot of time running and into your studies. But what does Alex Banfich like to do for fun when she has a little free time? I live on a lake, and I love to go tubing, skiing, and jet-skiing (probably not the safest of activities, but I’m careful!). Other than that, I love relaxing with my friends, traveling places, and meeting new friends. Photo by Pat Davey from Foot Locker Midwest

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