Maura Mlecko

NAEYE: What sport do you play?

MM: Cross-Country

NAEYE: What grade?

MM:10th

NEYE: When did you start playing?

MM:Middle School

NAEYE: Why do you continue playing this sport?

MM: I continue because it is a social sport where I can talk to me friends while we run. Everyone on the team is really nice, and we all push each other to do better. Whenever we are on the course, we know there are 150 other girls running for us. The bus rides to the meets are also fun and the bus rides home are even better when we are all on a runner’s high.

NAEYE: Do you play any other sports? If so, which ones?

MM: I run Track and Winter Track.

NAEYE:What is your training/ conditioning like?

MM:We practice everyday at Pie Traynor. We have long runs, easy runs, and workouts that include hill circuits and 1 k repeats. We also stretch, aqua jog, and lift.

NAEYE:Do you feel successful in your sport?

MM:I feel successful in my sport because I participate fully in the workouts and do my best.

NAEYE:What is your offseason like? How do you keep in shape during it?

MM:The offseason is the best time of the year. There is a three week break between cross-country and winter track and then another between track and summer cross-country. We are not allowed to run at all during it, so we don’t wear out our legs. We do however lift and work on our core strength.

NAEYE: What is the hardest part of your season and what challenges you most in your sport?

MM: The hardest part of my season is the first meets when it is hot and I still have the rest of the season ahead of me. I am challenged the most by the continuous workouts. There are many times when I want to cut down on minutes, but the other runners keep me going. 

NAEYE:How do you prepare for your games/meets?

MM:I prepare but doing my best everyday at practice. It is all about the little things adding up to make you the best you can be.

NAEYE: Do you feel pressured to succeed in your sport?

MM: I do feel pressured to succeed because there are so many other people I am running for. The team is also ranked high in the state and that adds a lot of pressure throughout the season.

NAEYE:What about your sport brings you the most joy?

MM:I love how everyone on the team is a family. We may not know all 150 girls names, but we cheer for them and congratulate them all the same. We all run for each other and push each other to do our best.

NAEYE:What is your favorite pregame meal?

MM:My favorite pregame meal is pasta and bread. You always have to carbo load.