LA#10 St. Thomas Acquinas' Malia Calia(18:47)
How Many Years have you been running
This is my first year.
What got you started on running
My Uncle Steve brought me to the Crescent City Classic with him, and I liked it so
he suggested that run for St. Thomas. I did not expect to win, but I thought it
would keep me in shape for soccer.
What's your typical week of mileage/ training consist of
We usually practice 5 days a week with 2 days of speed work and three days of
distance, and I try to go for a run atleast once during the weekend. I run between
4 and 6 miles on distance days, and I also run at soccer practice.
Thoughts on your Coach
My coach knows a lot about running, and I would not be doing as well as I am
without him helping me learn.
Favorite/ most memorable race you have run this year/and in your career
My favorite race was the one we ran at Pelican Park in Mandeville because it was
the first time that I broke 19 minutes.
Are you looking forward/ getting excited about the state meet
Yes! I am very nervous but excited at the same time. I am praying that I have my
best race because I know I will be going up against my toughest competition.
Who do you consider your biggest rival in state both individually and as a
team
I would have to say the senior from Sacred Heart who beat me at Highland is my
biggest rival. I am really looking forward to running against her at state because
I know she is going to push me to run my best.
What's your motivation to keep pushing in races when you're out front
alone and know you have it won
I usually think about my time, or I try to run like there is somebody right behind
me. I also know that it is not over until I cross the line, so I tell myself that
if I don't keep a pushing, I might get beat.
What is/ were your goals for this season/ and do you feel you have met
them/will meet them
My original goal was to break 19, but once I accomplished that I set new goals.
Now my goal is to PR and possibly win at state. My long term goal is to keep
improving each year and to eventually break 18.
Any superstitions
race day rituals
I almost always eat a banana and make sure to drink plenty of water, and,it is not
a ritual, but I always have a stomach ache from nerves before races.
What do you do when you are not running/hobbies etc
I play soccer just about year round, and I play volleyball. Other than organized
sports, I pretty much enjoy playing any sports for fun.
Are you going to continue running in college
I would like to play soccer in college, but if running is what will get me there,
then that is what I will do.
Who is someone you look to as a role model (running and non)
Mia Hamm and Whitney Curry
If you could tell a young and upcoming runner one thing that helped you
reach where you are right now what would it be
I am kind of a young and upcoming runner myself, but from what knowledge I have
gained, I would tell them to never quit and that running is just as much mental as
it is physical.
How's it feel to have the 4thth fastest time in Louisiana this year and as
only a freshman
When you
show up to a meet do you feel others are intimidated and how do you keep
yourself humble with the amount of success you have enjoyed
It feels good to see my hard work pay off, but I still have a lot of work to do.
As you said, I am 4th, so I still need to beat three more times before I can feel
great. I am glad I am a freshman because that gives me three more years to
improve. I am just like everybody else when I show up to a meet, and I always keep
in mind that anyone can be beaten on any given day.
Do you feel there is a lot of room fro improvement in the years to come
Of course! No matter how well I run, I know it can always be better. I am
constantly looking to improve in areas where I am weak, and I am always open to
advice from anyone willing to give some.
LA#5 UHigh's Julia Whitrock (18:21)
How Many Years have you been running?
This is my second year.
What got you started on running?
I started running after I went out for soccer my sophomore year. I was AWEFUL at it. One day during soccer, I saw the Cross Country team finishing practice and decided I was going to try it, so I went out for the team the next year.
What's your typical week of mileage/ training consist of?
We do speed work on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Fridays (if there's no meet Saturday) On the other days its just mileage runs. On Sunday we go to Highland and do an easy run.
Thoughts on your Coach
I love my coach! I credit him with making me so interested in cross country and running. He really turned around the cross country program at U-High, I mean; our boy's team was state runner up last year! Even though I don't like to hear him tell me to take time off or to not run, he is very knowledgeable about the sport and knows what is best for me and the team.
Favorite/ most memorable race you have run?
My most memorable race was Metro last year. It seemed like at that race, running clicked for me. I have really enjoyed it after that race.
Are you looking forward/ getting excited about the state meet?
Yes!!! I'm really glad I have a bit more experience this year than last year with running. I think it will help me at state.
Who do you consider your biggest rival in state both individually and as a team?
I see everyone as my biggest rivals. I think everyone who goes out there and races pushes me to do my best at every race.
What's your motivation to keep pushing in races when you're out front
alone and know you have it won?
The clock tends to push me at races. This year, I wanted to focus on my time, so even when I'm not in front I'm always thinking about my time. I also feel like there's always a possibility that someone could come up behind me- I don't think I can completely know I have it won until I cross the finish line.
What is/ were your goals for this season/ and do you feel you have met
them/will meet them?
This year my race goal was to break 18 min. I don't know how attainable that is anymore because I got injured, but I'll definitely push myself in the remaining races to try and achieve it. I also wanted to acquire a more confident attitude this year, and I think I have met that goal. I like to focus on just running for running and not get too caught up in everything.
Any superstitions? race day rituals?
I like to go get sushi the night before a race.
What do you do when you are not running/hobbies etc?
This year, school has been taking up a considerable amount of my time. But when I'm not running or doing schoolwork, I have been enjoying my last year in high school with my friends. I also love to read and bake, especially with chocolate! Haha
Are you going to continue running in college?
Which colleges are you
considering?
I definitely want to keep running in college. I don't think I could give it up after two years, I love it too much. I am looking at Tulane, University of Georgia, LSU, and a few other southern schools.
Who is someone you look to as a role model (running and non)?
I went to Gulf States this year and saw everybody there, staff and runners, as role models. They were all so knowledgeable and passionate about the sport. They pushed me even before the season started.
If you could tell a young and upcoming runner one thing that helped you
reach where you are right now what would it be?
I think one thing that helped me was how much I learned to enjoy the sport. As much as it hurts sometimes, you have to keep running. I think there are huge rewards from this sport.
How's it feel to have the 2nd fastest time in Louisiana this year? When you
show up to a meet do you feel others are intimidated and how do you keep
yourself humble with the amount of success you have enjoyed?
That's insane. I didn't expect to be where I am today in running a year ago. I don't feel that others are intimidated by me, if anything, I'm intimidated by them! I always think that so much that is unexpected can take place during a race it's hard not to be humble.