Schiltz on the fast track to success

FAITH MOLDAN

Bigfork Eagle

Like any good runner, running has always been a part of Taylor Schiltz's life and comes naturally.

"My aunt ran in high school in Germany, my grandpa and dad, my grandma and all my aunts ran too," Schiltz, a freshman at Bigfork High School said. She started running on her family's tree farm outside of Bigfork and hasn't stopped.

Schiltz first ran competitively in seventh grade. She had planned on running cross country the previous year while attending Swan River School, but played soccer instead.

"She ran tentatively her 7th-grade year," BHS cross country coach Sue Loeffler said. "She gained more confidence the next year, and that's continuing through to high school."

Schiltz agreed with Loeffler about her 7th-grade season, saying that she started liking it and getting into it the following year.

"It's something to do on my own, and not have to have other people there to do it," she said about running. "You can always improve."

A knee injury was also a factor for Schiltz her 7th-grade year during track season.

The transition from middle school to high school has been relatively easy for Schiltz.

"It's more exciting," she said, comparing the size and atmosphere of the meets. She added that now she's running against other female runners she admires and looks up to, including Ronan's Terinee McCready. Schiltz said former BHS runners Brooke Andrus, Kaci Calaway and Lauren and Lesley Dalton have inspired her as well.

Schiltz began the 2006 cross country season well before exercise induced asthma started causing her problems.

"My asthma hit with the fires in the valley," she said. "It kept getting worse."

She finished the Flathead Invitational Sept. 9 in a time of 22:44 and finished fourth the next weekend in Ronan. Schiltz also competed at the Mountain West Classic in Missoula Sept. 23 before she was forced to sit out the next three meets because of the asthma and a low iron count.

"It breaks you down. You want to go out and run, but you can't," Schiltz said. "It's hard to stay upbeat."

She finally ran again at the Class A cross country meet in Helena Oct. 21. Schiltz finished in 21:54 for a 70th-place finish. Schiltz said she hasn't had to use her inhaler or take medication for her asthma since the end of the season.

"She did real well considering all the obstacles she was trying to overcome," Loeffler said. "She worked real hard and gives it everything she has."

Schiltz attributes her good running and hard work to the attention and help from her coaches - Loeffler, Laura White and Neil Eliason.

"They're always there to support me and give me individual attention," she said. "They care about you and how you do."

Schiltz is currently training for the spring track season, in which she plans to run the 800-meter and possibly the 1,600-meter and 400-meter runs as well.

"That's my favorite," she said about the 800. "It seems like the perfect distance for me. I can get my speed up and maintain it."

Loeffler agreed, saying they'll focus on the 800-meter run for sure.

"She starting to come back," Loeffler said about Schiltz's offseason training.

Schiltz has already set a goal of breaking 2:20 in the 800-meter run for herself. Last year she accomplished her goal of breaking 2:30 in the 800 with a time of 2:28. She ran the 800, 1,600, 4-by-4 and 4-by-1 in middle school.

When she's not running, Schiltz participates in the BHS speech and debate program in the impromptu category and is also a member of Interact. She said she also likes to snowboard, but isn't sure if she'll be hitting the slopes this winter.

"I don't want to blow my knees out," she said. "I'm happy I've found something I can be dedicated to."