2003 State Track Meet
Leland a winner in all walks of life

By JEFF CASPERSEN, Jr./The Daily Journal

In every facet of life, Ukiah High School junior Shelby Leland pushes herself to the limit. Whether she’s in a classroom or in her running shoes, Leland’s drive to be the best shines through.

“I’m a little obsessive-compulsive, I guess,” said a grinning Leland, who recently earned bronze in the 3,200-meter race at the California State Outdoor Track and Field Meet at Cerritos College in Southern California.

Her admirable work ethic is reaping eye-opening results. She’s among the top of her class academically and on the oval, she’s tough to beat.

Leland’s third-place finish at state landed her in the Ukiah High record books, placing higher than any other female track athlete in school history.

Timing in at 10:38.09, Leland finished just behind Laguna Creek’s Rachel Bryan, who took second, clocking in at 10:35.07. San Pasqual’s Claire Rethmeier captured gold with a time of 10:27.32.

“I don’t think people realize just how good third at state is,” Ukiah track coach Jerry Drew remarked. “There were only 27 girls left statewide and this is one of the toughest state meets in the country. Her time probably would have been enough to win most state championships.”

Leland entered this year’s state meet on the heels of a fifth-place finish in the 3,200 in 2002. The state meet experience is one Leland relishes.

“There’s almost 12,000 people there and it’s just incredible. I usually get really nervous in front of crowds when I’m doing other things but not with running. I just get in a zone and use the crowd to help me run faster.”

Leland has benefitted from learning from the best, leaning on 2002 Ukiah graduate Amber Trotter, 2001’s Footlocker Cross Country Nationals champion, for guidance and inspiration.

“I watched her work ethic,” Leland said. “She’d run in the morning, every morning. She really influenced me in that way.”

Trotter, who now attends Division III school Middlebury College in Vermont, and Leland ran both cross country and track together for two years.

“Shelby learned from the best,” Drew noted. “Amber passed on that work ethic to her.”

As much as Leland’s gained from outside sources, she primarily relies on her own talent and drive to achieve.

“It’s just the way I am,” she said. “If I’m going to do something, I have to do it well. I’m not going to settle for being mediocre.”

In her battle against mediocrity, Leland maintains a grueling training regimen, at times tallying more than 70 miles a week.

When she’s not running, Leland’s busy keeping up with her school work or riding one of her two horses.

“I ride them a lot. It’s one of my favorite things to do,” she said.

Leland enjoys riding so much that hopes to join an equestrian team at whatever college she winds up choosing to attend.

If, as expected, Leland logs solid seasons of cross country and track during her senior year, she should be able to pick whatever school she wants.

Before she jumps to the collegiate level, though, she has a few goals to tackle while still on the prep circuit.

“I really want to go to nationals for cross country,” said Leland, who finished 12th in the past school year’s state cross country meet. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, but that’s what I really want to do. In track, I really want to win state in the two-mile. It’ll take a lot of work, but that’s what I want to do.”