2009 USATF Junior Championships Interviews

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Emily Sisson Jr 3k 2nd USA Junior Outdoor Championships 2397 views

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Uploaded by Ryan From Flotrack | June 28, 2009

Speakers: Emily Sisson

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13 comments

Badger Boy 2 years ago

On the Purdy performance equivalency tables, a 15:48.91 5K is equal to a 4:32 mile and 9:50 2-mile.

Mike Mather 2 years ago

One final high school entry, a little late, but well worth reading for this young super star:
By Ben Rosario (owner of Big River Running in St. Louis - bigriverrunning.com)

This past Tuesday (June 1st), I witnessed one of the most amazing runs in the history of high school girls distance running - and it happened on a local high school track in front of about 50 people.
In some ways, though, that was the beauty of it because it was a reflection on the young athlete that put on this incredible show and the humble approach she takes to our great sport. Emily Sisson, the senior from Parkway Central High School in suburban Saint Louis, ran 9:51.1h for 3200 meters, which had it been an official meet would be the second fastest prep time ever.
The whole thing came about when Emily and her father were mapping out what her goals were for this outdoor season. She had decided to forego the Missouri high school season in favor of running the Nike Indoor National Meet in March, followed by the IAAF World Cross Country Championships later that month. Emily, being guided by her father Mark Sisson (who was a 4:02 miler himself back in the day), decided to take a short break after the World Championships before deciding on specific races for outdoor post season.
My specialty running store, Big River Running Company, puts on an event in Saint Louis called the Festival of Miles where we have a night of track races to raise money for an athlete who was paralyzed back in 2008, that is highlighted by an elite men's mile at the end of the evening. This year, Under Armour sponsored the event and Flotrack was there to film all the races. The elite mile did not disappoint, going under four minutes for the second year in a row, but perhaps the most impressive race of the night though was Emily's 4:48.20 mile that she ran against a field of collegiate and post-collegiate athletes, running away from them after a 2:29 opening half.
Before the event her dad had asked if there was any way we could run a 3200 that night, because Emily wanted to try and break ten minutes. Unfortunately, due to the time schedule and the field we had assembled, we just couldn't do it. That left her with no real chance to run an official 3200 because she had already committed to the Jim Ryun Dream Mile at the Adidas Grand Prix and was then scheduled to run the 3k at the US Junior Championships.
Mark then asked if we could just do a time trial and give Emily some pacesetters so she could try and break ten minutes that way. "She doesn't care if it's official," he said. "She just wants to prove to herself that she can do it."
Tuesday, June 1, ended up working perfectly into her training schedule, and it worked out well on our end because we do free speed workouts for the public on Tuesdays, where we usually get about 150 people out. We had the clock out there and we figured some of the folks would stick around to watch. So that was pretty much the set-up.
We had two guys from our Big River Racing Team pace her through the first seven laps. They did a great job, hitting 73 high or 74 low on pretty much every lap. On my watch, she came across 1600 at 4:56. They dropped off and let her "earn it" on that last lap and she promptly picked up the pace with a 72 closer to finish in 9:51.1h. She looked absolutely fantastic the whole way, never losing a step and never losing focus.
In some ways I wish we would have played it up and gotten a ton of people out there to watch, but at the same time there was something very special about the simplicity of it all. It was just an incredible athlete doing something that has only been accomplished a couple of times in the history of US distance running and doing it purely to prove to herself that she could.
Well, she did, and I'm sure glad I was there to see it!

Mike Mather 3 years ago

Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
IAAF World Junior Championships 5000 Meter Run

Emily Sisson - 6th Place - 15:48.91 (New National High School Record)

I don't even want to wait to see the race video Emily. I can put what I want to say out here right now. A 33.13 second PR. Are you kidding me? All I've seen thus far is your post-race interview right on the side of the track. I'm watching you close . The knees are almost going and you're still churning around inside a little. That told me you were way out there on time, but I had no idea you killed the national high school record. 15:48.91 Wow!
There's nothing else to say Em. Enjoyed watching you through these early years. Certainly put pics and stats up back then for my junior high runners. You, Jordan, Erin Gillingham, AJ Acosta, Nicole Blood, Alex Kosinski, Danny & Diego Mercado, Shelby Greany, and many others. Wonderful roll models for my teams to watch. You've stunned them all year, but this is off the scale!

PS - Mark. Do you think you can finally take a break and hang up the stop watch and whistle for a while? Hard to be a dad and coach. Been there, done that. Congratulations to both of you again.

Mike Mather 3 years ago

Monday, July 19, 2010
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
IAAF World Junior Championships 3000 Meter Run

Jordan Hasay - 9th Place - 9:15.78
Emily Sisson - 10th Place - 9:16.80
The eyes of the world watched intently as the opening ceremony finished and the one and only competitive event of the day began. The girls 3000 Meter Run would open the meet this evening, followed by many more days of intense competition throughout the week. This year the USA brought two of their finest ever; Jordan Hasay, a freshman from the University of Oregon and Emily Sisson, a high schooler from the St Louis area headed for the University of Wisconsin in the fall. Both would run their very best times ever. The girls have had limited experience against international fields of this caliber. The winner, Mercy Cherono of Kenya, 2nd and 3rd, Emebet Anteneh of Ethiopia and Layes Abdullayeva of Azerbaijan. The race in a word was tactical, a common practice for runners entered in multiple events. The first mile was a slowish 4:56.4.
Later in the week USA Team Co-Captain Jordan Hasay will be running the 1500, her focused distance for most of her races this season. She just ran a PR on July 2nd of 4:13.85 at the Nike Track Nationals, held on her home track at Oregon. Emily has not decided yet but will likely run the 5000 Meter event, a distance she is extremely good at here in the US. She is ranked #7 all-time as a high schooler with a time of 16:22.44, running that at the Kansas Relays in April.
Watch how much these two girls learn from this 3K race and carry forward into their respective 1500/5K races. Being this good is all about going to school every time they tie those spikes on.
Good luck girls.

Mike Mather 3 years ago

June 24, 2010 Des Moines, Iowa
Drake University, USATF Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships

3000 Meter Run Final
Emily Sisson 9:18.73
Jordan Hasay 9:18.92
Aisling Cuffe 9:20.94

I kind of smiled at the entry list this morning as live coverage began. 3000 meters has been Emily Sisson's sweet spot this year, both indoors and out. As this race progressed Jordan Hasay assumed the lead with Emily and Aisling Cuffe (Cornwall Central HS junior from New Windsor, NY) right behind her. Both began to push Hasay who was comfortable and ready to respond. But unlike the Sisson of seasons past, this year she has become a punishing, grueling competitor in those final two laps of the 3K. Hasay answered her charge, and Em kept pushing harder and harder. Side by side through the last 200 meters, Emily edged Jordan by less than a couple of tenths at the finish. Great PRs for all three girls. Jordan and Emily are headed to New Brunswick, Canada on July 19th for the World Junior Championships!

Mike Mather 3 years ago

High schooler Emily Sisson migrated back to the University of Kansas during April, attending the 2010 Kansas Relays. This time an outdoor meet, she entered the College Women's 5000 Meter Run. As a high school junior in 2009, she ran 16:34.36 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. That was the 2nd fastest 5K ever at the NON and 11th fastest all-time for a high schooler.
This year she's done some more trimming and pruning on that PR. 16:22.44 at Kansas, now the 7th fastest high schooler all-time. She was essentially by herself in this one with only the clock to race. Second place was a distant 36-plus seconds behind her. Emily has also been invited to the 2010 Jim Ryun High School Dream Mile in June. She's been banging out 5K-6K's for so long this season I'm hesitant to see her shorten up the distance that much. But it's an honor to be there.

Mike Mather 3 years ago

News broke this week that Emily Sisson would be ineligible to run her final high school track season in Missouri. It was a decision she made well in advance of this week. Looking for some tough competition to tune her up for the IAAF World Junior Cross-country Championships in Poland, she chose to run the Nike Indoor Nationals in March, essentially giving up her eligibility to run any MSHSAA-sanctioned events this season.
At the Nike meet she ran the two-mile, posting a 10:10.21 time. Prior to that race she had run the Jayhawk Classic at the University of Kansas. A late January indoor 3K event, high-schooler Sisson took on the NCAA. With a time of 9:25.7 she won the race and became the #3 All-Time Indoor 3K high schooler on the books, right behind Melody Fairchild (Boulder HS, Oregon) 9:17.7 in 1991, and Erin Keogh (Langley, Va, Texas) 9:21.41 in 1987.
Emily has stated "It was a difficult decision, but it would've been difficult to train for worlds and come back and train for track all season." Her immediate plans include a couple more open meets this spring before taking some time off prior to Wisconsin in the fall.
I'm very impressed with her thinking. Never once lost site of Poland, worked toward that goal, and achieved more than she probably ever expected. 1st American to finish with a 20:08 time for the European 6K. She also picked up another 3rd place at the Foot Locker Nats, a 2nd at the USATF XC Championships in Spokane, Washington, and 3rd best 3K Indoor all-time.
A magical year Em!

Mike Mather 3 years ago

March 28, 2010 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Figure the odds! Emily Sisson, a high school senior from Chesterfield, Missouri, has led the American team to a 6th place finish at the IAAF World Junior Cross-country Championships today. Individually she placed 18th with a 6K course time of 20.08. Granted, all courses are not the same, but Emily has posted the fastest junior event time by an American in the last half dozen years at least. Just 27 seconds back Shelby Greany of Suffern, NY and Providence College finished in 29th place. Julie Bottorf 35th, Emily Jones 41st, Sophia Ziemian 45th, and Laura Tremblay 51st completed the American effort.
Notable runners in past years have included Neely Spence, Ashley Brasovan, Alex Dunne in the 2009 Amman, Jordan race. Alex Gits, Laurynne Chetelat, Lauren Saylor, and Marissa Treece were among those at Edinburgh, Scotland in 2008. McKayla Plank, Erin Bedell, Kauren Tarver, Nicole Blood, and Mel Lawrence were standouts at Fukuoka, Japan in 2006.
Looking forward to hearing some comments from the team when they arrive back in the US. Great job everyone!

Mike Mather 3 years ago

Always enjoy adding another chapter to Emily's little running log book here. 13 Feb 2010, Spokane, Washington.
USATF Cross Country National Championships. Women's Junior Race (6K)
1st Shelby Greany Providence College 20:27
2nd Emily Sisson Chesterfield, Missouri 20:32
(Top six finishers move on to the Worlds in Poland)
Watched the race right here on Flotrack. A pack of 9-11, including Shelby and Emily, at the 3K mark. Emily decided to move first, attempting to break away from the pack. Then there were 3 or 4. They continued the 5:30 pace right to the end. Shelby and Emily both looked very strong, even in the howling wind. Greany is a notoriously powerful steeplechaser, the national HS record holder in the 2K steeple. Her XC performances in the mud and rain at the Big 10 Championships and the Regionals certainly demonstrate that. Sisson, as well documented below, is made of the same metal. She's off to Wisconsin in the Fall. But we have Poland and one final track season ahead. I'm sure the next entry above will be equally fascinating!

Mike Mather 3 years ago

Foot Locker Results! Emily Sisson 3rd, #2 finisher on the Championship winning Mid-West Team.
I just knew this girl was good way back in junior high. Never doubted for a second. Slam Dunk Em!!

Mike Mather 3 years ago

Saturday, November 28 update - Emily Sisson has finished 2nd (17:42) at the Mid West Foot Locker Regional. Two weeks until the Nationals at Balboa Park, San Diego. Smart move Em, just get in without killing yourself!

Mike Mather 3 years ago

Emily Sisson update on Thanksgiving Day 2009 - She's won the Missouri State XC Championship by more than a minute over all divisions. Foot Locker Mid West is on Saturday at Kenosha, Wisconsin. Clear, dry, 50 degrees (nothing like the recent Big East Championships!). I think Emily is setting up for a great Foot Locker National in San Diego.

Mike Mather 4 years ago

Emily was running the 1500/3000 in the Junior Olympics at Indianapolis in 2005, right behind Jordan Hasay. She's a great cold-weather runner, always winning or finishing well in the Foot Locker mid-west race at Kenosha. She's run the Pan Am Juniors and did that horrible XC snow race in Rhode Island when she was younger too. Dad ran for Wisconsin. She used to run for Marion down in Omaha, but moved to the suburbs of St Louis during HS. She's much tougher this year, winning Missouri state track titles in, I think, 3 different events!
On June 20 she ran the 5K at the Nike Outdoor winning it in 16:34.36. That was a PR for her and the 2nd fastest NON 5K ever, 11th best US all-time! A week later, this race, at Eugene, Oregon she finished 2nd in the 3K with a time of 9:55.31. All of these races this season have been a gift for Emily to even run in. By the end of XC season last fall she was diagnosed with Grave's Disease. It was apparent at the FL Nats with her uncharacteristic 29th place, 18:37 finish. Since then her training has been limited in both distance and speed. Still under medication she's obviously made wonderful progress. Gail Devers had the same thing and made a good, although long, recovery. It looks like Emily Sisson may be ready for a great final high school season in the fall! She's finished as high as 3rd in the FL Nats. With Hasay, Brasovan, and McLaughlin gone she is a real possibility to win it all this year.

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