Sydney Leiher Beavercreek 2013
Personal Bests
· 1,600 Meter Run 4:49.61
· 2,000 Meter Steeplechase 7:06.32
· 3200 Meter Run 10:43.30
· Three Mile Run 18:26.00
· 400 Meter Dash 1:01.34
· 5,000 Meter Run 18:03.27
· 800 Meter Run 2:11.22
Beavercreek's Senior Sydney Leiher is Ohio's defending D1 1600m Champion. She is undefeated thus far in XC, running a 18:29.77 in winning the Tiger Invitational and besting a very strong field at Mason that featured a Carmel, IN team that ran 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8. Scoring 22 points. Her goals this season in XC is to lead her team to a State title and to win an individual State championship. In track she will be focused on seting a new State D1 girl's 1600m record. She loves to race and her thoughts during a race are simple "Just run, and run faster."
OHRunners: Sydney, you are the leading D1 returner from last year’s State meet where you placed 3rd in a time of 18:10.21. Currently you have one the fastest times in the State with an 18:29.77 with your win at the Tiger Invitational. As a sophomore, you ran 17th at State, with a time of 18:35.4. Did you run XC as a Freshman?
Sydney: Yes! I did run XC as a freshmen! I placed 21st at regionals and had a PR of 19:22! I’m really proud of how I have improved since then.
OHRunners: Describe the differences in your runs as a Sophomore and as a Junior. Were you’re expectations different?
Sydney: My Junior year was the first year I set big goals for myself. I wanted it to be my break out year and I knew what it was going to take. It was the year I started getting really serious with my training and I started doing all the little things.
OHRunners: What were some of the little things that you started doing that began to make a difference for you?
Sydney: Basically making sure I'm eating right, getting enough protein. Stretching, icing everyday and doing strength training and speed drills.
OHRunners: As we look at track, you ran 8th in the 1600 you’re sophomore year, in a time of 5:02.17. You’re Junior year you ran a PR of 4:49.61 in winning the 1600 Championship and came back with a very difficult double, placing 6th in the 3200 with a time of 11:01.94.
Sydney: That was hard double but I want to try all three. Next year?
OHRunners: How important for you and in general do you think that experience running at the State level is? I.e. learning how to run a 5K XC race. Learning how to run a 1600 or a 3200?
Sydney: There is nothing like running at State. The atmosphere is the greatest feeling, and you are just bound to PR. When it comes to State, it doesn’t matter how you did all season or who has better marks. All that matters is how you compete that day. That’s what I love about it.
OHRunners: How much do you believe that you have matured as a runner from your Sophomore year to your Senior year?
Sydney: I am so much stronger, mentally and physically. My coach has all my workouts recorded from each year. I did a workout the other day and he should be my times from it my freshmen year and I laughed. Mentally I know how to race, and I LOVE to race.
OHRunners: When did you start running? What were your first experiences?
Sydney: My first real race ever was the Air Force 5k when I was 11 years old. My dad forced me to run it with him thinking he could drag me along, but when the gun went off I took off. I ran a 21:11 and was the 7th female overall. I’ve been hooked ever since.
OHRunners: Do you participate in any other sports at the high School level?
Sydney: I have played Ice Hockey since I was 5 years old and I have a Varsity letter on my schools Ice Hockey team! Last year was my first year not playing.
OHRunners: Are you planning on running indoor track this year?
Sydney: With my busy hockey schedule (I am the team manager), I don’t really have time to compete indoors. I might do one race just for fun with my teammates.
OHRunners: What do you do to keep your conditioning from XC or do you just start in the Spring?
Sydney: In the winter I go back to running miles, probably around 30 a week and closer to the spring I'll throw in some speed work and tempo runs once a week.
OHRunners: Tell me about your summer training? After track season, did you take time off? What type of training have you done over the summer? Do you run any 5 or 10K's.
Sydney: I took 2 weeks off after track and then just started slowly building my milage! My highest week was 40 miles. I didn’t run any 5k or 10k road races because I was just focusing on easy mileage. (plus a 10k does not sound very appealing).
OHRunners: Do you prefer XC or track? What do you like-dislike about each?
Sydney: I prefer track because I like shorter distances. I consider myself a miler and I absolutely love it. I do like the team aspect of XC, but I would prefer to do track workouts over anything.
OHRunners: I would expect that in most races, with the exception of larger invitationals or national races, that you run out front and control the pace. Do you like to run out front? Are you comfortable running out front and alone? As a Senior, are you confident in knowing pace? What do you think about during a race?
Sydney: In track, I love being the front runner and controlling the race. In XC, I just like hanging with the pack. I do consider myself a good pacer and when we do intervals in workouts I’m dead on, every time. What I think about during a race is basically 'Just run, and run faster" I try not to think that much. I’m just out there doing what I love to do, which is race.
OHRunners: In a race where you know that you will have competition how do you mentally prepare for the race? Do you have a specific race plan? XC running and distance running does take some experience. Are you confident now that you can make adjustments during a competitive race, and know how to react to other runner’s strengths and weaknesses to win.
Sydney: I only focus on my own race plan. If you let other people affect you and get in your head it could mess up your whole race. I have complete trust in my training and I know what I have to do to compete. I think of myself as more of a racer than a runner.
OHRunners: Each XC course and race is different. The courses are different and weather conditions can influence times as well. Under similar conditions, a good barometer is comparing yearly times on courses. Knowing this, do you visualize your races. i.e. how fast you will start, each mile split, who your competition may be and how you will run the race?
Sydney: I don’t do well when I think. My coach tells me to go have fun before every race and that’s exactly what I do. Racing to me is a reward for all your hard work, and to me it’s a thrill.
OHRunners: What makes Sydney tick? What Motivates you?
Sydney: I am the most competitive person you will ever meet. I have to win in everything I do. I work hard because I want to see how good I can be. Its’ a challenge though. I never settle with how I am and I always want to be better.
OHRunners: What is a typical week of training for you now that the season has started? Knowing your competition in most cases, will you "run" through some meets as hard training runs in preparation to peaking at the right times and being fresh for larger competitions?
Sydney: I am racing every other weekend until post season races start. We are keeping mileage pretty high and we throw in some thresholds once or twice a week. We won’t do anything that intense until some key workouts at the end of the season.
OHRunners: What is your current mileage per week?
Sydney: My current mileage per week right now is around 40.
OHRunners: What are your goals and expectations for this XC Season?
Sydney: My goals for this XC season are to stay healthy and be team and individual state champion. I also want to go to Nike Nationals as a team, or be a footlocker finalist. My last goal for myself is to choose a college by December.
OHRunners: What are your goals and expectations for this track season?
Sydney: I’m going after the 1600m state record (4:41.37 6/2/2007 Emily Infeld - Cleveland Hts. Beaumont), and I want to make the 1500m finals at USA Junior outdoors.
OHRunners: Thank you Sydney. We will be watching you this XC season and looking forward to seeing you in the Spring.
Interview with Sidney Leiher following her victory at the Louisville St. Xavier Tiger Run Invitational
