(Photo provided by Allison Guagenti)
Allison Guagenti is a Sophomore at Olentangy Orange High School. She is the top returner in the D1 OATCCC Indoor State Champions 800m. Her sophomore season began with a 2nd place finish at the 2016 D1 OHSAA Ohio State Cross Country Championships.
MileSplit Ohio: Allison, thank you for allowing MileSplit Ohio to interview you. After four successful seasons of high school running, you continue to demonstrate why you are a young star of the sport. You finished 3rd in the 2016 OATCCC Indoor State Championships 800m, running 2:18.73; your 4:59.33 1600m at the 2016 OHSAA State Track and Field Championships earned you 6th overall and you finished runner-up at the 2016 OHSAA Ohio State Cross Country Championships in 17:35.70, a time faster than the previous National Trail Raceway record. How have these accomplishments aligned with the goals you set for each season? Have you found yourself exceeding your goals or have you felt disappointed after any season?
Allison Guagenti: Every one of these accomplishments have exceeded my goals and expectations. I've gone into every one of these meets with very high goals but have always come out achieving more than I thought I was capable of. I don't think there's ever really been a point when I've been disappointed after racing in these big meets, but there are certainly times when I've run and things don't quite go the way I was hoping - but never have I necessarily been disappointed.
Do you prefer cross country or track? Why?
It's hard for me to pick one over the other, there are certain things that make me love both track and cross country. But, for me, as long as I'm running, I'm happy. I really love the speed aspect of track, but I also love the long distance and mental game of cross country. I also really enjoy the team part in cross county. Surviving long, hot summer runs brings us closer together and creates a bond between us that is like no other.
What are your strengths as a runner?
I feel that one of my strengths is my finish. There's something about being able to see the finish and just thinking to myself, "give it all you've got." This really pushes me to kick it as hard as I can and not to give up until I'm over that finish line. I also feel that my starts are pretty strong. I like to get out fast and settle in after about 400m or so. One of my favorite feelings while running is when I get 5 seconds into the race. All my nerves have disappeared and it just my friends / competitors and I doing the thing we love.
Allison using her strong finish to secure a victory at the 2016 Galion Cross Country Festival
(Photo Mark Stonecipher)
What do fear most about training or racing? How do you overcome
these fears?
One of my greatest fears is getting injured. I had an injury in 7th grade that normally ends people's running careers. I'm incredibly grateful to have overcome this injury and be where I am today. But with this, I'm very conscious whenever I have a pain that occurs for more than one day. I just listen to my body and do what I need to do to get better. Another fear of mine is falling during a race. There's not much that can be done about that, but I just try to get out fast and do my best to not get caught in big packs of people that could increase the risk of getting tripped up.
You have raced well in the 5k, 3200m, 1600m, 800m, and 400m. You have even jumped 4'-8" in high jump. What events will you focus on this indoor season?
I will mostly be focusing on the 1600 and 800 for the indoor season, as well as the 4x800 and the 4x400.
You opened your 2017 indoor season at the Otterbein High School Qualifier #2 in the 1600m and the 800m. You ran away with the 1600m in 5:12.52 and finished 3rd in the 800m. What were your reactions to those races?
I really surprised myself in the mile; I wasn't really expecting anything close to a 5:12.52, considering I had had a pretty big swim meet the day before. Going into that race, I was just really hoping to be right around 5:20-5:25. But after running the mile in that time, I was hoping to get a pretty good 800 time because I had felt really good. The 800m didn't really end up going the way I wanted it to because I just felt tired after a long weekend. But, all in all, it was a pretty exciting meet for me.
After cross country and through the winter months, what has your weekly mileage been? How will that change during outdoor track?
After I finished my cross country season, I went straight into swim season with my school's swim team and took about a week and a half off of running. Once I started running I've averaged about 15-20 miles a week with swim practice 4-5 times a week on top of that. Once outdoor starts I will no longer have to worry about swimming, so there will definitely be an increase in my mileage, as well as more track workouts.
Why did you start running? What motivates you to train?
When I was in 7th grade, I was really into swimming year around, so my mom told me that I should try cross country just to try something new. I didn't really know what it was, but running sounded cool. So, I decided to try it, and I have loved it ever since. What really motivates me to keep running is my love for it, as well as my teammates and the feelings I get after finishing a long run or a hard workout together.
Who are your biggest supporters?
My biggest supporters are my parents, my grandma, and my coach. Coach Walters has provided me with support to get through hard workouts, cheered me up when I'm down after a rough race, but most of all, pushed me to be the best person and runner that I can be. My number one supporter, though, is definitely my mom. She does everything for me when it comes to eating right, taking me to big meets, and buying me new running shoes, and many other things. Without the support of my mom, I don't know where I would be.
What do you want to achieve in running by the time you graduate?
I really hope to qualify for Nike Nationals as well as Foot Locker Nationals. I have dreamed of qualifying for these races ever since I found out about them back in 7th grade.
MileSplit Ohio thanks you for your time and congratulates you on your accomplishments so far. We wish you the best in the seasons to come!
