Interview with Shelby Greany

By Shannon Martin

Shelby Greany, 16, of Suffern, New York, will make her third appearance at the 2007 Foot L ocker Cross Country National Championships. In 2005, Greany finished in 38th place in 18:58. She improved in place and time in 2006, finishing 19th with a time of 18:42.2.

This past weekend, Greany went into the Northeast Regional (in New York City’s Van Cortlandt Park) with a terrible cold, yet still finished in an impressive ninth place with a PR time of 17:56.7.

Fast-women.com caught up with Greany a couple of days after this race and less than two weeks before the 2007 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, which will take place in San Diego on December 8. Still recovering from her cold and speaking in a raspy voice, Greany nonetheless conveyed her enthusiasm for cross country nationals and the upcoming track season.

Fast-women.com: Let’s start by having you discuss your race this weekend and how you feel about your performance.

Shelby Greany: Okay. Well, the race went out fast. The first mile is flat so you don’t want to go out too fast because it’s easy to waste a lot of energy in the first mile. So I started out in about 12th probably, and then slowly through the first mile, I worked my way up to sixth place. I maintained sixth or seventh position pretty much throughout the whole race. We were all pretty close. I was within 25 meters of the leaders the whole time; it was pretty packed. In past years it hasn’t been like that at all. Then, coming back over the bridge [in the last mile], I moved back to eighth and then in the last 800 meters, a girl passed me and I ended up finishing ninth.

I’m satisfied because I ran my best time by two seconds. I didn’t feel very well. I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t feel better because I would’ve liked to run even faster.

FW: Are you resting for a few days to recover?

SG: Yeah, I took yesterday off and I swam today so I didn’t have to be outside in the cold, but tomorrow I’ll be doing a workout outside. So, I rested for a day or two. I’m starting to feel better.

FW: What is it about nationals that you are most looking forward to?

SG: I’m looking forward to the whole trip—it’s a lot of fun. It’s a great experience and there are so many fast runners there and everyone is so nice. It’s a great atmosphere and the race is very tense. Everyone is so fast that within a second, five girls can go by. I like that everyone is at my level.

FW: Do you notice a definite progression in talent from the sectional level all the way to the national level?

SG: Yes, I definitely notice that. With each level, I have to focus more because with the more competitive levels, a little mistake can cost you five places. With the local races, I usually train through them because my main goals are at the end of the season. Even counties and sectionals are more like practices for me, but when I get to the state meet and regionals, I have to really focus. I don’t take it too hard until the state meet; I reserve my energy so that I can race well at the most competitive races.

FW: Sounds like a great strategy to me. Do you have any specific goal this year for nationals?

SG: I’d like to place higher than I did last year and definitely run a faster time

FW: Are there any particular girls that you’re going to try to stick with in the race?

SG: It’s nice to be surrounded by girls in my region there, so I’m definitely going to try to run with the top girls in my region like I did this past Saturday. I’d like to go out conservatively and settle into my pace and I know I can run with the fast girls in my region.

FW: What are your plans for after nationals?

SG: After nationals, I’ll take a complete week off from training and the week after that I’ll crosstrain and maybe do some jogging, but I definitely need to take time to ease into indoor track. Cross country is such a rough season that if I don’t take a good break, my body will break down and I don’t want that to happen.

FW: Is it difficult to train at this point in the cross country season? I’m assuming that you train alone since you are the only girl from your school advancing.

SG: It’s just my coach and me now. Everyone else is starting winter track. I do all my workouts by myself now. It’s definitely harder to warm up, cool down, and work out on my own. It’s just not as fun. I’m close with all the girls on my team. We all hang out a lot, so I miss having them there. When they’re there, it’s much easier to get through a hard workout.

FW: I bet you’re looking forward to the winter track season.

SG: Yes, I am. There are many goals I want to reach. Last year, I had a very rough winter season, so this year, I’m looking to do much better and to stay healthy through the whole season.

FW: What are some specific goals you’re hoping to reach?

SG: I’ve yet to break 10:00 in the 3000 [meters]; my best time is 10:00 flat. I don’t really run it until toward the end of the season because that’s when I peak, so I definitely want to achieve that goal. I’ve been so close so many times!

FW: I know you compete in the steeplechase; are you looking forward to doing that again in the spring?

SG: I love the steeple; it’s absolutely my favorite track event! Last year, I broke the national sophomore record that Lindsey Ferguson held, so I’m going to try to lower my own personal record and maybe take a chance at the junior national record.

FW: You must be psyched that the steeple is now going to be a part of the Olympics.

SG: Yes, I’m really excited for that too.

FW: Well good luck to you at the Foot Locker meet and in track.

SG: Thanks so much!

Interview conducted November 26, 2007, and posted November 29, 2007.