Q&A Interview: Habtamu Cheney

Name: Habtamu Cheney

School: Desert Vista

Grade: Junior

Where are you from and when did you begin competitive running?

I'm from Ethiopia. I started playing soccer when I was 8. Then I came to the U.S. in 2008, and I started competitive running since freshman year, but (Coach) Hanson was trying to get me out since middle school.

What does a typical training week look like for you?

Mondays and Thursdays are usually the hard days. Mondays we usually do hills and on Thursdays we do grass or track repeats. Then we follow on Tuesdays with a recovery run. Wednesdays are usually steady to get ready for Thursday. Friday is usually a home run, but we do it as a team sometimes. Me and Chris (D'Angelo) run together on Fridays and just talk about stuff. Saturdays are our long runs. We cross train on Monday, Tuesday and Sunday.

What is something that helps you mentally prepare for a race?

I know everybody is doing the best things to get ready for the next race. Eating right and getting protein in.

What's your favorite XC memory?

This year at Woodbridge. When I was racing, around mile two I started passing all the Great Oak guys. I felt really good passing people over the last half-mile. That really gave me motivation this season, knowing I could be with the top athletes.

 (Photo by Habtamu Cheney)

What's your favorite pre-race meal?

We like to eat pasta the day before the meet. Different parents host the pasta dinners for us every night before races.

What's your season goal?

My season goal is to help my team get a State title and place as high as I can at the State meet, preferably top five.

Do/Did you have any role models on the team or from years past?

My role model is Xavier (Esparza). He's the one who got me out for Cross Country freshman year.

What's one piece of advice he gave you?

He told me to stick with it, it gets better. Freshman year I was injured so I wasn't able to do much. He told me, "Stick with and you'll eventually like to run," and I eventually did.

                                         (Photo by John Hays)

What motivational advice of your own do you give the younger athletes?

I tell them the same thing. At first you may not like it, but you'll eventually like it. Listen to Coach Hanson. He knows what he's doing. He's been with the team for almost twenty years now and he's built a great program.

What kind of a responsibility do you feel to the team going in to these last few meets?

My responsibility is to get the least amount of points. Points are gonna' add up. It's gonna' be very close so I gotta' get the least amount of points and lead my team. I gotta get Chris to go with me so the rest of the team can do their part.

Do you have a favorite pro-runner/athlete? Why?

I like Matthew Centrowitz. I like how he's confident going into the race knowing he's going to give all that he can give to win the race. You have to be confident when you race.

 (Photo by Alan Versaw)

What's your favorite subject in school?

My favorite subject is math.

This sport definitely involves a lot of numbers. Does it help you to apply it to your own performances?

When I hit the first mile it helps me think about what I have to do the rest of the race. Same thing when I'm on the track doing laps for the mile. Stuff like that. The numbers come easily during a race when you know math very well.

What's something unique about you outside of running?

I still play soccer. It's definitely still a passion of mine.

Are you a soccer fan? Do you have a favorite team or player?

I like Barcelona as a team and Neymar Jr. as an individual athlete.

Will you be racing any post-season meets (NXN or FL West)?

I'm really looking forward to Nike Cross Nationals. If I don't qualify for Nationals, I'm gonna' try Foot Locker.