Schienbein competes in 1,500 and 3,000

BY JOSH CHAPIN • STAFF WRITER • July 14, 2008

It was about 97 degrees in the North Carolina heat --close to 120 on the track -- when Tate Schienbein won the 3,000-meter run during last month's USA Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

"After the race my feet were burning up really bad," said the 14-year-old from Liberty. "It was exciting, but nerve-wracking at the beginning."

Schienbein channeled those nerves into a victory -- and a trip to this month's USATF National Junior Olympic Championships at Omaha, Neb.

Schienbein won the 3,000 in 9 minutes, 22.75 seconds. He followed that up with a second-place finish in the 1,500.

He'll race in both events starting July 25. "Hopefully I can win both," Schienbein said. "I have a lot of experience. I know how to get ready and when to get ready."

Getting ready means running about 35 miles a week. That includes two hard workouts at the track, and the rest on grass and pavement.

"He's the one doing all the hard work. We're just sitting back and cheering him on," said Tate's mother, Cindy.

She's also a track coach at Union County High School.

Tate Schienbein is an incoming freshman at Union County and is looking forward to competing for the high school team.

First, though, he's focusing on the upcoming national races. He was second in the 3,000 in 2006.

"It's so much fun. You see all the hard work is paying off," said Cindy Schienbein. "He's enjoying it. That's what it's all about.

"If he didn't enjoy it, it would be a totally different story."

Schienbein's experience should help, as should facing strong competition in last month's event. He nearly won the 1,500 then, but was edged -- 4:18.97 to 4:19.33 -- by James Muniz.

"He took the lead with about 100 meters to go," Schienbein said of the race held on the campus of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. "I tried to catch up with about 20 meters to go. I let him go too soon."

Reporter Josh Chapin: (765) 973-4463 or jchapin@pal-item.com.