Olivia Cieslak of Haverford Township is making a
name for herself as she gains momentum this season.
Cieslak began to garner attention after running 17:42.70 and taking first at the 48th Lehigh Paul Short Run.
"I went into the race keeping the first-mile conservative, and I felt good, so I took over during mile two," she said about the race. "The last mile felt really good, and it was encouraging when I crossed the finish line."
Races like that aren't won by chance, and Cieslak has worked for those moments almost her entire life. The sophomore has been running cross country since first grade when she got involved with races by her local CYO (Catholic Youth Organization).
Watch the Full Race from Paul Short here
The influence to begin running came from her mother, Aga Cieslak. Stating, "My mom inspires me the most because she was a runner in Poland." Cieslak also added, "She works hard and always puts other people first; I dream to be like her when I'm older."
Cieslak attributes her success with the sport to the strong habits she practices every day. She invests heavily in various forms of recovery, from daily stretching, foam rolling, core, wearing compression sleeves, massages, to even cryotherapy.
Once a week, Cieslak attends a Cryotherapy session. This is a form of recovery with similar effects to an ice bath but a very different method. She stands in a chamber for three minutes while cold, dry air blows into it.
Regarding her mindset, Cieslak has a straightforward yet highly effective approach. "I try to take the pressure off because there shouldn't be any expectations," she said. "I try to relax because if I don't achieve my goals, then I can try again next time."
With so much focus on her body and mind, it's no wonder Cieslak is finding so much success. It will be exhilarating to see if she accomplishes the goals she is working towards this season.
"I want to get top three at states; all of the other girls have a lot of talent, so it will be competitive," she stated. "After states, I'm participating at Footlocker Regionals, and I want to get a good place there as well."
Cieslak has run the 4th fastest time in the 3A classification this season after her Paul Short performance. She also finished 39th last year at the Eastbay Northeast Regional Championship. With her current success and improvements, there is no doubt that these are realistic pursuits for Cieslak.
Goals don't just stop at this season for Cieslak as she aspires to go above and beyond in the sport of distance running. She said, "I really want to run in college, and if I can run professionally, that would be great."
The future is bright for Cieslak, and with that comes the opportunity to inspire another generation of runners. Cieslak advises, "Take stress and pressure off yourself because you have so much time to become successful, have fun."
From her early success, professional-level recovery habits, and big aspirations for the sport this is what makes Olivia Cieslak a true Pennsylvania contender.
