This past winter and spring, we saw a lot of Ariana Gardizy providing a strong leg on North Penn's record-setting, state title-winning 4x800 meter relay. But Gardizy is set to return to the trails this fall, as one of the state's top returners in cross country.
The North Penn rising senior claimed four wins last fall before placing fourth at the PIAA District 1 Championships and ninth at the PIAA State Championships. She also placed ninth at the NXN Northeast regional last fall, just missing a nationals berth. She ran a 5K PR of 17:59 and seems primed for another big XC season, leading her team.
Gardizy took some time to answer some questions for us looking back on her summer of training and forward towards the upcoming season. Check out what she had to say below.
--------------
PennTrackXC: How has your summer of training been going? Are you where you want to be fitness-wise for this point?
Ariana Gardizy: My summer training has been going great! I've been doing a bunch of runs this summer with both my team and some old friends that came back from college, so it was a really nice break from the competition season to relax, hang out, and run with some friends. I'm pretty happy and confident with where my fitness is at this point in the season. I feel stronger than last year, so hopefully as the season progresses I'll be able to improve upon last season.
PTXC: Have you changed anything up with your summer training this year?
AG: This year, the only thing I probably did differently was adding more strength training during the week. There is a gym right near me (Iron Athlete) that works with a lot of athletes from NP, so I started going there about twice a week when the summer started.
PTXC: You and your North Penn teammates qualified for states last season. Are you confident you can get back to Hershey as a full squad this season. Is that the goal?
AG: That's the goal. We fortunately only lost one person from our varsity team last year (Mikaela Vlasic), and although she was a really strong part of our top five, I'm confident that this season we will be able to get our remaining top girls closer together, and hopefully form a strong top 5 like we had last year.
PTXC: Many talented seniors graduated last season, but there are plenty of strong returners. Do you pay attention to how you matchup with other top girls in the state?
AG: Yes, my coach always keeps us up to date with a bunch of stats from invitationals and dual meets so we can see where our competition and team standing is at during the season!
PTXC: You focused mostly on helping your relay repeat as 4x800 state champs this past winter and spring. Do you prefer the shorter races, or are you happy to get back to XC 5Ks?
AG: I loovveed the 4x800 last year because it was really rare that we got to have such a strong team two years in a row. It was fun to get to go to bigger meets and break state/school records with some of my best friends. Relays are really fun, but I'm excited to get back into longer races like the 5k in XC, since the 800 is a little too short for me.
Interview Above: Gardizy and teammate and fellow state medalist Olivia Dyer
PTXC: Are there any specific regular season races you are looking forward to this fall?
AG: I'd say this season I'm really looking forward to Six Flags and the Council Rock Invitational. I've always loved the race at Six Flags since we get to race a bunch of teams out of PA, and I've never raced at the Council Rock Invitational, so I'm excited to run something new.
PTXC: What's a small thing you do on a daily or weekly basis during a season that you feel makes you a better runner?
AG: Definitely stretching and getting enough sleep. We do partner stretching after each practice at school, which I think makes a big difference in my flexibility as the season goes on.
