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Henrietta, N.Y. —
Miranda Melville appeared to be just another track and field athlete trying to find her event during her freshman year at Rush-Henrietta.
In her first race in the 1500 racewalk, Melville was disqualified for breaking form. For Melville, the disqualification wasn’t cause for panic. The hunger to excel in the racewalk only grew.
Melville eventually got the technique to match up with the desire. Now, the 2007 R-H grad is ready to take on the world’s best competition.
Melville is currently training in San Diego for the racewalk at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
“It’s going really well,” Melville said. “I got out here just about two months ago to have a training group and because my coach that I switched to is out here. It’s really nice just having him here every day to train with.”
As soon as Melville knew she could compete in the Olympics she decided it was time to take her training to the next level. For the last two months she has trained in San Diego under renowned coach Tim Seaman.
Seaman is a two-time Olympian who has 10 American records and 43 national championships to his resume. He currently runs the Champions International team, which also includes former R-H standout Rachel Zoyhofski.
Living in Southern California was a change of pace for the Western New York native, who went to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside after high school.
“I am excited to have Miranda as part of our team,” Seaman said. “She adds a tremendous amount of new energy to the group and she has already made a huge impact upon all of us. Her enthusiasm is contagious and I know that there is a ton of potential in her. I am looking for her to make a big shock on the US racewalking scene.”
So what kind of training regimen does Melville have?
The morning workout features a seven mile walk, followed by a six to eight-mile run in the afternoon. At least several times a week the team lifts weights.
For Melville, her diet is just as important. She always has plenty of fruits and vegetables around, but she is always keeping an eye on her iron and calcium input.
“One of the reasons that I came out here was because I didn’t want to train in snow, the year before the trials,” Melville said. “Good weather for the whole year. I wanted to push my body focusing on my the training.”
Miranda Melville appeared to be just another track and field athlete trying to find her event during her freshman year at Rush-Henrietta.
In her first race in the 1500 racewalk, Melville was disqualified for breaking form. For Melville, the disqualification wasn’t cause for panic. The hunger to excel in the racewalk only grew.
Melville eventually got the technique to match up with the desire. Now, the 2007 R-H grad is ready to take on the world’s best competition.
Melville is currently training in San Diego for the racewalk at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
“It’s going really well,” Melville said. “I got out here just about two months ago to have a training group and because my coach that I switched to is out here. It’s really nice just having him here every day to train with.”
As soon as Melville knew she could compete in the Olympics she decided it was time to take her training to the next level. For the last two months she has trained in San Diego under renowned coach Tim Seaman.
Seaman is a two-time Olympian who has 10 American records and 43 national championships to his resume. He currently runs the Champions International team, which also includes former R-H standout Rachel Zoyhofski.
Living in Southern California was a change of pace for the Western New York native, who went to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside after high school.
“I am excited to have Miranda as part of our team,” Seaman said. “She adds a tremendous amount of new energy to the group and she has already made a huge impact upon all of us. Her enthusiasm is contagious and I know that there is a ton of potential in her. I am looking for her to make a big shock on the US racewalking scene.”
So what kind of training regimen does Melville have?
The morning workout features a seven mile walk, followed by a six to eight-mile run in the afternoon. At least several times a week the team lifts weights.
For Melville, her diet is just as important. She always has plenty of fruits and vegetables around, but she is always keeping an eye on her iron and calcium input.
“One of the reasons that I came out here was because I didn’t want to train in snow, the year before the trials,” Melville said. “Good weather for the whole year. I wanted to push my body focusing on my the training.”
She will have one chance to qualify for the Olympics, at the USATF meet in January. A win in the qualifying event would all but guarantee Melville a spot on the US team.
She moved to San Diego with a chip on her shoulder after missing the Olympic B standard by one second at the USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.
“It’s different than what I was doing before,” Melville said. “There is a lot of high volume, a lot less speed work. I like what we are doing. It is necessary for the goals that we have.”
Melville’s career appears to have been building towards this.
She excelled on several USA Junior National teams and won a junior national championship before moving up to the senior ranks. Melville has taken her talents on the international stage competing in races in Russia, Mexico and Canada.
“Over the past three to four years (she) has gone from doing all she could to just earn a National Meet to being in contention for Top three and Top five finishes against the best in the U.S.,” said Mike DeWitt, Melville’s coach at Wisconsin-Parkside.
