Senior spotlight is an attempt to let athletes tell as much of their own story as we can. We want to take a look into some of the things that make them tick. If you are a senior who is in the top 25 this fall and want to be featured, send an email to milesplitga@gmail.com
Here we've got Andrew Bitsko from Lakeside DeKalb for a senior spotlight moment:
What is your PR in XC so far?
15:35
What are your college plans, if you have them figured out?
I plan to run in college but don't know exactly where yet.
What's your most memorable race or race you're most proud of?
The race that I'm the most proud of is the 12th Milton XC Invitational because I changed strategies from running off people to going out immediately.
What is your favorite meet in cross country season and why?
My favorite meet in cross country is any race that's muddy because it makes the course tougher and feels like how cross country should feel.
What has been your biggest challenge in high school or what has been the hardest obstacle to overcome?
Plateauing for so long even though I was continuing to train and follow the training plan.
What is your daily/weekly mileage like?
50 on most weeks and 60-70 if I don't have a race that week.
What do you think is the biggest part of training that has helped you achieve success?
Consistent long runs and continuing to run on vacations.
What is your all time favorite workout?
Tempo 400s in outside lanes with walking rest to the start line.
What is your least favorite or hardest workout?
Tempo 400s with 6 hill sprints in between as the "rest".
Who do you have to thank for your success?
All the strong runners in Georgia that keep getting better and push me to want to be better than them.
Who do you look up to the most in your event?
I don't really look up to anyone specific, I focus more on competing against myself and those around me rather than following another person.
What gets you pumped up for a workout or race?
The chance to PR or beat people I hadn't been able to beat before or other strong runners.
What is your favorite food and/or movie and/or TV show and/or song?
My favorite food is Shrimp tacos and my favorite movies are all of the Rush Hours.
What will you miss the most about high school?
I'll miss the amount of opportunities to race and the friends I've made on the team through the years.
What advice would you give your younger self?
To never do any static stretch because it can actually cause injuries and take tension out of your muscles causing you to run slower.