Sylvie Studier has been running varsity track for IHS longer than anyone currently on the team—in fact, she has been on the team since the time most kids were only playing modified sports at Boynton and DeWitt. After a successful six years of varsity track, Sylvie is heading into her final season. Having done track for some years myself I was curious to hear Sylvie’s take on the team this year, and her plans for the future.
Marlo Zorman ’16: You’ve been running varsity track for years now. How is this season different from your first?
Sylvie Studier ’16: I’ve been on the team for 6 years now. The team that I was with my first year is completely different from the one now; there isn’t one person who was on it who’s still there [they’ve all graduated].
MZ: I know that track has lost a lot of people. Now that you’re gearing up for invitationals, what spots do you think the team will need to fill? And how do you think the team can do that?
SS: We have definitely lost some valuable teammates in the past few years in both sprinting and distance, but I feel like we can come back strong as ever. Our team is really dedicated this year and I think people will be very willing to jump into different events. Most of our runners do at least three events per meet.
MZ: What are your goals for the season? How do you plan on achieving them before the year is over?
SS: I want to have my best season yet. Ideally, that would include PRing (setting a new personal record) and getting to States. Hopefully, with my preseason prep and our rigorous practices, I’ll be able to do that before the season is up.
MZ: Where are you going to college, and do you plan on vaulting? If not, do you have anything else planned?
SS: I’m committed to George Washington University, and although I’d love to continue vaulting in college, they do not have a track team and I got recruited to row there instead. I’m really excited to be joining their great program next year!
MZ: If you had to pick one favorite memory from your time running track, what would it be?
SS: I think Ithaca Relays is easily my favorite day of every season. Running under the lights in such a competitive atmosphere on the home track is amazing. I couldn’t ever choose just one year that would be my favorite.
MZ: What is the biggest impact that running track has had on you (a change, a source of motivation, etc.)?
SS: [Track] has been such a big part of my life for so long that I think there’s little it hasn’t impacted. I think it has made me more motivated for sure, and I think it really shaped how I work as an athlete.
MZ: What will you miss the most about track? The least?
SS: I definitely will miss the family atmosphere that the team has always fostered for me and the coaches. Ah, it’s so hard to decide what I’ll miss the most. I’ll miss it all. Except maybe running hills. I think I can live without that.