USATF ATHLETE BIOGRAPHY

Amy Skieresz

AMY SKIERESZ

Born: November 13, 1976, in Stamford, Ct

Current Residence: Tucson, Az

PRs: 5,000m 15:37.77 (1998); 10,000m 32:31.65 (1997)

High School: Agoura HS, Agoura Hills, Ca '95

College: Arizona '99

Height: 5-3

Weight: 115

Coach: Dave Murray

1992: bests of 4:40.0 (1500) and 10:15.1 (3000)3rd in the Kinney (FootLocker) cross country nationals.

1993: bests of 4:36.23 (1500) and 10:25.6 (3000)39th in the World Junior XC Champswon the California HS state title in cross country.

1994: did not compete in trackin cross country, won the California HS state title.

1995: bests of 4:35.5 (1500) and 9:40.8 (3000)also 10:16.42 for 3200mPac-10 and district champ in cross countryrunner-up in NCAA XC (16:55).

1996: bests of 9:21.86 and 15:45.59foot injury caused her to miss the Pac-10 and NCAA meets11th in Olympic Trials 5000 (16:22.99)undefeated in cross countrywon Pac-10 and District XC titleswon NCAA XC (17:04).

1997: bests of 9:13.87, 15:39.75 and 32:31.65won NCAA Indoor 5000 (15:39.75 MR, PR)won Pac-10 3000 (9:13.87 PR), 5000 (15:44.91 outdoor PR)won NCAA 5000 (15:46.76) and 10,000 (33:14.22)undefeated until nationals in cross countrywon Pac-10 and District XC titlesrunner-up in NCAA XC (16:39)ranked #10 in U.S. at 5000 by T&FN, and #5 U.S. at 10,000.

1998: bests of 9:11.8, 15:37.77 and 32:50.67won NCAA Indoor 5000 (15:54.58)won 5000 at Pac-10 Champs (15:47.64)won NCAA 5000 (15:37.77 PR, with 9:11.8 PR at 3K en route) and 10,000 (33:04.12)runner-up in NCAA XC.

1999: best of 9:11.92 and 16:00.33... 9th at USA Outdoors (16:00.33).

The Rest of the Story: with seven NCAA Championship wins to her credit so far, Skieresz stands the chance of tying or breaking Suzy Hamilton's record of nine career winsin 1996-97, she became the first woman in Division I history to win four individual titles in one year: XC, indoor 5K, outdoor 5K & 10Kher 10,000 best of 32:31.65 came in her first run ever at the distanceplans to work in marketing or advertising after collegein the weeks leading up to the 1998 NCAA XC Championships, doctors diagnosed a benign tumor in her femurthat fall she had been in the "best shape of her life", with mileage increased from 65 to 80 miles per weekshe couldn't run the day after districts, and rested completely for eight weeks prior to the championshipssays coach Dave Murray: "She ran a very gutsy race. She was hurting, especially on the downhills. She couldn't break away from the field"after nationals she took six weeks off, and has been able to run pain-free since thenMurray calls it "a blessing in disguise. I'm beginning to think that the leg was in the process of developing a stress fracture"the plan is for her to run a low-key indoor season, and ideally be up to full strength in outdoor track.