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Full Name: Stephanie Kara Buffo Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri; but I have lived in Spartanburg most of my life Date of Birth: March 10,1989 Academic Interest: Sciences; Biology Event Pr's: 5K: 18:44, 1-mile: 5:28, 2-mile: 12:00, 800m: 2:33 Favorite Hobbies: Golf, Swim Team, Basketball, Biking, and soccer |
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| Stephanie Buffo captured the 2003 Eye Opener title on Sept. 6. |
scrunners: How does it feel to be the first Dorman runner to win the Eye Opener?
buffo: It feels great, even though Ryan did it too. I knew I had a chance of winning because Coach Urban told me I did. All I had to do was put my hard work and effort to the test and I did very well.
scrunners: How did the race unfold for you over the 5k distance at Milliken?
buffo: I was very nervous before the race. So I had a lot of adrenaline in me so I went out pretty fast. I knew Sunday was on my tail at the 2-mile so I just had to hang on.
scrunners: Have you ever run on the Milliken course before?
buffo: I have been running at Milliken ever since I started running Spartanburg Striders with Tami Dennis 5 years ago.
scrunners: How many years have you been running?
buffo: I started running cross country with Spartanburg Striders when I was 9 years old. But I had been running in the Running Club and little races when I was in first grade. I have been running with Dorman for 3 years.
scrunners: What made you come out to run cross-country?
buffo: When I ran with the running club at Roebuck Elementary School, Mrs. Owens, my P.E. teacher said I should start running with Tami Dennis. I really like Tami and Mrs. Owens for pushing me through my early running days or I would not be where I am now. Coach Urban is my coach now and I love how he makes our running schedules.
scrunners: Are you going to run track? What events would you like to run?
buffo: Yes, I want to run the 1-mile, the 2-mile, and the 4*800 with some of my teammates.
scrunners: Does anyone else in your family run?
buffo: My mom and dad both did track when the where in high school, but not long distances. My dad threw the javelin, and my mom did the hurdles and sprinting work. They both run now on weekends. It is a family sport that we all get into.
scrunners: Do you run any road races throughout the year? If so, which ones?
buffo: How have you finished at some of these road races?
I ran in the Firecracker Frolic in Easley but that is the only one. I finished in 2nd behind Sunday Ford.
scrunners: What is the most prestigious meet you have competed in?
buffo: Wendy's, Great American, Eye Opener, and Junior Olympics.
scrunners: What kind of goals have you set for this cross-country season and the future?
buffo: All-County, All-Region, and All-State and I would like to run in college.
scrunners: How do you see yourself achieving these goals?
buffo: Well, working extra hard at practice, hard and easier workouts, and staying with someone who has a better time than I do.
scrunners: What did your summer training consist of?
buffo: Coach Urban makes practice schedules for us for what ever amount of miles a week you should to do. I stayed around the 30-35 mile a week, except at camp when I did 40 miles
scrunners: When did you start your summer training?
buffo: I started my own runs before practice started May 21. I started with the team June 16. This is what I love about the training schedules. I looked back to see when I started and I know what I was doing.
scrunners: How many days did you run per week?
buffo: An average of 6 days a week.
scrunners: What has been your favorite course this season?
buffo: I have always liked Milliken but this year I really enjoyed McAlpine Park. Its surroundings are so pretty and it a perfect course for cross country that has been around for a while.
scrunners: What other meets are on the schedule for Dorman during this season?
buffo: We held the Sparkle city Classic, Cavalier Open, and we will hold the Region Meet at Dorman.
scrunners: What kind of trainers and racers do you wear?
buffo: I have worn Addiction trainers since I have run for Dorman. The only time I didn't was when I change shoes and got injured. My racers are Nike.
scrunners: What keeps you motivated to get out the door everyday to run?
buffo: Knowing that this is something I'm really good at and I need to prove to myself that I can be just as fast as anyone in the sport just so long that I keep up with my training and my confidence to do my best. After stretching, the whole team gets in for "The word of the Day" every day and I always apply the word to my daily runs.
scrunners: Do you prefer to run long or run intervals?
buffo: It depends on the intervals. I usually enjoy the long runs because I can think about the next race or what happened in that day. But I like having the fast workouts to work with the guys team.
scrunners: What has been your favorite or best workout this season? Explain.
buffo: "Firetower Run" This run is at camp in Boone, N.C. This is running up the mountain, 5.5 miles, and then running 5.5 miles down. It is a tough workout that shows you how much energy you have left.
scrunners: Who has been your biggest rival? When do you see this rival becoming the most intense?
buffo: I have known Santressa Jamison since Striders. I wouldn't say that we are rival but tough competitors. We push each other to the best of our ability and she is a great runner and I respect her. We will run each other on October 14 at Spartanburg against Spartanburg and Byrnes High School.
scrunners: Does Dorman have a team rival? If so, who and how did this develop?
buffo: Spartanburg High School. Since we are both Spartanburg too, it is cross town rivals. This rival is not just in Cross country but in all sports.
scrunners: What did you think of Coaches Classic that it returned to Fort Jackson?
buffo: I came to the Dorman team the year that the course changed to Sandhills so I was very excited to finally run there. I didn't prefer running at Sandhills but I like the Fort Jackson course.
scrunners: Did you ever run at Sandhills?
buffo: Yes, that is where the state meet was for my first 2 years.
scrunners: How did you fare at your home meet, the Sparkle City Classic? How did this race unfold?
buffo: Well, Santressa (Jamison) and I were neck and neck the whole race and she out sprinted me at the finish to beat me by 1 second. But this race gave me something to push for at Wendy's.
scrunners: What kind of race tactic works best for you, a strategic race or an all out, guts race?
buffo: When I start a race, I always think to myself, "Lets go out and have fun" Because that is what the sport is about. I try to think of a strategy but it never works out so I listen to my coach and go by what he thinks as well as what I think.
scrunners: Explain. How do you adapt the non-preferable event?
buffo: If there is a big meet coming up, I try to take it easy but if there isn't I use it to get a good race in.
scrunners: Have you ever thought about running in college? Where would you like to run?
buffo: I hope to run in college and hope to get scholarships through running and school grades. I would like to attend UNC, Clemson, or Coastal Carolina
scrunners: What do you look for in a coach and what do you expect a coach to look for in you?
buffo: I look for a coach who will talk to you in a situation where you don't know what to do. I love how Coach Urban makes training schedules for us every week to make us better. This also helps us see how we progress throughout the season and past seasons. I hope they see me as a confident runner who only looks to be the best she can be.
scrunners: What kind of surface do you prefer to run on and why?
buffo: A mixture of asphalt and flat grass.
scrunners: Who do you train with when practicing at Dorman?
buffo: A mixture of people. I try to run with someone new everyday so I get to know them better and to help my stride.
scrunners: Have you ever met a professional runner, if so, what did you talk about?
buffo: No, but I would like to meet Lance Armstrong.
scrunners: What kind of pre race tradition do you have? When does the tradition start and what does it consist of?
buffo: I eat homemade spaghetti made by my mom. Ever since I started running I needed my carbohydrates so this is what I eat. I always try to visualize my race the night before too. This helps me see what I want to do the next morning.
scrunners: The State meet in November has known to be either really warm or cool, what kind of weather works better for you and how do you adapt to the different types of weather?
buffo: I like running in the rain. I know it is weird but I like having something cooling me down while I'm running. I like the cool weather though. It doesn't really change my strategy but if it raining I have to be aware of my health or slipping.
scrunners: Who do you admire the most and why?
buffo: I admire my coach. He has been through the high school running career and knows what we are going through. He always has advice to give us. I always use it to make me a stronger runner and a better person. I also look up to my parent for being at every meet and my mom is at every practice helping the team and not just me.