Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410200049
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: 6 EDITION: NEW RIVER
SOURCE: CHRIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Hendricks, a junior at Blacksburg High School, enjoyed tremendous success as a freshman. She captured the state championship in the mile and was second in the two-mile event and the state cross country meet.
After enjoying such success, Hendricks fell victim to the dreaded sophomore slump. Riddled by injuries and lack of motivation, she fell short of her rather lofty standards.
"As a freshman I did not know what it meant," Hendricks said of her success.
After suffering from tendonitis in her leg over the summer Hendricks entered the 1993 cross country season out of shape, allowing her woes to compound.
"I didn't have the fight last year. It was a drag year," Hendricks said. "Part of it was not being in shape and not doing as well. I started hurting and just couldn't do the things I did the year before."
When Hendricks talks about the disappointments of last season it is important to remember that success is a relative term. Hendricks still finished third in the state in the mile and two mile events, results that would have thrilled most runners.
With redemption on her mind, Hendricks set her sights not only recapturing but improving on her form as freshman. Over the summer she established a workout program. She began by running 20 miles a week and has progressed to the point of running 40-45 miles a week now that the season has started.
The work paid immediate dividends. Hendricks recently won the 16-team Great Meadows Invitational in Warrenton, Virginia. The victory was her first ever in an invitational, and it came against some the top AA and A teams in the state.
"It was fun again," Hendricks said.
"Sarah's strengths as a runner are her perseverance and passion," said Blacksburg cross country coach Ben Thomas. "She is executing things now that she wasn't doing great right away. She has a real sense of dedication."
Despite the success she has enjoyed Hendricks is a relative newcomer to the sport. She didn't begin running until the eighth grade and then only because her sister and all of her friends were running.
"I joined the team because it was fun, and it wasn't hard to win," said Hendricks. "But it was hard work."
Hard work is what most people would call running up to 45 miles a week and pushing your body to its outer most limits in an attempt to outrun the clock and your opponents, but not many would call that pursuit fun.
"I remember the state meet my freshman year, I was running around the field thinking how tired I was," said Hendricks. "But you have to keep going. It's just will power, I just block everything out and try to make myself think it's not that bad."
To this point she has been very successful in convincing herself. Her fastest time in the mile is 5 minutes, 17 seconds, and she covers the average five kilometer (3.1 miles) course in just over 20 minutes.
"I would like to see her go to another level that she hasn't reached yet, which would be to get under five minutes," said Thomas. "She is running faster than ever. I would like to see her compete in some national high school events."
In addition to excelling on the track, Sarah more than holds her own in the classroom where she is taking an advanced placement history course, which requires her to stay after school on occasion.
"If you can do all the work I ask and stick with it you can do anything," said Thomas. "It makes school seem easy."
by CNB