Avon Lake's Katie Link Reflects on Rare Triple Gold

Some people create with words, or with music, or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, "I've never seen anyone run like that before.

"It's more then just a race, it's a style. It's doing something better then anyone else. It's being creative."

It's an old runners adage, but in the case of Avon Lake distance runner Katie Link, it is more than appropriate.

Especially after what she accomplished during the SWC track and field championships last week.

There, she won the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter run, which is track and fields equivalent of the Triple Crown.

Rare is the best word to describe it. Many have done it during dual meets, but to take home the gold in all three at a league meet, is basically unheard of.

As a matter of fact, it is a feat never accomplished before in the history of the SWC.

" We were planning on just doing the mile and the 800, "Link said. "I 've been feeling good this season, its been up and down really, but when you're feeling it you're feeling it."

At the SWC, she was definitely feeling it.

During her first race the 1600 meter, she pushed herself, and the last lap let loose. In the 800, her second race of the day, she pushed herself the final 300 meters and bested Brecksville's Stephanie Robb by a second.

Adrenaline still flowing after the 800, with not much time to rest, she took on her final task of the day, the 3,200 meter run.

"It was all dependent on my Achilles, I had been having some pain there," Link said. "It also depended on  how the mile went, how I felt after the 800, it was pretty much winging it all along, and I just did it."

In her final race of the day, the 3200 meters, Link's task of tripling would be no easy task. Miranda DiBasio of Berea was a tough runner, and took the early lead. She was also relaxed and fresh, considering it was her only race of the day.

Not sure of how she was going to run it, Link fed off DiBasio, passed her on the third lap, and never looked back.

"Running is just one of those things where is really mental," Link said. "If you feel confident you are going to look confident and run confident."

She also had an added push, the fact she had been injured and didn't want to look back with any regrets.

"Basically every bad race haunts you  you can either use that to push you or use it against you," Link said. "So after cross country and getting injured,I was just kind of sick of it, and you just run."

This weekend with the start of District action in Amherst, it marks the beginning of track's second season, with the ultimate prize a trip to the podium in Columbus at the state track and field championships.

Meaning Link will concentrate on the race of races she and her coach feel most confident she will excel in, which more than likely will be the 1600 and the 3200.

But what she accomplished at conference is something people will talk about for a long time.