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Sr. Athena Welsh of St. Thomas Aquinas is the #1 ranked returning D3 girl in the State with an 18:07.12. She ran that time in placing 3rd last year in the D3 Girls race at National Trails. She has been to the State meet three times: in 2012 she was 36th with a 19:31.06, in 2014 she was 6th in 18:58.12 and she was 3rd in 2014. She is also a two time defending State D3 1600m, winning in 2014 (5:02.98) and 2015 (4:58.87). In both years she did the difficult 1600 - 3200 double, placing 2nd both years. In 2014 she ran 11:16.43 and in 2015, 11:08.02. She also has two 2nd place finishes in the 1600 at the OATCCC Indoor State Championships, running 5:08.38 in 2014 and 5:03.85 in 2015. She has the strength and the speed to not only be on the podium in November, but to win.
Best time in a 5K race and in which meet?
Best 5k - 2014 State XC Meet 18:07
Tell us how your summer training is going?
How is summer training going- Took a little time off after the State Track Meet and now back running and lifting , getting ready for XC season.
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
Individual State XC Title and Team Title .
How long have you been running and how did you get started?
I started running track in 8th. grade and XC in 9th grade.
Will you be competing anywhere out of state this season?
I don't know yet if I will be running out of state, I hope to.
What is your favorite course to run in Ohio?
My favorite XC courses are Boardman and The State Meet course.
What is the toughest course to run in Ohio?
I think Malone is hard, has lots of hills.
What meet during the regular season do you put extra emphasize on to compete well at?
Boardman Meet.
What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career?
2014 State XC Meet.
Favorite cross country memory?
Making it to State the past two years as a team.
When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?
Eating....
Favorite quote?
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift"
What shoes do you train in? What shoes do you race in?
I train in Asics and I race in New Balance Spikes.
What's on your Ipod when you go out for runs?
I don't listen to music when I run.
What professional athlete would you most like to meet?
Alexi Pappas
What is something that most people don't know about you?
I like to read.