Welcome to our first edition of Throwback Thursday, where we interview some of NY's former Track and XC Stars, and see how they are doing in College. We have an exciting lineup planned, so be sure to check back every Thursday! Our first edition features four harriers from across the state, who all decided Georgetown was the right fit for them. Enjoy! (We've also included the earliest running photos we had of them, just to gain some perspective! Hello 9th grade)
Heather Martin (Fayetteville-Manlius 2012)
Heather Martin graduated with multiple national titles in all three seasons, which also include the US #2 All-Time Mark in the Outdoor DMR, the NY #2 All-Time Time Mark in the Indoor 4x800 , and a member of the 7-Time National Champions in XC.
MileSplit: Coming from a very team-oriented program, what was it like entering a new team as one of the youngest members, after being a senior captain in high school.
HM: In high school our team was so close. Everything was so team oriented, even in track we always focused on relays not individual events. That was one of my favorite things about my high school program and what I was looking for in college. I ‘m so fortunate to be a part of such a close team at Georgetown because that’s really hard to find at the collegiate level. Coach Mike has been really emphasizing running for each other this year and I think that’s really great. I love being a part of a group of such hard working talented girls who are also all my best friends. Entering a new team is always hard as a freshman but I feel like I learned so much from the older girls and I hope that I can continue to learn from them and teach the underclassmen they way the taught me when the time comes.
MS: In high school, you had success at both the XC, 5000m distance, as well as some of the shorter distances on the track(400m-800m). In College, are you trained for the same kind of range, or are you more focused on one distance year round?
HM: Last year I really trained more as just a middle distance runner year round, I redshirted cross and didn’t really train as a distance runner at all. My mileage was a lot lower then it was in high school and my coach and I both knew what was missing from my training was the strong base but we just didn’t have time to do it in the spring with so many races and little injuries that came up. This year my training has been totally different. I trained like everyone else running cross country and I was even one of the highest mileage kids on the team this fall. I still lifted with the middle distance kids, which I liked because I think that’s a really important aspect of middle distance training. Now for track season I will race like a middle distance runner but still continue to be high mileage because that’s what I did in high school and seems to work best for me.
MS: What’s your most lasting memory of high school track/XC?
HM: My most last memory of high school running was probably NXN 2010. That was the year that we graduated so many seniors who had been a part of every national championship to that point and no one thought we could do well without them. Scoring 27 points at nationals that year still is hard for me to wrap my head around, I don’t know how we did that. I was just so proud of everyone on my team that year and it was the most rewarding race for me because we did so well when everyone thought we couldn’t.
Samantha Nadel (North Shore 2012)
Samantha Nadel graduated with a US #1 All-Time Mark in the Girls 4x1500m relay, as well as the NY #4 Fastest Mile Indoors, winning both the US Open and the Millrose Mile her senior year.
MileSplit: In High School, you were very successful with some fast Mile times. Now in College, you’re starting to shine with some more of the longer distances, including qualifying for the IAAF World XC Championships last year. What was it like to represent Team USA?
SN: Running for Team USA was such an incredible experience. I had always wanted to try to qualify for a world team in high school, but never got the opportunity because I was either injured or the logistics didn’t work out. Last year was my last chance to try and qualify, so I definitely wanted to advantage of it. The championships in Poland were unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I had never raced runners from outside the United States, and standing on the line next to runners from all over the world was a just really cool and humbling experience. Our junior USA team also became pretty close; I still talk to them even though the race was a year ago.
MS: What was the transition like, when you suddenly had some of your competition in high school running on the same team as you in college?
SN: I was really excited about working with the girls who I had competed against in high school. One of the main things I was looking for when choosing a college was a team with a lot of people to train with and kick my butt in workouts and races. I knew they were all very talented, and being able to train and race with them would make everybody better.
MS: What’s your most lasting memory of high school track/XC?
SN: -Team-wise, when our team qualified for NXN my junior year. We came in 3rd at the regional meet, so we had to wait a couple of days to see if we got an at-large bid. I remember sitting at my computer, constantly refreshing our team website (where my coach said he would post the results). When he finally announced that we had made it, everyone was just so happy and excited. -Individually, when I won the Millrose Games Mile at MSG my junior year. When I was in middle school and early high school, I remember watching the Millrose Games with my dad at the Garden. Our favorite event was the High School Girls’ Invitational Mile, and I remember thinking it would be cool if I got to run in that one day. When I qualified to run in it my junior year of high school, the plan was to see how fast I could run, but mostly to just enjoy the experience. I don’t think anybody (including myself) expected me to win, so it was really cool/fun when I did.
Rachel Paul (Sachem East 2012)
Rachel Paul graduated as an All-American in the DMR, as well as multiple podium placings for the 1000m and 1,500m at the New York State Meet.
MileSplit: Describe the college selection process. What made Georgetown stand out to you?
RP: The college selection process at first could be a very difficult process because it is your first ‘adult’ decision you make as an athlete. However, once I made my official visits I had a better impression on what I wanted and what each school was truly like. For me, my biggest thing was finding a collegiate program where I clicked with the team and truly believed in the coach. Therefore, after taking all five visits it was clear to me that Georgetown was the school for me. At Georgetown the team is one big family. Every practice here we are all focused on one goal: doing it together. That’s why I felt my transition into college was so smooth because despite the struggles, I always had 23 other teammates there to help me.
MS: What were some of the bigger training changes in the transition from HS to College?
RP: My biggest training change from HS to College was probably the increased mileage and intensity in practices, especially in workouts. I had to wrap my mind around focusing for repeat two-miles or long threshold workouts whereas in high school, most of my workouts consisted of nothing over 800m for any interval.
MS: What’s your most lasting memory of high school track/XC?
RP: My lasting memory of high school track was New Balance Indoor Nationals my senior year where my team, Sachem East, got All-American for the first time in school history. We came in sixth place in the DMR and we were in the second heat, so when we saw the results we were extremely ecstatic. I think working together towards one goal and knowing each person is out there fighting for you, that is what makes you a team. This was the culture I had at Sachem East and now the culture I have at Georgetown University.
Sabrina Southerland (Benjamin Cardozo 2013)
Sabrina Southerland graduated with a US #2 All-Time Mark in the Indoor 800m, as well as a Millrose Mile Champion, and All-American.
MileSplit: After having the same coach in high school for four years, describe the transition to a new coach in College.
SS: At first, it was somewhat scary transitioning to a new coach after being coached by Coach Ray for so many years, but one of the reasons I came to Georgetown was because Coach Mike has a similar training style as Coach Ray. Practice is fun and strict at the same time, which also reminds me of Coach Ray’s practices in high school.
MS: You’re entering your first Collegiate Indoor Season, after having one of the best HS seasons in the nation last year. Do you feel that you will have to change your approach to certain races, with the elevated level of competition?
SS: I will definitely have to change my approach to certain races as I enter my first Colligate Indoor Season. Competition is much tougher on the collegiate level, and nothing is going to be easy.
MS: What’s your most lasting memory of high school track/XC?
SS: My most lasting memory was running the 800 at New Balance Indoor Nationals in the Armory. In high school, the Armory was like a second home to me and I was excited to finish out my last high school indoor season with a win.
Welcome to our first edition of Throwback Thursday, where we interview some of NY's former Track and XC Stars, and see how they are doing in College. We have an exciting lineup planned, so be sure to check back every Thursday! Our first edition features four harriers from across the state, who all decided Georgetown was the right fit for them. Enjoy! (We've also included the earliest running photos we had of them, just to gain some perspective! Hello 9th grade)