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Cross Country 08

Meant to bridge the midweek interval between the meet-intensive weekends during the season, the DyeStat Interval Sessions are an opportunity to get to know some of the top male and female high school harriers from around the country. Each week, we'll head out for a quick interval session with one boy and one girl making headlines this fall on the national scene.


Interval Session #86 - Kayla Hale FL

"It's hard to even explain my experiences at Foot Locker. I have never had my best race at Balboa, so I guess you could say I would have liked to perform a little better, but I am just so grateful to have had the opportunity to stand on the starting line with those girls. All the hard work and early mornings are worth it when you get to go there! It's more than the race, the whole weekend is truly an experience I will never forget...and I hope to get a chance to go again!READ MORE

Interval Session #85 - Joseph Manilafasha

"I am very satisfied with the season so far.  My junior year didn't go very well do to diet changes I was making. This year has gone well, but I am personally not going to count any of the other runners out.  It's one thing to run faster than everyone in other classifications, and it's another thing to be facing them in the same race.READ MORE

Interval Session #84 - Sarah Andrews TX

"We have an awesome group of girls this year.  Everyone on this team has such a big heart, and we have all improved and grown closer as a team all season.  Every person on the team is truly running for the team.  I competed at state both my freshman and sophomore year, so I had that experience to share with the other girls ...  It's been very rewarding to run well and to encourage the girls with their running, and to grow closer spiritually.READ MORE

Interval Session #83 - Jakub Zivec MN

"I am enjoying every single day, because it's not going to last forever. Living here is almost like my dream which I wanted for a long time. Obviously, I miss my family and friends, but I still have something to do, so I don't even have time to miss them. Almost everything surprised me, but the difficulty of school surprised me the most.  Favorite things here in Grand Rapids are cool friends which I have met.  Also, running here is way more fun and much more popular.READ MORE

Interval Session #82 - Ellie Hylton MA

"I'm really grateful to have the opportunity to mentor the younger members of the team this year--when I was a freshman, I didn't even expect myself to become a Varsity runner, let alone a leader of a nationally-ranked team. We are each other's motivation - we almost never focus on the rankings, because the rankings have no impact on our training or racing.READ MORE

Interval Session #81 - Derek Storkel WI

"The way I see it, no matter what times a guy runs, he needs just as much support as the guy winning the race.  He's running the same race and the same distance, so he's going to need people to cheer him on just as the winner does.  I think the guys realize that that's what I believe and in return I get some of the best teammates a guy could ask for.READ MORE

Interval Session #80 - Megan Goethals MI

"Going into the Spartan Invitational, I was really nervous ... I thought that maybe a top-three finish would be a good goal ... When I crossed the finish line first and saw my time, I was shocked.  My time was 17:39 and my goal for the season was to run under 18 minutes.  This race was a giant confidence booster because it showed me that I could run at another level.READ MORE


Interval Session #79 - Joe & Jim Rosa NJ
"[Jim:] We definitely have our best workouts when we’re running with each other, but sometimes they get a little out of control.  Especially long runs…they get pretty bad sometimes.  But it’s only going to help us because we’re working a little bit harder, and I’m happy he’s there pushing the pace because it makes me tougher as a runner."  READ MORE

Interval Session #78 - Megan Marsico VA

"I really love running because it’s something that is mind over matter.  You have to pull your own weight and you have no help.  I also love that you find out more about yourself when running.  You control your body and its up to you whether you hurt and push yourself.READ MORE

Interval Session #77 - Barak Watson ID

"I do wish I had started earlier, even if it was just to gain racing experience. Before joining the team I just ran in local road races, and then in the fall would race in some open cross country meets, with the goal of doing well at Foot Locker West.  But racing once every other month, combined with my sporadic training, wasn't enough and I was never able to perform very well.READ MORE

Interval Session #76 - Chelsea Ley NJ

"Last year I did run quite a bit of mileage, but I did increase it a bit this year.  So far, my body’s been handling it pretty well; I haven’t had any injuries yet.  I’ve been trying to keep that mileage at a good average every week, because I don’t want to flat-line—doing all that mileage in the summer and then dropping off.  I’ve been still trying to keep it up pretty high and I’m just praying I stay healthy—that’s always a risk with running higher mileage." READ MORE

Interval Session #75 - Craig Lutz TX

"Coming into the season, my goal was to be a contender for a state championship and that has not changed with the amount of depth in the state.  However, we’ve set another goal and that’s to make it to Nike Cross Nationals and to hopefully place high in that.  Also, as a team, were pushing to make it out there and to contend for a state championship." READ MORE

Interval Session #74 - Jessica Tonn AZ

"... it (this fall's Great American) seemed like such a fun experience.  I also wanted to get in a race with these girls before my big races later on in the season.  I am approaching this meet with an aggressive attitude, and confidence in the training I have put in these last few months and over the summer.  I feel this will be a chance for me to prove to those watching, my friends and family – but mostly to myself – that I really can run with these amazing girls." READ MORE

Interval Session #73 - Dominick Robinson WY

"People always think runners from Wyoming are horrible because of the slow times, but not many people realize how much elevation affects running. In fact, when I ran at sea-level I cut 24 seconds  off my PR in the 3200 meters because I always race above 4500 ft, so at least I know what elevation can do." READ MORE

Interval Session #72 - Emily Sisson MO

"Soccer was so much fun, and I'm glad I did it. I'm not exactly sure what it was about running that pulled me in, but I remember just wanting to get better at it.  I realized that I really enjoyed running a lot. It was difficult to leave my friends on the team, but I still talk to some of them." READ MORE

Interval Session #71 - Steve Sulkin IL

"This year's team is so much better than last year.  Jordan and I are the captains and we all do our role to lead the team.  Jordan is the vocal leader.  He is good at telling people what's up.  I don't say much, but I lead the workouts and make sure the team is doing work.  All we need to do this year is to run to our potential on race day.  We are all in good enough shape, but we can't let the race psych us out." READ MORE

Interval Session #70 - Kathy Kroeger TN

"Foot Locker South was the “I’m BACK!” race for me.  After months of watching from the sidelines and then months of working so hard to get back in shape, it was such a triumph to be competitive, finish well and know that I was headed back to nationals." READ MORE

Interval Session #69 - Zach Tennant WV

"I feel like I am a lot stronger mentally, and I have been just focusing on trying to do all the little things, like core work, eating right, getting a lot of water in my system, and sleep. I really think I have a good chance [to qualify for FL Nationals], though my times do not reflect it. But I invite any runner from any other state to run some of the courses we run, and then they'll understand."
READ MORE

Interval Session #68 - Shelby Greany NY

"I think a lot of my success comes from just loving to run. I never feel like it is a chore to go out and run, and I definitely do not go out and pound a lot of miles. People always seem to think I run a lot more than I do, but I think because I don't run an insane amount of miles per week, it has helped keep me healthy and successful in New York state." READ MORE

Interval Session #67 - Mac Fleet CA

"I post on DyeStat in waves …The main reason I don’t hide behind screen names or turn down friend requests is because I want other kids to run faster ... I try and give the best advice I can to those that ask.  It’s also good to keep a level head and not get too sure of yourself (of which DyeStat does a very good job)." READ MORE

Interval Session #66 - Madeline Morgan AL

"NTN was definitely a surprising meet for me, I didn't go into it with any big expectations other than for our team. We went out to Oregon with a great mentality and just had fun with it instead of letting pressure get to us; I felt like the team mentality played a huge role in my individual race. I wasn't expecting the win but just had something left towards the end of the race, it was a very surprising and exciting experience." READ MORE

Interval Session #65 - Bobby Nicolls CO

"I love rankings and they're definitely fun to talk about, but in the end the only ranking that matters is the finish list at nationals, and none of the guys in that meet are going to let preseason articles effect that." READ MORE

Interval Session #64 - Taylor Wallace OR

"Everyone always compares you to other people's times when you know that you're better, so the only way to prove you're the best is to run the fastest times. So at state I always try to run the fastest times and try my best. Wanting to have the fastest time in all the classifications makes me run faster and definitely fuels a desire to go out and throw down a fast time." READ MORE
Interval Session #63 - Zach Ornelas TX

"My overall goal since the start of high school has been to make it to Foot Locker, but I like the sound of the new NXN too.  I will make my decision based on where the top runners go.  I want to be at the true national championship, so I can be satisfied with how I do and not have the thought in the back of my head: "Well, sure I did well here, but would I have gotten smoked at the other meet?" READ MORE

Interval Session Index
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