DyeStatCal Girls
Athlete of the Week
Christine Babcock
(Woodbridge, Irvine)

Week of 9/25-29, 2006
California

DyeStatCal Girls
Athlete of the Week
Christine Babcock
(Woodbridge, Irvine)

Week of 9/25-29, 2006
California

She closed out the 2006 track season with a shocking win in the State Meet over 1600m, taking one of the best fields ever gathered in state history in a stunning 4:41.29, a contest in which she dropped her personal best by over eight seconds!!  In one race she had moved to among the state's best ever over the four lap event!  Always a solid cross-country runner, with a second in last year's State Division II championship at 17:38 at Woodward Park (behind Karen Tarver of Serrano), Woodbridge's Christine Babcock started off the 2006 harrier season in super style, racing to a stunning course record of 16:31 in winning her own school's great evening top seeded race, an effort that obviously upped her stock in the fall sport.  The Woodbridge night event has developed into one of the year's most competitive and anticipated events, and Babcock's strength in dominating that top group has her named our DyeStatCal Athlete of the Week in the sport.  We appreciate her taking the time to answer a few questions for us and certainly wish her the best of luck the rest of the fall!

Doug Speck
DyeStatCal.com

1)The track win at state put your running at a whole other level than previously, how did it affect the way you approached the summer and cross-country in you running?
My coach increased my mileage as well as my pace. He expects me to be the leader for the varsity girls.

2) How much running did you do over the summer?
I ran 40-50 miles per week. We ran more long runs this summer than I had in past years. Some weeks we did two-a-days. I usually took one day off every week.

3) Your running at your own Invitational was quite impressive. It was a big step up for you in cross-country compared to your racing in that sport last year--what general reasons do you think there are for your improvement?
I had a great track season in the spring and it was a stepping stone into the Cross Country season.

4) Talk us through the 16:31 effort, how it went tactics-wise and what you wanted to hit as splits if you had any goals in mind, and how it played out on the course--
Since it was our home invitational, our whole team was really fired up to do well. My race plan was to stay with the lead pack and try and save something for the finish. I was not real concerned with mile splits. Lauren Saylor and Christy Adamyk both pushed me to a fast time.

5) What is your favorite cross-country workout?
I really like recovery days, but I don't think that is what you are asking. In terms of intervals, I like mile repeats.

6) Some quick responses please--
favorite class (besides Mr. Varvas's (her coach - a joke)?
Math.

favorite sports book or movie?
Radio. This is not exactly a sports movie, but a great story that involves sports.

favorite dessert treat?
Um…this is hard to choose. I like ice cream, warm cookies with milk, brownies, and rice crispy treats. This is the perfect runner's diet. :

in ten years I will be?
Hopefully, I will be working with children and living an enjoyable life.

Back to Coaches and Athletes of Week Template