Interview with Marie Lawrence
by Penny Sparks

Marie Lawrence competes at the 2004 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. She finished second for the second year in a row. (Photo by Alison Wade/New York Road Runners)

Marie (Mel) Lawrence is a sophomore at Reno High School. Mel set the Nevada high school running scene on fire her freshman year with her runner-up finish at the 2003 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships and her four gold medals at the Nevada 4A state track meet in the 800, 1,600, 4x400, and 4x800, but she has accomplished even bigger things so far this year. During the 2004 cross country season, Lawrence became the first runner from Nevada to win the Foot Locker West Regional and did not lose a race until the Foot Locker nationals in December, where she again was the national runner-up.

During the 2005 track season, Lawrence has received Female Athlete of the Meet honors in two prestigious California meets, the Chico/West Valley Invitational and California Meet of Champions. She has made the DyeStat national elite list in all the distance events with times of 2:12.75 in the 800; 4:47.62 in the 1,600; 4:52.05 in the mile; 9:47.63 in the 3,000; and 10:35.02 in the 3,200 thus far. Lawrence seems to get faster every time she steps on the track.

Penny Sparks: Mel, congratulations on your very impressive season so far. You have really laid down some awesome times on the track this year, in fact the fastest in Nevada's high school history. You have really made a jump in your times on the track this season. To what do you attribute your improvement this year compared to last year?
Marie (Mel) Lawrence: Well I've been training with the boys this year and they have really pushed me. They especially push me in the speed workouts.

PS: Do you think you can go even faster?
ML: I think that with the right competition, and with everyone pushing each other, we can all go faster.

PS: I am impressed with the amount of racing you do. Do you ever get tired from running in all those races?
ML: No, not really. I like the competition and I don't really think about it, I just do it.

PS: How do you keep yourself motivated race after race and week after week?
ML: I just go out there and know that I have to work hard to be at that next level.

PS: You mentioned at Foot Locker Nationals last December that one of your goals was to run in the 4:40s for the 1,600 this season. You did that, so what is your new goal for the 1,600?
ML: Well we've talked about it and I would like to run the sophomore national record for the 1,600. [Note: The current record is 4:42.40, set by Nicole Blood in 2004.]

PS: What are your goals, time-wise, for the 3,200/3,000 and 800?
ML: For the 800 I would eventually like to get down to a 2:09 by my senior year and for the 3,200 I'd like to get into the low 10:20s, maybe?

PS: You obviously have a great range from the 800 to the 5K, so what event or events are your favorite and why?
ML: Well I really like the mile because it just seems like it the right amount of laps. But it's hard to say because I haven't raced the 3,200 that many times yet.

PS: Which event do you think you are the strongest in?
ML: At the beginning of the year, I thought I was stronger in the 3,200, but now that it comes down toward the end of the year I think that I'm stronger in the mile. But again, I think it's sort of hard to say.

PS: It is obvious that your training is really paying off. What would you say your average weekly mileage is?
ML: During the cross country season it gets up to about 35-40 miles per week, except in the summer where it gets a little higher. Then in track it gets up to about 30-35 miles per week.

PS: How has your training changed from last year? Being a year older have you increased your volume and/or intensity this year compared to last?
ML: I think I have. I've just been running a lot harder this year.

PS: What is your hardest workout and what is your favorite workout?
ML: My favorite workout is Russian miles. I really like those. Out hardest workout is 800m repeats.

PS: With the level you are at does that cause a problem for you in finding female training partners?
ML: In a way it does, so I just run with the boys on our team and they really push me.

PS: What events are you going to run in at state in a few weeks?
ML: I'm going to run the 4x800, 800, 1,600, and the 3,200.

PS: What are your goals for the state meet?
ML: Well we've talked about it and I want to try to break some state records and try to score as many points for my team as I can.

PS: After the Nevada high school track season is over what elite level meets are you going to compete in and in which events?
ML: I'm planning on running the mile or 3,200 at Golden West. I haven't decided which one yet.

PS: Do you feel you are missing out on other things in life because of your full-time training and racing schedule?
ML: Not really, I hang out with my friends quite a bit. They are a lot of fun, and in the off-season I am with my friends all the time.

PS: You have done so much in just two years of high school. You are the favorite in just about every race you run in. Does the pressure of being in the spotlight all the time ever get to you and how do you handle it?
ML: Not really. I just don't think about the race. I just go into every race and say to myself, 'Just go out there and run as fast as you can, if you have a bad race it was meant to be and you just need to try to run your hardest.'

PS: I know it might be too early for you to really worry about yet, but colleges can and will start contacting you next March. Are you thinking about what colleges you might be interested in taking official visits to?
ML: I'm not really sure yet.

(Interview posted May 16, 2005.)