Going & going & going - Seymour Tribune

April 28, 2015

Elisa Gallion began running cross-country and track in the sixth grade at Brownstown Central Middle School.

During her time with the Braves, she’s enjoyed both sports so much that when she completes her track season this spring, she will have had seven years in both sports.

This spring, Gallion’s main events in track are the 110 hurdles, the 400, and running legs of the 400 and 1,600 relays.

She also tried pole vault in a recent home meet.

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The senior said she has run hurdles in the past, but the 400 is new to her this season.

“The 400 will be one of my main events because we’re looking to advance really far in the open 400,” Gallion said. “My favorite race is the 400, but I do like the 800 sometimes because it’s a challenge.

“I love the hurdles because it’s something different. With all the form and stuff, it takes a lot of thinking and skill, and I like the challenge of it. Usually, I do pretty well in not hitting them.

“The beginning is so important because it seems like once you get a lead or you’re behind, then it’s hard to catch up in the hurdles because there’s not much you can do.”

On her career, her best time is 16.8 on the hurdles.

This season, Gallion expects to run the 1,600 relay throughout the season.

“I like the anchor just because it has so much prestige,” Gallion said. “The second and third legs are nice, too, because you don’t have as much pressure. Relays have always been my favorite because it is more of a team, and I think the 4×400 is always exciting because it is the last race.”

Gallion was the No. 2 runner for the Braves cross-country team last fall.

“I really enjoyed the closeness because it’s a small team, and how much we travel and just being outside and stuff,” Gallion said. “It’s a fun sport.”

During races Gallion said that being able to get off to a good start and stay close to the race leaders was important to her.

“Usually I tried, specifically the first 400 yards, to get a good stride out in a sprint, and then the rest of that first mile should still be a good, quick pace, and the second mile would usually be kind of settling in,” she said.

“The last mile was usually my quickest.”

In the 1,600, her career-best time is 21:03.

“I think coming from cross-country helped me a little bit with endurance,” Gallion said.

She also said she likes the different kinds of practices from running shorts sprints one day to doing working longer distances other days.

A tireless worker, Gallion said she believes that practicing in both sports is really important.

In preparation for the 2015 track campaign, Gallion tried to work out three days a week during the winter with the Polar Bear Club.

She competed in the 100 hurdles and ran the 200 in two indoor meets, and she said she felt like she was in good physical shape coming into the outdoor season.

Gallion’s favorite two tracks are Brownstown and Seymour.

“I love having the home meets because they are a lot more relaxing because you’re a lot more relaxed with the scene and everything,” Gallion said. “I like Seymour’s track because it is so close to home again.”

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Parents: Shane and Renee Gallion

Siblings: Lance, Ellis

Sports: track 4 years, cross country 4 years

Athletic highlights: cross country: regional qualifier 4 years, semi-state qualifier in 2013; track: qualifying for regional past three years, winning 1600 relay at sectional

Favorite cross country course: Bedford

Schedule: “I love having all these schools we faced so many times. Even in middle school there were girls that were in my grade that were really good, that were still in my reach. So it’s nice to have girls that you know from small communities and you could look at them and try and catch them.

Plans after high school: Attend Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, study human resources

Attending BCHS: “I like that it is so small and you literally know everyone in your class, and it’s nice to have that closeness. You can build a bond as easily with your teachers as you can with the students.

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