Seth Lewis has a simple plan: Run hard.

Friday, October 26, 2001

Seth Lewis has a simple plan: Run hard.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers senior cross country runner said there is no real strategy as he prepares for Saturday’s Division II regional cross country meet at Lancaster.

"I’m just going to run hard and try to run my best time of the year. I’d like to get under 18 (minutes)," said Lewis.

Last week Lewis ran an 18:11, a personal best. However, he admits that beating his old record is no guarantee that he will qualify for the state meet.

"It’ll take around 17 (minutes) or better to get out. But I’m just going to run hard and see what happens," said Lewis.

"I’d like to run the first mile around five minutes and keep that pace and maybe finish with no more than six minutes in the last mile."

Ironton coach Tim Thomas said Lewis has been training extremely hard and hopes his senior standout will run well in the regionals.

"Seth is not blessed with great ability. He just works hard and earns everything he gets," said Thomas. "He’s starting to peak at the end of the season which is what you want. He’s one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever coached. I just hope he runs his best race, but with the weather expected to be bad, it’s all up in the air."

Lewis also runs track for the Fighting Tigers.