On a sunny, humid Saturday afternoon, Nov. 2, Sasha Kheyfets ran the 5k against 180 other athletes and placed 51st overall at the cross country state championship meet in Obetz, Ohio. 

With six of her teammates and coach there to support her, Kheyfets felt prepared going into the meet. 

“For the past few weeks, we’ve been training really hard,” she said. “At the course where the meet is held, there is a big hill that tends to drop a lot of girls’ times, so my coach has been preparing me for that.” 

Turns out, that hill was no big deal for Kheyfets. 

“The hill was very quick and easy,” she said. “When you’re in the rush of the race, you don’t really think about the terrain.”

This is Kheyfets’ second time at the state tournament, but prior to this year’s race, Coach Jamie Lader had some concerns.

“It was a long tough season and Sasha had to do the post season without any teammates,” he said. “She was the only BHS girl to advance to regionals and states.  The weather also made it really tough as it was unseasonably warm and the ground was very unforgiving and tough.”

Kheyfets describes the feeling she had going into the big race.

“I was really stressed out, but I just kept telling myself that this was just part of my training and that I can do this,” she said.

In the end Lader was thrilled about Kheyfets’ performance, placing 51st with a time of 19:11.66,

“It is really tough when you go to the state meet and you don’t have any teammates by your side,” he said. “You have to really motivate yourself and do everything on your own.  So it was a great day for Sasha and I am so proud of the way she ran.” 

Before each race, Kheyfets follows rituals to put herself in the zone. 

“I always eat the same breakfast, oatmeal, a banana, and some peanut butter and usually my coach will bring me a gatorade,” she said. “I also always do three jumps at the line to warm up my legs.”

Kheyfets appreciates the support she has received from the cross country team captains Alex Eisengart and Henrik Burda.

“I am so grateful for everything our captains have done for the team,” she said. “They’ve been such a great motivation to get everything going, and I would not have been able to get through the season without them.” 

Lader explained what makes Kheyfets stand out. 

“She is incredibly competitive and tough,” he said. “She displays amazing sportsmanship as well.  After a competition Sasha routinely gets water for those she ran against and makes sure to congratulate her competitors and also wish her competitors luck before the race.”

Moving forward, Kheyfets is excited to continue working hard to improve her times during track season, where she will be running the 800, the mile and the two mile.

“Now I know what to do and how to pace myself,” she said. “There is definitely room for improvement, that’s what next year is for.”

Lader sees great things for Kheyfets next year.

“I would like Sasha to be top 30 so that she can be honored with all-Ohio in cross country,” he said. “This would be a tremendous honor, and I believe that Sasha is up to the challenge of being anywhere from 30th to 1st.”

Kheyfets feels proud of the hard work she put in, and commends her cross country teammates for an incredible season.