5th place finish in Girl's D1 State Meet with a time of 18:05.80. (photo M. Stonecipher)
Solon Sophomore Olivia Howell was the highest placing freshman in the girl's D1 State Cross Country meet last fall, as well as being one of only two freshman that placed in the Top 10 in the D1 girl's race. Allison Gaugenti of Olentangy Orange was 7th in 18:13.90. She was 3rd indoors in the OATCCC D1 Girl's 1600m (5:06.89) and 2nd outdoors in the OHSAA D1 Girl's 1,600 (4:57.95). The petite sophomore gained valuable experience as a freshman. Her raw talent has not been realized yet, but she has "learned that it doesn't get easier, but the end result gets better and better." Watch for her to continue to establish herself this year as one of the top girl's distance runners in the State.
We had the opportunity to talk with her about her successful freshman season and what we can expect from her this year."
OH MileSplit: Olivia, congratulations on such an outstanding freshman season in both cross country and track. Thank you for the opportunity to talk with one of the youngest and most competitive female runners in the state.
First,
what is your favorite running memory from freshman year?
Olivia: My favorite memory was getting to run with a great team and having a successful season.
OH MileSplit: You excelled as a young runner in your freshman year. What were your expectations starting your freshman year? Did your success impact how your expectations for your sophomore cross country season?
Olivia: I didn't expect to be one of the top runners. I kind of expected to be in the 21's and then get down to 19:00 by senior year. I am hoping to become a better pacer for myself since I don't have Louiza to pull me through, and I am hoping to continue to improve my times. (Louiza Wise graduated in 2016. She was 9th in the D1 girl's race Last year and 4th in the 3,200 both Indoors and outdoors.) My season showed me that I can improve a lot if I just put in as much work or more.
OH MileSplit: Your performance, representing Cleveland, at the International Children's Games last month in Taiwan, was remarkable. You represented our country and state admirably at the international level. What were your expectations for an international level race? We're you surprised that you were able to win the 800m? Take us through the last 200m of that race.
Olivia: When I first heard that I was going to be racing internationally, I knew that there were going to be really fast people that I was going to compete against. So, I was a little nervous going into the race, but I knew that once I started racing, I would get comfortable. I was pretty surprised because the 800 is not my main event, and there were people in the race who focus on that event. With 200m left, I started to get tired and wanted to test if people were going to hang on if I started to kick. There were still a few following, but they started to fall back a little. That was when I knew I had to increase my kick. Down the last 50m, I started to get scared because I was quickly tiring, but for some reason, my legs just sped up. Before I knew it, I crossed the finish line in first.
OH MileSplit: Has your participation in the Games
in mid-July, changed your summer training schedule? Did it put you behind in
building a base to start the Cross Country season or is this a concern? Are you continuing to build a base now or
have you started more specific pace and speed work?
Olivia: I feel like the training for the Games, if anything, will just help improve my finish during a cross country race. I have been practicing to learn better pacing.
OH MileSplit: Did competing at the international level teach you anything new about racing? And if so, please explain.
Olivia: It wasn't so much of a learning experience, as much as it was just a great experience.
OH MileSplit: How long have you been running and why did you start?
Olivia: I have been running for about 4 years now. I started because ever since I was in elementary school, I loved the pacer tests and then the mile. I never thought I would actually race because I was still trying out other sports at the time, like softball and basketball. The summer going into 7th grade, I found out about AAU track. That summer, I did sprints, running in the 4x400m, 4x100m and 80meter hurdles. After trying out sprints, I learned about cross country. I instantly loved it after that, and I stopped doing sprints and started to run long distance.
OH MileSplit: We're you surprised by your performance last year at the Cross Country State Meet, or did you expect to run as well as you did?
Olivia: I was expecting to be at least in top 20, but I never thought I would get top 5.
OH MileSplit: What motivates you to run?
Olivia: I just really enjoy running. I'm motivated by the satisfaction of just continuing to improve.
OH MileSplit: How do you cope with a bad race?
Olivia: Usually, I'm a little disappointed, but then I just know that not every race will be good. I remind myself that there are better races to come.
OH MileSplit: What do you do to help the miles go by on long
runs?
Olivia: I always have my teammates to make the runs entertaining and fun.
OH MileSplit: In describing yourself, what is the first thing you would want someone to know about you?
Olivia: The first thing I would want someone to know about me is that I'm hardworking.
OH MileSplit: You finished 5th at the OHSAA State Cross Country Meet (18:05.80) and then 2nd in the 1600m at the OHSAA Track and Field State Meet (4:57.95); two equally impressive finishes as a freshman.
Olivia: I felt pretty good for the whole race; I started to pick it up with around a mile and a half to go, but I don't really know why. If I remember correctly, I think I sped up because I thought the finish was closer. But coming toward the last stretch, I started to pick people off one by one, and the more people I saw in front of me, the faster I went to catch them. When I came around the corner I just gave it all I had left and passed one last person.
2015 D1 State at the Mile. (photo Christian Lisle)
Coming off the field, down the hill, just before the 2800m mark. (Photo Christian Lisle)
500m to go. (photo Chris Greene)
OH MileSplit: What did you learn from your first varsity XC season and how did it influence your indoor and outdoor track season?
Olivia: I learned that it doesn't get easier, but the end result gets better and better.
OH MileSplit: Have you found that you prefer one sport to the other? Why?
Olivia: I prefer cross country because it is more fun to run throughout nature on different courses, rather than running around and around and seeing the same thing the whole time.
OH MileSplit: Do you have any suggestions for incoming freshman as they are about to start their first cross country seasons?
Olivia: Remember that everything is worth it in the end. Those mile or two mile repeats and never-ending hill workouts all pay off eventually.
