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| Heather Koziel is a senior multi-event track and field athlete at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill. |
heather koziel: I remember finally being able to complete a full season. This is the first time that I've run almost all of our meets because I wasn't out with injuries this year. I was closer with the rest of the team and it made my season more enjoyable.
scrunners: How was the experience of going to Nationals in New Mexico? Explain to us the steps on how you made it to nationals and how the altitude effected your performance?
heather koziel: Nationals was amazing. I've never been to that size of a cross-country race. We weren't going to even go to regionals, but since my brother and I had good times at state, we decided to make the trip. Then after the race, Valerie Beesley (USATF Youth Chair) talked my mom into taking us to nationals. I wish I could have raced better, but the altitude really made it hard to breathe (in New Mexico).
scrunners: How was the Shrine Bowl Run experience? Explain to us how you felt when you knew you qualified and explain the whole experience to us.
heather koziel: My entire goal this year was to run the Shrine Bowl run. I trained with the thought (in mind) that I would have to break 20 minutes to do it (at state). When I learned that I ran a 19:35 and was one of the top seniors I was extremely pleased. The run was amazing. It was really cool to see how the whole thing came together. I loved getting to meet other seniors from different schools. And I know it was for a good cause. When we handed out gifts at the Shriner's Christmas party it was great to see the little kid's faces light up.
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Full Name: Heather Marie Koziel Academic Interest: Science Date of Birth: October 3rd, 1985 Hobbies: Running, Reading, Hanging out with my friends Brothers/Sisters: J.C. Koziel |
heather koziel: I've been running track for seven years, but I've been involved in sports all of my life (soccer, baseball, and any other sport I could play).
scrunners: What gave you the idea to start running?
heather koziel: I started track because when we moved down here, the soccer season sign ups were already closed, and I needed something to do.
scrunners: Who else your family runs? Did you parents run in high school or college and do they currently run?
heather koziel: My brother runs, and my dad did track when he was in high school.
scrunners: How has it been being on the same team with your brother (J.C.) at Northwestern? Do you ever go on runs together or talk to each other at practice or meets?
heather koziel: It's alright being on the team with my brother. We try to avoid each other though because we're always together, otherwise. The girls and guys run seperate work outs, and since he's faster than me, we really don't run together.
scrunners: What are you looking to achieve this track and field season? How do you see yourself achieving these goals?
heather koziel: I would love to be able to run a 2:23 800, and to pole vault 10'6" I've continued my training since cross country so I think that will be a huge factor in my performances this year.
scrunners: What events are you planning on running during the 2004 track and field season?
heather koziel: I hope be a leg on the 4x800, I'm pole vaulting, hurdling, and basically doing whatever my coach wants me to do. I'm pretty flexible on my events.
scrunners: From your 2003 track season what do you remember the most and want to remember the least from 2003 and how are you using last year's results to finish your last high school track and field season on a high note?
heather koziel: I remember being at the state meet and listening to Coach Bob Jenkins tell us that we had to beat Spring Valley in the 4x400 by at least two places to win the meet and then watching our team run faster then they ever have before to win the event. I'd like to forget about placing ninth in the pole vault at upper state by only one miss. I was pretty mad about it. I would like to do a repeat win, so I'm going to train harder than I ever have before.
scrunners: What kind of trainers and racers/spikes do you wear? Why?
heather koziel: I wear Brooks for my training shoes because they're really comfortable and provide good support. Lately I've been running in Nike distance spikes for races.
scrunners: What kind of surface do you prefer to train on, why? Do you have a favorite place to run in Rock Hill?
heather koziel: I love running on flat grassy surfaces, but I'll train on anything. I like running out at Winthrop Farms because there are a lot of trails and wide open spaces to run.
scrunners: What is your favorite cross-country course in South Carolina and your favorite track in South Carolina?
heather koziel: My favorite course would probably be Anne Close Greenways in Fort Mill. We ran the county meet there three years ago and I remember it mainly because it was all wooded and trails. It's a true cross country course. My favorite track so far is Spring Valley. I like running down in the stadium because it feels really professional having everyone looking down at you.
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Event Pr's: 5K-19:35 800-2.32 PV-9'6" LJ-15'1" 400H-1.10 Heptathalon-3541 High School and Mascot: Northwestern Trojans |
scrunners: What is the most prestigious meet you have competed in? What events did you do and how did you do? Did you meet any professional runners at this event? If so, what did you talk to them about?
heather koziel: My biggest meet is probably the USATF Junior Track and Field Olympics in Miami last year. I competed in the Heptathalon and placed 17th.
scrunners: What keeps you motivated to get out the door everyday for practice?
heather koziel: I love to run, but I mainly think about the rewards when I compete well.
scrunners: What do you feel when you wake up the day of a competition?
heather koziel: I feel pretty relaxed. I normally don't get nervous until I'm on the line waiting for the gun (to go off).
scrunners: Explain to us how you prepare for a competition?
heather koziel: I usually eat a banana and a Slim Fast bar about an hour before the race. I run for 12 minutes, and then stretch really well.
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| Heather Koziel participated in the 2003 Shrine Run. |
heather koziel: In a 5K I try to keep a pretty steady pace. It helps if I have mile splits, before I run (in my head), then I know if I need to speed up or not. I always try to have a really good sprint in the last 50-100 meters before the finish.
scrunners: Being a senior, what are you looking to do in the future? Have you thought about running in college? Either way, what colleges are you looking to attend?
heather koziel: I hope to become a doctor and go in to Sports Medicine. I've applied to Clemson (University) and I've already been accepted to USC (University of South Carolina). I've decided that I will run where ever I go (to school). I don't even look at stuff from a college if they don't have a track and cross-country team.
scrunners: What do you see happening in South Carolina running in the future? Do you see yourself helping this task of improving running in the state as a runner and a coach in the future? If you would like to coach, what level and why?
heather koziel: I believe that people are just going to get faster in the state. Ten years ago my time would have won the state 4A championships in cross-country. Tthis year I placed 16th and there were a lot more girls who were extremely close to that time. I try to improve the image that people have of runners. If I coached, I'd like to either coach little kids, because I like to work with children, and it'd be fun to help them decide what they'd like to try, or I'd like to coach high school to help fine tune athletes.
scrunners: Do you have a favorite running movie?
heather koziel: I like the movie Prefontaine.
scrunners: If there is one thing in the world you could do what would it be and why?
heather koziel: I'd love to travel, possibly take a year and backpack across Europe.