The Half-Miler - An Interview

Photo provided by Libby Halbmaier

Personal Records:

400: 58 split from the 4x400 relay.

800: 2:12.22

1600: 5:03.68

3200: 11:01.64

XC State 2017:  5th place 800 meter run; 4 x 400 prelims; 4 x 800 prelims

T&F State 2016:  22nd overall as an individual; third as a team

T&F State 2016   2nd place team 4 x 800 relay

XC State 2014:  37th overall as an individual

Where were you born?  What sports did you play growing up?

St.Louis Park; I played soccer, volleyball, basketball, and did dance.

What sports did you play or do you play at the varsity level?  How many letters have you won in each?

Track and Cross Country! Track: 4 letters, CC: 4 letters

Why did you decide to be a distance runner?  Describe the chain of events that led you to get excited about it!

I have always loved competing, and the mile in elementary school is where I found my love for running. I would even eat carbs the night before to prepare haha! My older brothers were also distance runners, and so they planted the seed in my head to join cross country and track; which I did and ended up loving it!

Have you had to overcome any obstacles to become a good runner?  (As for example: injuries, academic problems, losing an important race, etc.)

In ninth grade I wanted to be in the top 25 for Cross Country so bad but unfortunately I fell at the state meet only meters before the finish line while I was in 21st place. This race only made me want to come back even stronger the next year, but things didn't line up the way I wanted them too and I ended up having a bad sections race and didn't make it to state. These two hard races made me more determined than ever to come back even stronger for my junior year! I ended up achieving my long overdue goal for getting top 25 in state and on top of that out team took third place overall!

Your coach for cross country is Jane Reimer-Morgan.  She has been with Minnetonka since 1985 and as the head cross country coach since 1999.  Please describe a couple of training weeks under coach Reimer-Morgan. 

Coach Jane is extremely gifted at training girls for mid to long distance races! We do our runs based on time, and we range from long distance runs to speed workouts! We always warm up before our runs even our long runs and we cool down after track workouts to make sure we do not get stiff the next day!

Beyond the workouts how does Reimer-Morgan inspire, motivate, and help you as a runner?

Coach Jane has always told our team about when she was younger and girls did not have as many opportunities in the running world, and how we can do anything we set our minds to! Jane says to say, "She believed she could so she did."

Please name some other coaches you have had over the years?  How have they helped you?

Kristine Gehrmann and Megan Bailey were my mid/distance coaches for track this year and they are really good at always being positive and hopeful even when I am having a bad day! They remind us how hard we have worked for our goals and to not let a little mind block get in our way from achieving them!


Photo provided by Libby Halbmaier

Minnetonka was third in the state cross country meet last fall.  All seven of the top runners return:  Sophie Whicher; Elizabeth Halbmeier; Kylie Melz; Marla Bailey; Annalise Johnson; Katie LeBlanc; and Grace Hoelscher.  Describe your bond with these and other teammates?  How do you manage to get along in such a competitive environment?

Our whole team is extremely close especially our varsity team, we are not only friends on the course but also off the course! We maintain a friendly competitive spirit among each other and encourage each other to go after our goals!

Who are your toughest opponents?  What are your relationships like with them?  Please name some favorite opponents and what school they attend.

Our toughest competition is Edina.  We love Edina and after races we always love talking with them! One of my biggest competitors from their school is Emily Kompelien, we competed with each other a lot in the open 800 and 4x4 this year and she is always pushing me!

What do you do during the summer to prepare for cross country?

We have captains practice every morning, at the high school starting at 8:00. It is good to train as a team in the summer so we can race as a team in the fall!

Do you run in the winter?  If not what do you do to stay in shape?  When do you start getting ready for the track & field season?

Yes I also run and train in the winter to get ready for the track season!

Do you do any strength training? Have you worked with a physical therapist or personal trainer? 

We work on hip, core, arm, and leg strength with various exercises during the season.

What is your general race strategy?  Do you experiment with different styles during the season? 

I usually try to go out at a steady pace for the first mile in Cross Country and then work my way to the front pack and stay there till the end of the race, then try to kick it in the last half mile. Of course each race is different and you have to go with the flow and stay calm.

Do you follow any college or professional runners?

I follow Colleen Quigley, Will Leer (Minnetonka alum), Jordan Hasay, Emma Coburn, and Shalane Flanagan. They all inspire me to not give up on my goals and remind me that even pro runners have off days or off races!

Photo provided by Libby Halbmaier
What are your goals?

My individual goal is to be top ten in state, and for our team to win state and advance to nationals!

Does your team do anything special to get ready for meets or practices?

Our team sometimes listens to music to get hyped together for our meets. We also love to just laugh and joke around with each other to keep the mood light before races!

What is the most important thing you have learned from running?

The most important lesson I learned from running is that some days you feel it, and some days you don't, but no matter what you run the race to see who is the fastest that day!

Do you like to run where there is a big crowd cheering you on, or would you prefer to run in a in the woods where very few people can see you?

I love running in front of a big crowd like at state, because the cheering and excitement takes my mind off the pain and helps me focus on my end goal!

Do you plan to run in college?

I plan to run in college but I am not sure where yet, most likely somewhere in the Midwest. I want to go into business!

 

Photo provided by Libby Halbmaier