Fairfax, Va. - As a freshman last season, Rochelle Sceats received All-Region honors in cross country for her 22nd place finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships. She has been a key part in the current success and turnaround of the women's cross country team helping them come from a last place finish to back-to-back third place finishes. Sceats also provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 5000-meter run in indoor track with a third-place finish and a time of 16:34.40 at the ECAC Championships. Sceats recently took some time to discuss the season with GoMason.com.
GoMason.com: What do you feel were some of your biggest accomplishments last year?
Sceats: I was really happy with my freshman cross-country season being named both All-CAA and All-Region, but the highlight was probably getting provisional 5000m qualifying time for indoor. The most enjoyable race was definitely the DMR at ECAC's; I don't see myself getting to run a lot of medleys in college so I have to enjoy it when I get the chance.
GoMason.com: What are your personal goals for this year?
Sceats: My cross country season was a lot different this year compared to last. We are looking to keep up the momentum that I started near the end of the season and translate that into some good times on the track. I have never really had an outdoor season since I started running pretty late in high school, so I am pretty excited for spring track.
GoMason.com: What things do you feel you need to work on the most in order to improve your performance?
Sceats: Consistency in my training will be the most important thing for the next few months. Building up a strong aerobic base is one thing. Not only that, but paying attention to how my body feels on a daily basis and getting on top of any little injuries quickly if (and when) they occur.
GoMason.com: What does your typical offseason training involve?
Sceats: After some time off after outdoors we build up our mileage gradually over the summer. This is mainly just training runs and some longer tempo stuff so that we're ready for some faster work, come September.
GoMason.com: Who would you say you look up to the most?
Sceats: There are so many people that have helped me to get to where I am today and for that I am so grateful. I think the fact that I hardly get to see Mum anymore (apart from Skype) makes me appreciate her so much more. She is great to talk to and helps to keep everything in perspective. Coming from a non-running background she does not always understand everything going on with training, which is actually nice in a lot of ways...one less person to answer to! She is always supportive and despite being so far from home I feel that she is always relatively close.
GoMason.com: Do you have any rituals you do before an event?
Sceats: I definitely used to have the “lucky” socks, hair tie, etc. etc., but now I feel like it was kind of silly. Now I would rather put my energy into a better warm up and other things. Part of competition is being flexible to change as things rarely go the way you plan. For me, I find this easier when I am not concerned with the whereabouts of multiple pieces of clothing. Although I do like to paint my nails the night before a race, it's nice and relaxing.
GoMason.com: What do you like to do in your free time?
Sceats: I would definitely have more time if it weren't for my ability to procrastinate and spend time thinking about how much homework and study I have to do! Most of my down time is spent hanging out and cooking dinner with friends, watching movies, napping and my personal favorite, shopping.
GoMason.com: Is there any special food you eat before or after an event?
Sceats: Before every race I always have a couple of Licorice Allsorts, I don't think you can get them over here so thankfully Mum keeps me stocked up. I guess this is kind of my ritual?!
GoMason.com: Do you have a certain song or group you listen to before an event?
Sceats: If I've got my iPod with me I'll usually listen to “It's My Time” by Fabolous before I go out and start my warm up. In saying that there's been a lot of meets where I won't listen to anything, then I can just focus on staying relaxed; both seem to work.
GoMason.com: What are your plans for after graduation?
Sceats: I would love to say I knew! Poor Coach Ewell gets the joy of listening to me change my mind every other week in regard to what I want to do. I am starting an eighteen-month research paper in Psychology next semester so I am assuming I will have a slightly better direction after that.
