Michelle Seibert Senior Profile

DURHAM, N.C. ? GoDuke.com recently sat down with Michelle Seibert for her senior profile. Seibert is a senior on the women's cross country and track and field teams, and is looking to return to form after redshirting the 2007-08 seasons. Her sophomore year, Seibert was a member of the indoor distance medley relay team that ran the second-fastest time in Duke history, and was also a part of the ACC champion DMR team, running the 800 leg, and was a Penn Relays competitor. She was also a fourth-place finisher at the outdoor ACC Championships that year, running a personal-best 2:07.80. Seibert discusses why she came to Duke, her love of college basketball, the coaches who have shaped her running career, plus much more.

GoDuke.com: What is your nickname?
Michelle Seibert: Mish.

GD: If you could change one rule in your sport, what would it be?
MS: Clearly, it would be a full-on contact sport where the toughest always runner wins!

GD: Who is your favorite professional player in your sport?
MS: Kara Goucher and our very own Shannon Rowbury.

GD: Who is your favorite professional player outside your sport?
MS: Lance Armstrong.

GD: What is your favorite movie?
MS: Love and Basketball.

GD: What's the last non-school related book you read?
MS: The Last Lecture.

GD: What's your favorite TV show?
MS: Friends.

GD: What's your favorite food?
MS: Bananas.

GD: Do you have any pregame rituals?
MS: Ribbons in hair, lucky sports bra and black Nike socks.

GD: Are you superstitious and if so, describe why?
MS: I used to be very superstitious in high school, and that has definitely carried over to my college career. I watch Prefontaine before every race, I have to put my right shoe on before my left, I have to fix my hair right before the gun goes off, and I always eat a peanut butter sandwich. None of this really helps me run fast at all, but running is so much of a mental game and these rituals just feed into that.

GD: What are you planning on doing after graduation?
MS: I am considering running post-collegiately for a bit and then I will be going to medical school.

GD: What would your dream job be?
MS: To be a pediatric oncologist at a world-renowned hospital.

GD: Think one year down the road, what will you be doing?
MS: Hopefully using my last year of eligibility and still running for Duke.

GD: Think 10 years down the road, what will you be doing?
MS: I will be a physician, living on the West Coast and possibly starting a family.

GD: Who's had the most impact on your life and why?
MS: My teammates have had the most impact on my life. I feel extremely blessed to have these amazing individuals in my life. They have been there through many highs and lows and they have truly become my sisters. I have learned so much from them and developed relationships that words simply cannot describe. My teammates keep me motivated and always wanting more for my life. They pick me up on hard days and celebrate with me in times of victory. I could not imagine my time at Duke without these girls alongside me.

GD: Who's had the most impact on your athletic career and why?
MS: All three of the coaches that I have worked with have had a huge impact on where I am at today athletically. In middle school my coach, Mr. Elliot, instilled a sense of discipline within me and helped to spark my passion with running. He was the first coach I had as a runner and from day one he was supportive of my pursuits and started to develop my talent. In high school I was extremely blessed with an incredible coach, Tom Youngs. Coach Youngs developed me as a runner and a person, and built a solid foundation for me as a high school runner. He was able to strike the perfect balance between reaching my potential, yet still allowing room for development in college. This is something I have come to really respect. In college I see many super-star high school athletes simply burn out. I feel indebted to Coach Youngs for having the insight to allow me to have great success on the track as a young runner, but he has also left me yearning for so much more. My current coach, Kevin Jermyn, has had a huge impact on my college career as he works alongside me to bring me to a new level athletically. He has taught me how to instill balance in my life. I have the utmost respect for Kevin Jermyn's passion for the sport and his personal commitment towards helping me achieve my dreams.

GD: What's your favorite memory to date of your college career?
MS: My sophomore year spring season was really special. Due to illness I have been forced to redshirt some seasons here at Duke. These times were extremely difficult for me; however, it made my success sophomore year even greater. Personally, my greatest achievement was placing fourth at ACC's and running 2:07. However, my even greater memories are the opportunities I had to be a part of our relay teams both at Nationals and at the Penn Relays. The team dynamic that relays provide really get me amped up and excited to race. Sharing in both victories and failures with my teammates makes the experience all the more worthwhile.

GD: What would the perfect end to your athletic career look like?
MS: Running personal bests, competing at the national level, being a great leader for my teammates and helping to develop the younger girls to ensure that Duke track has a successful future.

GD: What's your favorite part of practice and why?
MS: I really love to work hard and I thrive off the pain of hard speed endurance workouts. I love pushing myself beyond where I thought I could go. Specifically, I really enjoy doing crazy workouts with Kate Van Buskirk. The two of us have different strengths and weaknesses and we really key off one another. Running alongside Kate, interval after interval, has got to be one of the most special times at practice. It is through those workouts that Kate and I have really grown together and accomplished special things.

GD: What's the thing you most admire about your coach and why?
MS: I admire Kevin's passion for this sport and his commitment to each and every runner. I truly admire his commitment to long-term development for his athletes.

GD: Being a few years removed from high school, what pops into your head when you think back to your high school career?
MS: Winning the state title in the 800 my senior year was a really special moment. My coach and I had both worked so hard and this was the pinnacle of our success together. However, I will forever have flashbacks to the 4x400m relay at the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden. I got the baton behind by quite a bit and ran a great leg to bring us up contending for the win. It's funny that I would remember a race that we did not even end up winning, but the thrill of the chase in front of a huge crowd at MSG was quite memorable for me.

GD: Who was your childhood hero?
MS: Mia Hamm.

GD: What's the best advice you've ever received?
MS: Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. Anyone can give up. It's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.

GD: What's your favorite sport, other than your own, to watch on TV?
MS: College basketball!

GD: What is your advice to children?
MS: There are going to be times of great struggle and you may lose hope in your dreams, but if you have passion nothing is impossible. No matter how hard or far away your goals may seem, never give up on your pursuit of excellence.

GD: What is your advice to this year's freshmen on your team?
MS: To really cherish everyday in a Duke uniform and remember to live in the moment, for now is all we have.

GD: Why did you choose to attend Duke?
MS: Duke provided an amazing blend of athletics and academics. The team environment was consistent with what I was looking for, and with my dream of going to medical school, the academic environment was a perfect fit for me.