FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(article posted by Lauren Brightmore, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Jan. 24, 2011 - Stepping up to the line this indoor track and field season is North Central College senior Sheila Walsh. The English major and secondary education minor is all set to take the team to new heights.

At the 2010 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Indoor Championships, Sheila placed eighth in the 400-meter dash (1:00.28), and finished second as part of the 4-by-400-meter relay squad. She has also anchored three 4-by-400-meter relays which provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III Indoor National Track and Field Championships.

On Friday, Jan. 21 at the Cardinal Opener, Sheila finished first in the 400-meter dash, crossing the line with a provisional qualifying time of 58.47 seconds. This is her first time qualifying for nationals in an individual event. Her accomplishments over the past weekend come as no surprise though, based on her amazing work ethic and willingness to do whatever is best for the team. In fact, last season Sheila traveled to a meet solely to help another teammate improve her national qualifying mark.

When she isn't helping her team on the track, Sheila is working on campus three nights a week, tutoring English at North Central College's Edge: Structured Study program. There, she reaches out to all students in need of assistance. As Sheila gets into the blocks for her last season, one cannot help but cheer for the journey that has made her so successful.

Q: When did you begin running?
A: I actually played softball my whole life, starting when I was five up until I was a junior in high school. But then freshman year of high school, when I was supposed to try out for the softball team, I did indoor track, just randomly. I ended up loving it, and track just became my life.

Q: What brought you to North Central College?
A: Track and the education program brought me here. The College was close to home too, and I'm a homebody.

Q: What do you like most about indoor track?
A: I like the environment because it's loud and everyone is so close together and in your face. At the same time, it's a little nerve-wracking, but ultimately really encouraging to see everyone cheering.

Q: Do you like Milky Ways?
A: I do. I like them a lot actually.

Q: What is your favorite event and why?
A: I love running the 400-meter dash because it's short enough where I feel like I can finish it and not be completely dead, though that's not always true. Plus, it gives you enough time to pick up speed.

Q: What do you want to accomplish this season, both individually and as a team?
A: As a team, I would like to win conference, and have everyone PR in something. Placing at nationals as a team would be amazing as well. Individually, I want to qualify for nationals in the 400-meter dash and the 4-by-400-meter relay. In terms of time, I'd love to run a 57 in the 400-meter dash.

Q: What thoughts cross your mind as you run?
A: From the time I'm in the blocks to the time I finish, I try to say the positive affirmations to myself which we go over in our meetings—phrases like, “I am strong,” “I am fast,” and “I am confident.” During the race I focus on pumping my arms and not letting anyone pass me.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: I will be student teaching in the fall, and then I want to move out to either the east coast or west coast for at least a year. Maybe find a teaching position out there at a middle school or high school.

Q: What activities are you involved with on campus?
A: I'm an English tutor at the Edge: Structured Study program three nights a week. I also go to Focus (North Central's weekly student-led worship experience), and plan on doing NCC Underground Poetry in April.

Q: What has changed in the women's track and field program since you have been a freshman?
A: Our warm-up jackets, three times. The team changes from year to year, but we always get a new, positive freshman class that joins us.

Q: What is this “beefin it up” program that some of the girls on the team talk about?
A: Well, the “beefin up” program is what it sounds like. It's where we start out at the beginning of the season with the body type that you're given. Then you go through the program, and you beef up, and you come out thicker and tougher and stronger. You literally “beef up”. We are made into women.

Q: What is one event you would like to try if you could?
A: I would kind of like to try high jump.

Q: At outdoor conference last year, you competed in the 400-meter dash finals, the 400-meter hurdle finals, and the 4–by-400-meter relay. How were you able to handle such a heavy load?
A: I think people would be surprised how mental the sport is. Obviously track and field is really physical too, but I think having the right mentality is the hardest part. You have to think about who you are running for. Not only yourself, but for your team. It gets easier if you have that mindset.

Q: What are you looking forward to most this season?
A: I'm looking forward to spending time with my team friends and watching everyone compete to their best. And hopefully winning all our meets, especially conference.

Q: Are the girls on the team close?
A: Oh yeah. The girls are very close. We are like a family, and everyone feels very comfortable around everybody, and that's just going to keep getting better as the season progresses.

Q: What are some of your funniest memories of track and field at North Central?
A: Everyday is fun and exciting, but a few memories stick out. I remember freshman year the team was at Lewis University and my teammate Lauren Brightmore was warming up, getting ready for our 4X400-meter relay. She was doing some high knees in her spikes and was going real quick when her foot got stuck on the ground and she completely wiped out. But then she ended up doing a somersault, standing up and throwing her arms in the air like she had just finished some kind of gymnastic mount. That's when we were both just getting to know each other.

Another good memory was at Drake Relays when Sam Bunsen, who graduated last year, had complained that her uniform was too tight during dinner. She said she was going to throw up, so she left the table, walked back to the hotel by herself, and proceeded to cut the built-in sports bra out of her uniform.

One memory that head coach Kari Kluckhohn would appreciate, though I am embarrassed by it, also happened at Drake Relays. During one of the races, the announcer said, “and Superior takes the lead.” Later at dinner, I mentioned to everyone how I was amazed that someone's parents would name their daughter Superior. I said that it was a pretty BOLD name, and that the girl would have to be great at everything she did in life. Then one of my teammates, Kala Bingham said, “Isn't that the name of a school…University of Wisconsin-Superior?” My team later continued to make fun of how I thought it was someone's name.

Q: What advice from your coaches has helped you throughout your track and field career?
A: My high school coach would always say run fast, turn left. And every week Coach Kari gives us a nice quote that puts life into perspective. Our graduate assistant coach, Stephen Fleagle, gives us Bible quotes every week that relate to running. The quotes are very helpful and encouraging. Ultimately, it's all about going out there and having fun. You do the best you can, and if you are unhappy with your event, you move on. Don't say anything unless you have something positive to say.

Q: If you could pick one person to run against, whom would it be, and what distance would you race?
A: I would want to race Robert Pattinson to see how fast he is compared to Edward Cullen, the character he plays in Twilight. We would run up a mountain.