Interview with Cheryl Spring

1. What are your running goals for 2004?

   Cheryl : I have a lot of different goals this year, for myself and my team. I would love to be district and region champ this year, which will be pretty tough. There are some very good runners in our region. At the state meet, I am hoping to get in the top 5. This will be very hard for me, since Texas has so many great runners. I also want my team to make it to state. I haven't been able to go to the state meet with my team yet, but we have been working very hard and I think we have really improved since last year.

2. You are 3 for 3 so far this season winning at The Woodlands, Kingwood, and Montgomery . How did those races play out?

   Cheryl : Well by now I'm sure you know how I did at A&M. I definitely did not do as well as I wanted by getting sixth place. I did not run a very smart race and went out too fast for the first two miles. The third mile, I slowed down quite a bit and got passed at the end. It was pretty frustrating, especially after the first 3 meets of the season went so well. The first 3 meets, I ran much smarter, just trying to keep my pace and finish strong.

3. How has your training progressed?

   Cheryl : Basically, I just do what my coach tells me to do. During the summer, the team put in a lot of mileage to get ready for the season. Now, we're doing more speed workouts and weightlifting. I try to run every day, and when I do my workouts I really try to push myself. My teammates have really helped me run well. When I'm on a run, my teammate Adrienne DiRaddo is always there and makes sure that I keep going when I get tired. She and the rest of the girls are a great help.

4. Region II lost some great runners due to graduation and realignment. You have to be considered the favorite to win who do you consider your toughest competition from Region II.

   Cheryl : This year, Region II has really changed. I would not have thought that I would be a favorite to win. Kelcee Keenan from Klein has been running really well all year, and she'll be hard to beat. Lavenna Mullenbach from Georgetown is also running well. I'm sure there will be other girls, I just haven't heard about them yet.

5. The Woodlands placed 6^th in Region II, How do you think you rank this year?

   Cheryl : I really think that our team has improved a lot this year. We are definitely not going to get 6^th place again! I think we will make one of the top 3 spots and have a great race at state also.

6. What race are you focusing on this year? (District,Region,State,Footlocker)

   Cheryl : All of the races are important to me for different reasons, but I think that state meet is the one I'm focusing on. I'm not sure how well I can do, but I want to do really well. More importantly, I want the team to do well also.

7. Who/What got you motivated to run?

   Cheryl : I don't know what first motivated me. Now that I am a junior in high school, my motivation is a scholarship to a good school.

Here are 7 general questions I ask all of my interviewees:

1. What is your favorite word?

   Cheryl : Johnny

2. What is your least favorite word?

   Cheryl : Stress-fracture

3. What is your favorite thing about running?

   Cheryl : I love the fact that you alone determine how well you do. In every other sport, you have to rely on other people to help you do well. With running, it's your responsibility to win and no one else's.

4. What is your least favorite thing about running?

   Cheryl : Sometimes on the weekends or during the summer, I hate the sound of my alarm going off at 7 in the morning telling me to get up and go for a run. It takes me almost half an hour sometimes just to talk myself into getting out of bed.

5. What sport other than yours would you like to attempt?

   Cheryl : I really do not have time to do other sports. In junior high and my freshman year, I ran and also played soccer, but now that I am trying to seriously train to become a good runner, I don't want to try to fit in other sports and other practices and things like that. I'm happy with my cross country team.

6. What sports would you not like to attempt?

   Cheryl : I'm very bad at a lot of sports. When I was younger, I tried sports like basketball and softball and realized that they were not the sports for me.

7. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear god say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

   Cheryl : Uh, "welcome."