Biography
Full name: Scott Wietecha
High school: Irmo High School, Class of 2000
College: Harding University (Searcy, Ark.), Class of 2004
Strongest event: High School-1600m, College-Steeplechase, Old Man Age-Marathon
(Photo provided)
Personal bests, other stats
High School- 1:58, 4:19, 9:21, 15:13; State track champion in 1600m and 3200m
College: 14:29 (All-American in the indoor 5000m and cross country).
Now: 14:13 5k, 64:39 1/2 Marathon, 2:18 marathon (State record holder in 10 miles, 15th place finish at USA Half-Marathon Championships, 2nd American at Houston Marathon
Hobbies: Playing with my daughter Kate (will turn two in May), running, hanging out with friends
Interesting note: After taking off several years, I got bit by the running bug again. Currently a member of the Saucony Hurricanes and Powerbar Team Elite.
What was the biggest adjustment you had to make to compete at the college level?
Learning how to race. In high school, I was able to be at the front of most my races. There's a lot of glory in fighting for the win, so it's much easier to grit your teeth and find those extra gears. In college, there are tons of fast runners. There's not a lot of glory in kicking hard to finish 100th place, but it's something you need to learn how to do.
How would you rate your college running career and overall college experience?
Overall, I really enjoyed it. I made a lot of close friends, matured a lot and had some decent races. I ran into some health issues my last year or so, so I didn't graduate being "fulfilled" running-wise, but overall it was one of my most favorite time periods of my life.
Is there anything you can tell high school athletes to better prepare them for the college experience?
College running is hard work. It's a patient, 4-5 year process where you have to consistently put in the work. Don't expect to set the world on fire your freshmen year or go out to prove anything to anyone. Work on improving yourself as a runner and individual and train at your level, not the level of others.
Do you plan to attend South Carolina for any outdoor meets this coming season?
Unfortunately not. My old high school is about a seven hour drive and I'm usually only able to make it home during the summer and Christmas break.
Have you been back to see a meet recently?
Not in South Carolina but this past June, I ran the 5000m at the Music City Distance Carnival in Nashville and got to see Andre Ivankovic from Daniel High School compete in the mile.
What memories from competing in high school stand out the most?
Winning the team championship at the 1998 Cross Country State Championships was my most positive one. All of the guys were like brothers to me and I'm still very close to some of them, so it was a really cool experience. The race I think about the most is the 4x800m at the 2000 state track meet. I really wanted us to win and we ended up losing by just over one second. I got the baton in 3rd place, four seconds behind the leader, Shawn Cunningham from Hilton Head. I caught up with him at the start of the backstretch, tried to drop him right away and ended up fizzling out with 150m to go. Looking back, I should have tucked in behind him, relaxed for a bit and then tried to attack.
As a coach today, what is it like to be on the other side of the sports?
It's totally different. In high school, I thought I knew everything and just saw what was in front of me. As a coach, you see the big picture and you do what is best for the team, not just one or two individuals. There's also a lot of administrative work, which results in your trying to balance out what what you feel is best and what you feel is most efficient.
What do you miss most about running in high school?
Running the weekend invitationals, hanging out as a team the night before the meets and running our old training routes. I was recently in town and had a 22-miler scheduled, so I ran ran most of my team's old training routes, while reminiscing about the old glory days.
What piece of coaching or advice that someone gave you has been the biggest help?
I've had a lot of coaches over the years and have learned a lot from all of them and use what I've learned from them in my own training. My old high school coach, Mike Moore had high standards for us and constantly talked to us about "accepting the challenge." There's not much middle ground and if you want to accomplish your goals, you have to do what's necessary, regardless if you feel like it or not.
What are you doing in the present and hope to do in the future?
Right now, I am teaching elementary education at H.B. Williams Elementary in White House, Tenn. For the past few years, I've coached at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tenn., but am taking some time off from coaching because it was too hard to balance everything in life with a toddler, a wife who is also a teacher and in graduate school and my own individual running. Coming home at 6 p.m. most days and only getting to spend an hour with my daughter before she went to bed got old quickly.
I'm trying to train pretty hard for at least a few more years and am hoping to run under 2:15 in the marathon within the next year or two.
How is the adjustment post-college?
Post-college, I trained really hard for about a year but got mentally burned out and took off a few years before starting back up about four years ago. You definitely need more discipline. I train by myself, coach myself and have a full plate outside of running, so it takes a lot of discipline. But I chose to accept the challenge.