Published Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1997
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ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: Kate Steklachich
Hickory's Steklachich picks up right where she left off
Hickory's sophomore running sensation Kate Steklachich, shown here earlier in the season, has picked up right where she left off a year ago. (David E. Dale/Herald) |
Herald Sports Writer
In her first trip to the PIAA cross country meet at Bucknell University, Hickory's Kate Steklachich placed 22nd last year as a freshman.
Not bad for a first-timer, but since the top 20 bring home medals, she missed out on the hardware by a scant two places.
Making up those two places and earning a medal are Steklachich's driving force this year, and so far this season the super sophomore is making everyone she runs against pay.
``It's motivated me a lot,'' Steklachich said of the 22nd-place finish. ``Just knowing I was so close, it makes me work harder. I think about how practice is going to make me the best I can be.''
Steklachich is undefeated at 4-0 in dual meets, placed third at the West Middlesex Invitational and has finished first in the Reynolds and Lakeview invites and, most recently last Saturday, first at the Beaver County cross country championships invitational at Ellwood City.
Her stellar running and only one non-first-place finish is why she has earned The Herald's Sport Extra Female Athlete of the Month honors.
``We were hoping to pick up where she left off last year,'' said coach Tony Mastrian. ``She's an extremely focused runner. She wants to be aggressive. She's performing what she's been hoping to do. At that level, there are a lot of goals. To meet those goals is encouraging.''
Aside from the determination to garner a medal at states, Steklachich's success so far can be attributed to a new-found aggressivness on the trail. She found it after the West Middlesex invitational.
``She led that race, very agggressivey, and lost the lead with half-a-mile left,'' Mastrian said. ``That was the first time she was out front in a big race. She had to adjust and believe in herself. From that day, we told her she's going to be aggressive. That meet has triggered her success. Now she believes in her ablilities.''
It certainly has shown.
At the Blue-Gray invitational at Reynolds, she set a course record in 20:52. Then at the Lakeview invitational, she topped a 119-runner field in 18:37.
But sometimes, being aggressive can be a problem, especially if a runner isn't equipped to handle it. Mastrian said that isn't the case with with Steklachich. She knows her limits.
``The whole thing is with motivation and helping her with the goals she is trying to set,'' Mastrian said. ``The encouragement's there. She's so committed to her workouts and that helps out. Sometimes we have to monitor her workouts so she doesn't over-do it. She knows what she wants and needs. So far, it's been working.''
Even though she has had a great amount of success, Steklachich hasn't let it go to her head. She knows she's a sophomore and the seniors are the real team leaders.
``She sets the pace for the girls,'' Mastrian said. ``The seniors are the leaders on the team and she respects that. Showing respect for the leaders is for the good of the team. She sets a good example for everyone.''
The person on the team she looks up to the most is senior Alison Jazwinski, a fellow state qualifier.
``I follow the seniors, and do as they tell us to do,'' Steklachich said. ``Then I tell the freshmen how important it is to be a team. I tell them to work hard, because we want to give the seniors a good year.''
The best way to give those seniors a good year?
``My goal is to get a medal at states and help my team be a part of states too,'' she said.
If Steklachich finishes the season as strong as she started it, neither of those goals should be a problem.
