MileSplit Fast Four: A weekly glimpse at four of our nation's best
Each week here at MileSplit we will be giving you a quick look at four of the nation's best runners. Featured this week are Steve Sulkin (IL), Jess Cygan (PA), Reed Connor (TX) and Abbey Leonardi (ME).
Steve Sulkin
Sr., York H.S.
Elmhurst, IL
Highlights: Hampered by a midseason calf injury, Sulkin has recovered to turn in his best performances of the season the past two weeks … Won the Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional in a time of 15:21, leading his team to victory and a trip to the national championship in Portland on December 6 … Sulkin (morunners.com photo by Tracy Rollins) clocked 14:19, placing second to Jeff Thode at the IHSA Class AAA Championships by one second … Won the Lake Park regional in 15:06 … Last spring he ran a PR of 9:12 in the IHSA Class AA 3200, finishing 3rd.
Coach (Joe Newton) says: “He’s a very quiet kid. Very humble. He does everything you tell him. He’s a dream. He’s so coachable. He runs every morning. He runs every practice hard. He’s one of the top four kids that I’ve ever coached. I define a warrior as someone who does his best when it is needed the most. He’s a warrior. Some guys train like mad but when it comes to a meet they fall apart. He trains like a son of a gun and on meet days he is a killer.”
Sulkin says: “Running for York gave me a chance to be the best that I could. I’m not sure if I could be as good if I ran somewhere else. I think I maximized my potential.”
Summer mileage (max): 110
Weekly mileage: A midseason calf injury limited his training
Training shoes: Brooks
Superstitions: Sticking with the same pair of socks after a runner-up finish at the Illinois State meet and his victory at the Nike Cross National Midwest Regional
Hobbies: None
Favorite movie: Hot Rod or Billy Madison