In the Spotlight: Sarah Zieve
4/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Michigan sophomore Sarah Zieve is Michigan's latest steeplechase athlete to find success on the track. In two races this year, she has one title and a runner-up finish, and is hungry for more. She is heavily involved in U-M's student-produced 'South Campus Times', a periodical produced by student-athletes highlighting the goings-on around Michigan's athletic programs, and recently was accepted into the prestigious Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Zieve sat down with MGoBlue.com to discuss these topics and more, this week 'In the Spotlight.'
On track's most unique event, the steeplechase ... "The steeple is the event that I came to Michigan for. I'm from New York and it's the only state that runs the steeplechase in high school. That kind of got my foot in the door and that is where I got my experience with it, beginning when I was a freshman in high school. I knew what the event demanded. At Michigan, it has kind of become the big thing that I'm here to do, that I am always working towards. I like doing all these workouts; I like running the 3k indoor, but it is all about steeple and outdoor. This is my main focus; my big goal, especially battling some injuries. I've always said that I want to come to outdoor and be ready to run a steeple. Training wise, it is a smaller group, just me and Anna Pasternak and Ellie Leonard, who is a freshman, training the steeple. We work really hard together. It is a combination of technique and running. It really is a really mental race too. I like merging all those things together, to go out and compete as hard as I can."
On what goes into a successful steeple chase event ... "For me, it is definitely being a little gutsy, and knowing what the race is going to entail, especially if you are running a big, crowded race. You are going to need to know tactically how to get over the barriers safely -- bottom line. It is all about confidence, too, knowing how to do what you need to do and being comfortable with your body. If your steps are wrong. I think that is what makes it different from other track races. Other races you can put your head down and just do it. Here, you have to be aware and alert the whole time, constantly engaged in the whole race. I think that is the best part about it; the event is so engaging."
On the South Campus Times and her involvement in it ... "The South Campus Times is the student-athlete run news letter. It's kind of a newspaper we publish once a month. This year I've been a writer. I've been writing articles. A lot of athletes use it as an opportunity to get better at writing, to be creative, to explore what else makes student-athletes schedule, besides the fact that we're athletes and students. Interviewing a teammate because they went abroad or they did something cool, or even interviewing people in the athletic department about things that we didn't know. I wrote an article about Sachi Sugiyama, who designs the leotards because I think that's really cool. It gives student-athletes an opportunity to see that we're so much more than that. Looking to next year, I've recently been named managing editor. I'm looking forward to making digitalizing it, making it more shareable and getting the word out about it. I want a lot of people to know that your teammates are either featured or writing. I think it's a great opportunity for student-athletes to explore."
On the unique perspective the South Campus Times brings, with athletes writing about athletes ... "Athletes working together helps. You can make friendships and meet people on other teams. It is also a learning experience for everyone. It is fun to be interviewed and talk about something your passionate about. It is also fun to be on the other side of it, and talk about someone in a really positive way, or about something that is not related to athletics at all."
On her recent acceptance into the Ford School ... "Ever since I applied to Michigan I wanted to be involved in the Ford school. It is a pretty prestigious program. It is a small school within Michigan and I am really excited about the aspect of building relationships with people and professors in the program, and learning from experience. It's a really hands-on program; the application process involved two essays and a resume. I tried to do everything I could to get accepted. I met with a number of professors. I met with the coordinator. I took the public policy intro class (laughs). I was really thorough, and committed to getting in. I wanted to be able to tell myself, if they did not accept me, 'I do not know what else I could have done to get in'. I am really excited to continue my education here at Michigan. I am excited to build relationships with people who are as passionate as I am, and I can't wait to build on those relationships."
• Previous Spotlight: Erin Finn
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