Footlocker Finalist Exclusive: Mailin Struck (Jr., Riverside-Brookfield HS)
Mailin’s Profile: Struck is a German exchange student who took Illinois by storm this past season with dominating wins that led to an undefeated season. Mailin runs for a 2A school that does not get the same fanfare or notoriety as 3A. However, she seemed to impress the onlookers and pundits every Saturday morning.
Mailin’s key season stats:
3miles-
16:35.00 2013-11-09 IHSA Cross Country State Championship
17:27.79 2013-11-02 2A Sectional - Wheaton Academy
17:11.70 2013-10-26 2A Regional - Riverside-Brookfield
17:25.10 2013-10-19 Metro Suburban Conference Championships
17:02.002013-10-12 Sterling Invitational
17:12.602013-09-28 Roy Gummerson Invitational
17:12.302013-09-20 Riverside-Brookfield Invitational
17:37.412013-09-14 First to the Finish Invitational
16:50.222013-09-07 Lyons Township Invitational
17:45.642013-09-03 Sycamore Invitational
5k-
17:52.002013-11-30 Foot Locker Midwest Regional
18:26.002013-10-05 Lisle Mane Event Invitational
Championship race outlook: The top 15 finishers are distinguished as All-Americans. The prognosis for Struck is not among them. In fact, she has been predicted to finish 26th out of 40 entrants according to Tully Runners Speed Ratings. However, ratings are what they are- ratings. The race has to be run and we say that Mailin has an opportunity to place among the very best this weekend in San Diego. With that being said, we expect Mailin to race to her best ability in her dream American race. Struck will depart back to her native Germany in January to finish up her studies and athletics.
Coach Kristi Sterling’s comments: Things have been going well these past few weeks of training. Mailin has been in good spirits and is excited to run in the warm weather of San Diego! It has been an absolute delight coaching her for this season. She is a wonderful person with a fun personality and has greatly improved the cross country program at Riverside Brookfield by her presence. It has been great for my other athletes to see how an elite athlete trains and especially how she takes care of her body on a daily basis. These good habits have been picked up by her teammates. She also has a fantastic sense of humor and loves being a part of a team. In Germany, she normally runs for herself, so this was a new experience for her. She will be missed as a person, not only as an incredible athlete.
