Friends’ Central runner Micah Trusty is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
As a freshman, Trusty completed a stellar indoor track season as the Most Valuable Player for the Phoenix. She is ranked second in Pennsylvania and 17th nationally in the 800 meter run (clocked at 2:10.31), in which she finished second in the Pennsylvania Track & Field Coaches Association Indoor State Meet, and 15th at the NB Indoor Nationals. In the indoor mile, she is ranked in the top 15 in Pennsylvania, and in the 400 meter run (clocked at 57.67), she is second-highest ranked freshman in Pennsylvania. She was an integral member of the Friends’ Central distance medley relay, where she helped break the school record, running the 800 meter segment in 2:13 as the Phoenix finished 10th (12:04.29). Friends’ Central indoor track coach Brandon Shell said, “Micah shows a lot of maturity and has such a large skills range it’s hard to classify her as a sprinter or mid-distance runner. She’s just a great runner and competitor, period.”
Q: Does your running strategy change much running indoors vs. running outdoors?
A: Indoor is different from outdoor because the tracks are only 200 meters rather than 400. In indoors the curves are a lot tighter and the straightaways are a lot shorter causing the athlete to have a quicker turnover and alter strategy.
Q: What’s your favorite local running venue and why?
A: Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex. This venue has an embanked track and a beautiful waterfront view.
Q: What aspect of your running are you working on most recently?
A: Currently I am working on my start, having the proper start can drastically change the outcome of a race.
Q: What is your favorite academic subject at Friends’ Central?
A: My favorite academic subject is English. I enjoy reading and writing in a variety of genres.
Q: Tell us a little about your running shoes, the type of shoe you favor and why.
A: I have three different shoes, consisting of my practice shoes, spikes, and waffles. My practice shoes are New Balance and my spikes and waffles are Saucony. I favor these shoes because they are light and help support my ankles and knees.
Q: Briefly describe for us your pre-race preparation (physical, mental) on the day of a race.
A: My pre-race preparation includes warming up (800 meter jogging warm-up laps, drills) and wind sprints. Before each race I pray, because my faith is important to me, it is part of my identity. Win or lose, I know that one race doesn’t define me.
Q: Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at Friends’ Central other than indoor track?
A: At Friends’ Central I participate in Speak Up, BSF (Black Student Forum) and I am a representative for my homeroom.
Fun facts – Micah Trusty
Favorite book: Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson.
Favorite author: Jacqueline Woodson.
Favorite TV show: “Cake Boss – I enjoy this show because I enjoy cooking but mostly baking.”
Favorite movie: “The Gabby Douglas Story. That movie does a great job of highlighting the difficulties and rewards of being an athlete.”
Favorite athlete: Allyson Felix.
Favorite pre-race pump-up song: “Hall of Fame” by Danny O’Donoghue, Mark Sheehan, James Barry.
Favorite team: Team USA Track and Field.
Favorite place to visit: Chicago.
Favorite pre-race meal: “A healthy bowl of oatmeal with cranberries. This selection is mostly because my races are normally extremely early in the morning.”
Person I most admire, and why: “The person I most admire is Allyson Felix. She is an Olympic gold medalist. She competes in the 100, 200, and 400 meter dash. I admire Allyson Felix because of her dedication, humble spirit, and her accomplishments in track and field.”
Family members: parents Daniel (former sprinter and jumper) and Melissa (former distance runner), brother Jared, sister Neenah.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
