Alex Buck enters her senior year ready to lead a solid Pendleton Heights squad. Buck qualified for Foot Locker Nationals as a sophomore, finishing tenth in the Midwest Region after only an 19th place finish at the state meet. Buck, injured in track, is back and ready for her senior season.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but you have not raced since Foot Locker Midwest - correct? If so, I’m assuming injury - what happened there and are you healthy now?
Correct, I have not raced since Footlocker Midwest. Unfortunately I only had a handful of weeks of cross training before we discovered a stress fracture in my big toe. It was not a common injury and made recovery last longer than we hoped. As track season began picking up, my coach, parents, and I decided that attempting a fast bounce back into track didn't sound like the safest idea. That was in no way a fun or easy decision to make, but looking back on it now I believe I made the right decision.
How has summer training been going?
Summer training has been going great! I'm thrilled to have put in a solid amount of summer miles.
You are going into your senior year now, what are your goals for your final season?
This cross country season I would like to fight for the individual state title. I will also be attempting to qualify for NXN and return to Footlocker Nationals.
Your team is also looking pretty good this year, what do you think your team can accomplish this season?
I am so incredibly excited for our team this season! We realize that this could potentially be the best season in our school history. So with that being said, we'll be aiming for the highest podium finish as possible (top 5 teams make the podium).
You seem to have a knack for finishing well at regionals as two years ago you were 19th at state but 10th at Foot Locker and this past year you were 8th at State and NXN - what is it about those regional meets that brings out that next level for you?
I love the post season regionals! I enjoy all the competition and the excitement of a possible National qualification. Two years ago I had no idea what I was capable of, which helps explain such a huge jump in performance. Last year I felt like I wasn't quite at full speed yet at the time of the state meet, so it was very nice to see continued improvement in the post season.
With it being your senior year it’s also time to start looking at colleges - how has the recruiting process been for you during the first few months?
It's a fun process and I'm really pleased with how it's gone so far. It's a neat experience and I'm thankful to have this opportunity.
What have you learned in your three seasons now?
1. Enjoy the process and stay positive.
2. Work hard, but listen to your body.
3. Trust the Lord's plan. He knows what he's doing.
What have been your favorite memories running?
My favorite running memories include our team camp we have every summer, experiencing the state meet with my team, and my weekend in San Diego for Footlocker Nationals.
How did you get first get into running?
My current coach is a teacher at the elementary school I attended. She heard about my PE class mile time and pestered me every day until I joined the middle school XC team! It took awhile, but slowly I fell in love with the sport and am so glad I stuck with it!
