DISTANCE RUNNERS
OF THE MONTH
April


Melanie Grim

Senior at
 Tippecanoe High School
 

P.R. 's
Cross Country 18:50
Track 11:23 (3200)
  5:26 (1600)
Favorite Shoe Nike Air Max
Advice "The Will to Win is not Nearly as Important as the Will to Prepare"

College Choice
Ohio State


 "Tipp's Grim Reaps Rewards!"
     The phrase "Like Father, Like Son" has been popularized over the years.  For Tipp City resident and runner Dave Grim (a 4:20 miler in high school), it should be "Like Father, Like Daughter."  Grim's daughter Melanie has rewrote the school's distance running record book.  She burst onto the scene at the 2001 track regionals.  Grim, a freshmen at the time, qualified to run the 3200 at Welcome Stadium.  The field was loaded with quality runners including Lakota East's Lindsay Zinn and Northmont's Linda Stebbins.  Grim finished 8th but ran a personal best 11:37.
      Melanie began running more with her father the following summer in preparation for cross country.  As a sophomore she finished 9th at the regionals and 60th at the state cross country meet.  The following summer former Covington standout and Bowling Green product Dave Larson was hired into the district.  Larson helped organize team training runs during the summer.  "Coach Larson along with my Dad really helped me improve," explained the senior.  "I went from 60th as a sophomore to 17th at the state meet as a junior."
     The following summer Grim logged 25-30 miles per week and ran several road races.  The summer work paid off.  Grim ran a personal best and school record time at the Wayne Invitational (18:50) in the fall.  She followed that up with a top three finish at the CBC meet, a runner-up performance at districts, and finished fourth at the Troy Regional.  She capped off an outstanding senior season with a 7th place finish (19:16) at the state meet earning all-state honors.
     Melanie will look to qualify for state in the 3200 for the first time this spring.  She has recently decided to attend the Ohio State University and run for the Buckeyes' cross country and track teams.  According to Melanie next fall won't be the first time she's trained with Buckeyes, "I used to run with buckeyes in my hands during practice and races to help me keep my form."  If Grim holds to form, the Buckeyes will be in good shape.  Good luck Melanie.


 
 Lotery Heath

Senior at
Troy Christian High SchooL

P.R.'s
Cross Country 16:28
Track 4:32 (1600)  1:59 (800) 9:53 (3200)
Advice "Run to Win, Not to Finish"
Favorite Shoe Nike Bowerman Series
   

College Choice
Taylor



"TC's Heath on the Fast Track!"
     Things have always seemed to happen fast for Troy Christian's Lotery Heath.  The senior has taken an unusual but fast track or more appropriately trek to the top.  Lotery's journey began in his native homeland of Ethiopia.  "My twin brother (Beddilu) and I were born in Ethiopia.  We left there at the age of six," Heath said.  Lotery and his brother found themselves thousands of miles away from home in the U.S.  
     After moving to Ohio from Michigan, Heath wound up at Troy Christian.  TC cross country and track coach Monica Bragg quickly noticed Lotery's running abilities.  "Coach Bragg talked me into running 7th grade track.  I did pretty good," Heath recalls.  "Then she started talking about cross country.  I decided to try it."  
     Over the course of the next four years, Heath emerged as one of the top area runners in DIII.  He finished 39th at the regional cross country meet as a sophomore.  A solid summer of running helped him produce a 10th place regional finish and trip to the state meet as a junior.  That spring Heath continued his torrid pace recording a 4:32 1600 at the conference meet.  Unfortunately, a stress fracture hampered his performance at districts and regionals.
     Lotery missed out on the team's summer training for the upcoming cross country season.  "I didn't even get to race until the last three normal meets of the season," Heath said.  Although, he rebounded quickly by winning the district and regional meets in thrilling fashion.  However, a sleepless night and nausea left him sluggish for the state meet.  "I just couldn't get in going.  It was disappointing, that is why I'm looking forward to track season.  I want another chance." he said.
     The Eagles are loaded with talent in the distance events.  Along with Heath Troy Christian boasts one of the best 3200 relay teams in the area and a returning state qualifier in the 800 in Alex Revelos.  In fact, Lotery lives with the Revelos family.  "Alex and I are like brothers.  It's great to have someone to run with all the time.  They've been great," he commented.
     Heath is most likely headed to Taylor University in Indiana.  The senior would like to major in history education and eventually teach and coach.  Good luck Lotery!