-Athlete Name: Sydney Leiher
-School: Beavercreek High School
-Year of Graduation: 2013
-Best time in a 5K race and in which meet:
18:03 at the 2011 Greater Western Ohio Conference Meet at Fairborn High School.
-Tell us how your summer training is going?
My Summer training is going pretty well so far. I started running again on July 1st after a two week break from track season. I plan on maxing out at around 40 miles a week by the end of the summer. I do my long runs on Wednesdays that are 9 miles. Then Mondays and Fridays I do quicker pace mileage runs. The rest of the days are easy mileage recovery runs. Saturday is my rest day. I am also big on cross training by alternating between an hour lap swim or an hour bike ride.
-What are your goals for the upcoming season?
My goals for this upcoming cross country season is to stay healthy, better my times and place in every meet, and for my team and me to be competitive on the national level.
-How long have you been running and how did you get started?
I started running cross country and track in the 7th grade, but before that I did a lot of those "kid fun runs".
-Will you be competing anywhere out of state this season?
My team will be competing at the Tiger Run in Louisville, Kentucky. We will also be competing at the Great American cross country festival in North Carolina. Post season we plan on running at the Nike Regional, then I plan on running at the Footlocker Regional as well.
-What is your favorite course to run in Ohio?
My favorite course to run in Ohio is the state meet course. I love that course because it is flat and fast. I consider myself more of a miler, so when I get to run on flat courses it is so fun.
-What is the toughest course to run in Ohio?
In my opinion the toughest course to run in Ohio is Mason. It is has everything shoved into 3.1 miles. Hills, water, and the hay bails make it extremely tough.
-What meet during the regular season do you put extra emphasize on to compete well at?
This year we are putting emphasize on The Great American cross country festival in North Carolina. Some of the best teams in the country come to this meet, and if you do well it is a great place to get looked at for an at large bid for Nike Nationals.
-What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career?
My favorite cross country race so far in my high school career has to be the state meet in 2011. It was so fun overall. Placing 3rd was amazing, but my team finishing an unperdicted 2nd place makes it hands down my favorite race.
-Favorite cross country memory?
My favorite cross country memory is that the day before the state meet my team went to Dave and Busters in Columbus to play games, relax, and get our minds of off of the race.
-When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?
When I'm not running my favorite things to do are play ice hockey, swim with my friends, eat, and sleep.
-Favorite quote?
"Never have a plan B because it distracts you from plan A" -Will Smith
-What's on your Ipod when you go out for runs?
I really like listening to 80's music, especially 80's rock.
-What professional athlete would you most like to meet?
Tim Tebow, we are Denver fans and I loved him on the Broncos (him getting traded to the Jets is still a touchy subject).
