Peninsula Senior Qualifies for New York City Track and Field Meet

From March 13 to March 15, senior and varsity track and field co-captain Aiden Lieb was scheduled to compete in the New Balance Nationals Indoor track and field meet in New York City. Lieb qualified for the meet after competing for a separate national level meet called the Simplot Games, which was held at Idaho University from Feb. 13 to Feb. 15. At the Simplot Games, Lieb won the 60-meter hurdles and placed second in the long jump.

Lieb was first introduced to track during his physical education class in middle school. By his sophomore year, Lieb found his love for the sport and decided to dedicate himself to it. Nonetheless, he says that training to become a national runner was not always easy, especially when people doubted his abilities as an athlete.

“[A lot of people] doubted that I could be a national runner,” Lieb said. “But even though some people told me I could not do it, I have a group of close friends and family who really supported me and built me up.” 

One of these close friends is senior and varsity track and field co-captain Josh Ling. Ling explained that he and Lieb have been friends since they were four years old and recalls that Lieb was always talented in every sport that he played. Furthermore, Ling believes that track was the first sport that Lieb became serious about training for and he has enjoyed watching Lieb develop into a national-level runner. Ling thinks that a part of Lieb’s success can be attributed to his mentality during meets.

“His focus and determination are like no other,” Ling said. “Some people fool around during meets or are partially intense, but Aiden is at a totally different level of focus.”

Lieb’s private coach Marieke Miller also believes his mentality has worked in his favor. Lieb started training with her in the summer of 2018, and since then, Miller has seen Lieb’s technique, racing strategy and understanding of track improve.

“Aiden is driven, focused and goal-oriented,” Miller said. “His aggressive long-term and short-term goals for success are extremely rare in a person so young, and that is what makes it so fun and rewarding to coach him.”

To prepare for the New Balance National Indoor, Lieb practiced two to three hours a day for six days a week with two private trainers. His favorite and most frequently used workout consisted of eight 200-meter runs with a break halfway in between. Senior and fellow varsity track and field team member Art Espinoza says that Lieb’s training schedule motivates him to train frequently as well.

“Knowing that Aiden goes to the gym in the morning, leads the team at school and does his own workout afterward normalized hard work to me,” Espinoza said. “I see him and think, ‘If he can do all that, I can definitely find the time to work out today.’” 

The New Balance Nationals Indoor event has been canceled due to concerns about COVID-19, but Lieb is looking forward to more national events this summer. Lieb’s next goal in his track career is to race in college. He will be competing in Division I, but he has not decided what college he will attend.