scrunners: When did you first meet Hannah-Lee?
buffo: I first remember meeting Hannah Lee at a meet here at Dorman against Boiling Springs and Spartanburg Christian Academy. We had just raced and I had heard, from my mom, that Hannah-Lee was a big fan of mine and I was quite flattered. We raced (she did very well, she beat alot of our good girls). I was on a cool down with Laura Eleazer, and we came up past the track and the Spartanburg Christian Academy girls were all together and Hannah's mom came up to us and asked if she could take a picture of me, Laura, and the girls. The girls got really excited and we all got in a big group, all the girls were talking and telling me all about Hannah-Lee and saying, "She [Hannah Lee] is your BIGGEST FAN!", and we snapped the photo.
scrunners: What did you discuss with her?
buffo: She was telling me that she had pictures of me in her locker at school and how she had gotten into running and how she wanted to run just as fast as the top girls in the state. It reminded me of some of the things that I used to do when I was in seventh and eighth grade, having pictures of Angelina Blackmon in my locker and only dreaming of ever coming that close.
scrunners: When did you find out about Hannah-Lee\'s pictures of you in her school locker?
buffo: When Laura, the girls, and I were taking the pictures, some of Hannah's friends were telling me that Hannah had pictures of me in her locker.
scrunners: What did you think about this?
buffo: I really find that I have made a small contribution to Hannah-Lee's and the Spartanburg Christian Academy's team, and you know, I feel that I am completing my high school running career because I not only just "run fast" but I am setting an example for the runners of today and tomorrow. This has been a personal goal of mine because I want to leave a legacy of not only a fast runner but of one that lead not only her team but other teams, respect of others, and most of all, run because you feel destined to, because this is the best sport in the world and you better not leave it without you heart and soul out on the course after you have gone through the line.
scrunners: When you see Hannah-Lee at meets what do you discuss with her?
buffo: I always give her a hug, and tell her good luck or good job in her race.
scrunners: Does she ever have questions for you on the sport?
buffo: She has never really approached me with any questions, but I have given her informal advice. She was running at GSPs this year as the last leg in their 4x800 team, and I went to the backstretch to cheer her on. She looked strong and I gave a "Good Job, Hannah Lee!" and told her to work the backstretch and pump her arms and go for the next girl in front of her (which was Dorman's B Team).
scrunners: What would you like to do with the sport in the future?
buffo: I really want to leave high school cross country as one who only helped in raising the standards for South Carolina. I feel that in the past few years with Angelina (Blackmon) and Kate (Niehaus) and the many more that are coming, that South Carolina girls are the up-rise and that we will really be able to accomplish a lot.
scrunners: Have you thought about being a youth program or high school coach?
buffo: I have been around this sport for almost nine years now. I am gifted with the ability to not only walk, but run. From where I started in Roebuck Running Club with Mrs. Owens, to Tami Dennis in Spartanburg Striders, to high school races with Coach (Bobby) Urban, Coach (Wendy) Barr, and now Coach (Jeff) Buys. I been blessed to even know these people and be coached by them. They have truly inspired me as an athlete to dream big and work hard. I am a part of what will be the past, a part of the present, and I have a passion to be apart of the future by inspiring the future generations to love this sport just as much as I have. I thank God everyday for all the people who have influenced me, and I want to give back to this sport by teaching children how much this sport can do for their lives. I want to be around or be involved with this sport for the rest of my life by coaching high school cross country.
scrunners: What kind of impact do you feel you have made on the sport as a role model to younger athletes and as a competitor?
buffo: I hope that I have made an example of a student-athlete and a respectable competitor to other teams.
scrunners: How long do you feel the recovery will take?
buffo: I am getting better right now.
scrunners: What or whom has been keeping you motivated to get out the door on a daily basis?
buffo: Right now, I have been really motivated by the other girls on my team. I either just watch practice, stretch, and sometimes ride my bike. I love seeing how the other girls on our team step it up when I'm not there. I have so much support surrounding me from my friends, to my coaches, to even the doctors that have been helping me through my injury. I believe that support during this time in my life is very important because when you are not able to be up to your physical fitness level, you have to keep your mentality straight, and let me tell you if it weren't for the support of these people my recovery could have taken a greater toll.
scrunners: I understand you have been out of running for a little while. How long has this been? Explain.
buffo: I have been out since early January with some sort of stress fracture due to an unknown cause. I have been to the doctor at least five times to find out what it is. I was running easy, then biking for a while (Coach Barr called me "Mary Poppins" because I was always on my bike) , then in a boot, and finally now in my lime green cast and crutches. I finally got to the point where I broke down and felt that I needed to be patient with this injury and only deal with and get through it. I am keeping positive and setting my eyes on running at the end the year.
scrunners: As a junior at Dorman, what kind of leadership have you had this year and how has it been with not being able to run with the team?
buffo: I was given the Team Captain Award (along with Adriane Travis) at the end of this cross country Season. I have been a leader since I was in 10th grade as well. I organized weekend runs and spaghetti dinners for the team. In this years track season, it has been a little harder to fill the complete leadership role but I feel that Laura Eleazer (junior), Taylor Harvey (senior), Adriane Travis (senior), Brie Shelley (sophomore), and Harrison Tiller (freshman) have really set examples for the younger underclassman. It's hard for me, but I'm glad to see others stepping up and filling in the job.
scrunners: What kind of conditioning are you undergoing at this time?
buffo: Right now I am on a stationary bike, and probably soon a real bike, swimming, and running in the water. I have really increased my strength training as well over the winter and now spring.
scrunners: Do you feel you are maintaining the same level of training as if you were running?
buffo: Not exactly the same…but hopefully close to it.
scrunners: How do you feel this injury has helped you see all areas of the sport and help guide others in the right direction to become a well-rounded contributor to the sports?
buffo: Well, first I have seen how much not taking care of an injury can do to your season and advise that injuries be handled early on. I have seen through myself that this sport is difficult and you may go through a year that just doesn't work, but you have to be patient because better days will come. "You also have to remind yourself of the times when you are in those tough times; when you have a bad workout you have to remind yourself of that time when you were in hat "slump" and you are running for yourself when you were in that injury," said Buys to Buffo.
scrunners: We have been informed Hannah-Lee is moving this year. What will you remember the most from her and seeing her at meets? Do you plan to keep in touch with her in the future?
buffo: I was informed of this right as she finished the 4x800 at GSPs. She came across the line, I saw her, told her good job and she, still breathing heavily from her race, "I'm….moving…." I was very upset and gave her a hug. She is going to forever live in my heart as "me." I look upon Hannah-Lee and I see myself. I hope to always keep in touch with her and how well she does in the future.
buffo: I first remember meeting Hannah Lee at a meet here at Dorman against Boiling Springs and Spartanburg Christian Academy. We had just raced and I had heard, from my mom, that Hannah-Lee was a big fan of mine and I was quite flattered. We raced (she did very well, she beat alot of our good girls). I was on a cool down with Laura Eleazer, and we came up past the track and the Spartanburg Christian Academy girls were all together and Hannah's mom came up to us and asked if she could take a picture of me, Laura, and the girls. The girls got really excited and we all got in a big group, all the girls were talking and telling me all about Hannah-Lee and saying, "She [Hannah Lee] is your BIGGEST FAN!", and we snapped the photo.
scrunners: What did you discuss with her?
buffo: She was telling me that she had pictures of me in her locker at school and how she had gotten into running and how she wanted to run just as fast as the top girls in the state. It reminded me of some of the things that I used to do when I was in seventh and eighth grade, having pictures of Angelina Blackmon in my locker and only dreaming of ever coming that close.
scrunners: When did you find out about Hannah-Lee\'s pictures of you in her school locker?
buffo: When Laura, the girls, and I were taking the pictures, some of Hannah's friends were telling me that Hannah had pictures of me in her locker.
scrunners: What did you think about this?
buffo: I really find that I have made a small contribution to Hannah-Lee's and the Spartanburg Christian Academy's team, and you know, I feel that I am completing my high school running career because I not only just "run fast" but I am setting an example for the runners of today and tomorrow. This has been a personal goal of mine because I want to leave a legacy of not only a fast runner but of one that lead not only her team but other teams, respect of others, and most of all, run because you feel destined to, because this is the best sport in the world and you better not leave it without you heart and soul out on the course after you have gone through the line.
scrunners: When you see Hannah-Lee at meets what do you discuss with her?
buffo: I always give her a hug, and tell her good luck or good job in her race.
scrunners: Does she ever have questions for you on the sport?
buffo: She has never really approached me with any questions, but I have given her informal advice. She was running at GSPs this year as the last leg in their 4x800 team, and I went to the backstretch to cheer her on. She looked strong and I gave a "Good Job, Hannah Lee!" and told her to work the backstretch and pump her arms and go for the next girl in front of her (which was Dorman's B Team).
scrunners: What would you like to do with the sport in the future?
buffo: I really want to leave high school cross country as one who only helped in raising the standards for South Carolina. I feel that in the past few years with Angelina (Blackmon) and Kate (Niehaus) and the many more that are coming, that South Carolina girls are the up-rise and that we will really be able to accomplish a lot.
scrunners: Have you thought about being a youth program or high school coach?
buffo: I have been around this sport for almost nine years now. I am gifted with the ability to not only walk, but run. From where I started in Roebuck Running Club with Mrs. Owens, to Tami Dennis in Spartanburg Striders, to high school races with Coach (Bobby) Urban, Coach (Wendy) Barr, and now Coach (Jeff) Buys. I been blessed to even know these people and be coached by them. They have truly inspired me as an athlete to dream big and work hard. I am a part of what will be the past, a part of the present, and I have a passion to be apart of the future by inspiring the future generations to love this sport just as much as I have. I thank God everyday for all the people who have influenced me, and I want to give back to this sport by teaching children how much this sport can do for their lives. I want to be around or be involved with this sport for the rest of my life by coaching high school cross country.
scrunners: What kind of impact do you feel you have made on the sport as a role model to younger athletes and as a competitor?
buffo: I hope that I have made an example of a student-athlete and a respectable competitor to other teams.
scrunners: How long do you feel the recovery will take?
buffo: I am getting better right now.
scrunners: What or whom has been keeping you motivated to get out the door on a daily basis?
buffo: Right now, I have been really motivated by the other girls on my team. I either just watch practice, stretch, and sometimes ride my bike. I love seeing how the other girls on our team step it up when I'm not there. I have so much support surrounding me from my friends, to my coaches, to even the doctors that have been helping me through my injury. I believe that support during this time in my life is very important because when you are not able to be up to your physical fitness level, you have to keep your mentality straight, and let me tell you if it weren't for the support of these people my recovery could have taken a greater toll.
scrunners: I understand you have been out of running for a little while. How long has this been? Explain.
buffo: I have been out since early January with some sort of stress fracture due to an unknown cause. I have been to the doctor at least five times to find out what it is. I was running easy, then biking for a while (Coach Barr called me "Mary Poppins" because I was always on my bike) , then in a boot, and finally now in my lime green cast and crutches. I finally got to the point where I broke down and felt that I needed to be patient with this injury and only deal with and get through it. I am keeping positive and setting my eyes on running at the end the year.
scrunners: As a junior at Dorman, what kind of leadership have you had this year and how has it been with not being able to run with the team?
buffo: I was given the Team Captain Award (along with Adriane Travis) at the end of this cross country Season. I have been a leader since I was in 10th grade as well. I organized weekend runs and spaghetti dinners for the team. In this years track season, it has been a little harder to fill the complete leadership role but I feel that Laura Eleazer (junior), Taylor Harvey (senior), Adriane Travis (senior), Brie Shelley (sophomore), and Harrison Tiller (freshman) have really set examples for the younger underclassman. It's hard for me, but I'm glad to see others stepping up and filling in the job.
scrunners: What kind of conditioning are you undergoing at this time?
buffo: Right now I am on a stationary bike, and probably soon a real bike, swimming, and running in the water. I have really increased my strength training as well over the winter and now spring.
scrunners: Do you feel you are maintaining the same level of training as if you were running?
buffo: Not exactly the same…but hopefully close to it.
scrunners: How do you feel this injury has helped you see all areas of the sport and help guide others in the right direction to become a well-rounded contributor to the sports?
buffo: Well, first I have seen how much not taking care of an injury can do to your season and advise that injuries be handled early on. I have seen through myself that this sport is difficult and you may go through a year that just doesn't work, but you have to be patient because better days will come. "You also have to remind yourself of the times when you are in those tough times; when you have a bad workout you have to remind yourself of that time when you were in hat "slump" and you are running for yourself when you were in that injury," said Buys to Buffo.
scrunners: We have been informed Hannah-Lee is moving this year. What will you remember the most from her and seeing her at meets? Do you plan to keep in touch with her in the future?
buffo: I was informed of this right as she finished the 4x800 at GSPs. She came across the line, I saw her, told her good job and she, still breathing heavily from her race, "I'm….moving…." I was very upset and gave her a hug. She is going to forever live in my heart as "me." I look upon Hannah-Lee and I see myself. I hope to always keep in touch with her and how well she does in the future.