WHO TO WATCH FOR IN IOWA HS XC, 2011
Click Here to see "Who to watch for in Iowa, Boys 2011
IOWATFXC.COM has picked, and sent questionnaires to, five girls and five boys who we believe will be among the top XC runners in the state in 2011. This article presents our girls’ picks and their interviews (from those received to date). Others will be added as received. Future articles will present other top runners in the state as they emerge during the 2011 season.
GIRLS
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KARISSA SCHWEIZER, DOWLING CATHOLIC
KARISSA SCHWEIZER, DOWLING CATHOLIC
Athlete Name: Karissa Schweizer
School: Dowling Catholic High School
Year of Graduation: 2014
Best times in a 4k race, and in which meet: 14:18 State Meet
Tell us how your summer training is going? It is going well. I feel I am working harder this year.
What are your goals for the upcoming season? To place in the top 3 at state.
How long have you been running, and how did you get started? I started when I was 11 year olds in 5th grade track and my family encouraged me to try it.
Will you be competing out of state this season; during the season or after? Yes, after the season I would like to run in the Foot Locker regional meet.
What is your favorite course to run ? Marshalltown
What is the toughest course to run? Griak in Minneapolis, MN
What was your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career? Marshalltown
Favorite cross country memory? Nike nationals in Portland, OR
When you are not running, what is your favorite thing to do? Draw
Favorite quote? "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."
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MADISON WAYMIRE, DALLAS CENTER – GRIMES HS
Athlete Name: Madison Waymire
School: Dallas Center - Grimes High School
Year of Graduation: 2014
Best times in a 4k race, and in which meet: 14:38 at state.
Tell us how your summer training is going? My summer training is going great. I have been training hard and can't wait to compete.
What are your goals for the upcoming season? Improve on what I did last year.
How long have you been running, and how did you get started? I have been running ever since the summer going into my 6th grade year. I did some AAU and USATF meets. I got started running because of my dad. He was an 800 meter runner at the University of Iowa.
Will you be competing out of state this season; during the season or after? Yes, I am planning on competing in either the Nike Nationals or the Footlocker Nationals meet in November.
What is your favorite course to run ? My favorite course to run is the Perry course.
What is the toughest course to run? The toughest course to run is Atlantic but it is also one of my favorites!
What was your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career? My favorite race was the Heartland classic last year!
Favorite cross country memory? My favorite cross country memory was last year before the state meet. My team was in a huddle and we talked about how we are so thankful that we are so close as a team, and even though cross country is more of an individual sport we make it a team effort.
When you are not running, what is your favorite thing to do? I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family!
Favorite quote? “I am strong and very courageous!” Joshua 1:7.
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LAUREN BENZING, SOLON HS
Athlete Name: Lauren Benzing
School: Solon High School
Year of Graduation: 2013
Best times in a 4k/5k race, and in which meet. 14:33 @ State 2010.
Tell us how your summer training is going? Summer training is going really well. I have been injury free and I feel much stronger than I did last year at this time.
What are your goals for the upcoming season? I think our girls team can be state champions this year. We have a lot of potential if we work hard and stay injury free. I want to improve my meet times from last year, and hopefully touch the top as state champion.
How long have you been running, and how did you get started? I have been running track since junior high, but I didn’t start cross country until my sophomore year. That’s when the passion I have now for training and competing as a distance runner really started.
Will you be competing out of state this season; during the season or after? All of our meets are in-state, but I may race in South Dakota or Wisconsin after the season ends in Nike or Footlocker Regionals.
What is your favorite course to run ? My favorite is probably Benton, because I love how it feels to run through the woods.
What is the toughest course to run? Anamosa is a tough one- there are a few challenging hills, but at the same time it is also fun because we get to run through this wooded park around a pond, and it’s really pretty.
What was your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career? My favorite race was probably my first cross country race ever, which was at Cedar Rapids Prairie. I didn’t have any expectations for myself, and during the race I just felt a lot of joy and peace. It was like I realized cross country can be really fun, and this is definitely what I was created to do.
Favorite cross country memory? State last year was an amazing experience. The feeling of crossing the finish line, and being able to glorify God with the race was incredible. I was so happy for our team and the boys, who finished in 3rd, which was actually a surprise. Everyone was just so excited, and we even got Emy, one of our coaches, with silly string.
When you are not running, what is your favorite thing to do?
I like to read, spend time with my family, or scrapbook.
Favorite quote? “A lot of people run a race to see who is the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts.” –Steve Prefontaine
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ALLISON GREGG, CEDAR FALLS HS
Athlete Name: Allison Gregg
School: Cedar Falls High School
Year of Graduation: 2013
Best times in a 4k/5k race, and in which meet: My best time currently in a 4k race is a 14:08, which I ran at the 2010 State Cross Country Meet.
Tell us how your summer training is going? My summer training is going very well. I have been working really hard with my teammates to build a strong base and prepare for this cross country season.
What are your goals for the upcoming season? My goals for this upcoming season are to set a new personal best time at state, stay healthy, and finish strong in the team rankings at state.
How long have you been running, and how did you get started? I have been running ever since I was little, participating in junior high track. However, I just started running cross country my sophomore year, as I played volleyball as a freshman. I chose to switch over to cross country because of the teams hardworking, passionate, and positive attitude atmosphere. Don Williams, my head coach also played a huge role. He didn't pressure me at all to go out and after a successful season of track as a freshman, I decided that I had a passion for running and wanted to dedicate the majority of my time towards it.
Will you be competing out of state this XC season; during the season or after? As of now, I don't plan on competing out of state this XC season.
What is your favorite course to run ? My favorite course to run is Fort Dodge. It has the perfect amount of hills!
What is the toughest course to run? The toughest course I have run is Marshalltown because of the long stretch at the end. You can see the finish at the end, but you still have about 800 meters to go!
What was your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career? My favorite cross country race so far has been the 2010 State Cross Country Meet.
Favorite cross country memory? My favorite cross country memory is standing between Shelby Houlihan and Rebecca Rethwisch, after setting a 40 second PR (personal record) at the State 2010 Cross Country Meet.
When you are not running, what is your favorite thing to do? When I am not running, I love hanging out with family and friends around my neighborhood pool.
Favorite quote? "It's a hill. . .get over it!" -Don Williams (head coach)
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REBEKAH TOPHAM, GRISWOLD HS
Athlete Name: Rebekah Topham
School: Griswold High School
Year of Graduation: 2015
Best Times: 3000 - 10:07 (track) at USATF Track Nationals/Sacramento, CA & 10:30 (XC) at Metro Jr. High XC/Omaha, NE; 4000 - 14:33 (XC) at Coaches Nationals XC/Lexington, KY; 5000 - 17:43 (track) at Jim Duncan Track Meet/Des Moines, IA & 18:23 (XC) at Nike Heartland Regional XC/Sioux Falls, SD
Summer Training - Running and having fun.
Goals for upcoming season - To help team do well, especially at conference, regional, and state.
How long and how I got started running - Dad had me start at age 8, but he and mom tell me when I started to "walk" at 10 months that I never really walked, but ran right away from the word go.
Favorite Course - Nike Heartland Regional Course at Sioux Falls, SD
Toughest Course - USATF Nationals at Birmingham, AL
Favorite XC memory - Qualifying for Nike Nationals in 2009 at the Nike Heartland Regional as a seventh grader - 5K - 18:28 (9th).
Non running favorite activities - Ping pong, eating ice cream (my way of getting extra calcium), eating chips (my way of getting extra salt).
Favorite quote - "It's rude counting people out loud as you pass them"
Out of state competitions - None during season, but after season - Nike Heartland Regional, USATF Nationals, and Coaches Nationals.