Senior Cyclone runner Sydney Pounds is making winning strides on the women’s track and cross-country teams.

This senior chemical engineering major is an Ames native who chose to stay in town because “Iowa State seemed like the best place for someone who wanted to be involved in science and engineering and a good track program.”

Her most recent success was last weekend at the Florida Relays outdoor meet in Gainesville, Fla. where she won the 5,000-meter run.

“It came down to the last lap. I was running with a Georgia girl with 400 meters to go and passed her at about the 250 mark,” Pounds said.

Pounds is no stranger to running successes. Women’s Distance Coach Dick Lee said she has been a runner at two NCAA cross country championships and was the No. 1 runner both years.

Lee said, “She is a very hard worker. All her success comes from her dedication and her hard work. “

This year at the first Big 12 indoor meet held in Lincoln, Neb., Pounds earned the title of Big 12 Champion in the 5,000 meters.

“I’m very proud of my Big 12 win. I didn’t expect it at all. It hasn’t completely hit me yet, though I’ll probably think about it more when my ISU career is over,” she said.

Although Pounds is currently a senior, she has one year of eligibility for indoor and outdoor track because she was redshirted for medical reasons during the 1995-96 season.

But the road is never easy.

“I was not very good my first year at ISU. I wasn’t going to quit or anything, but I wasn’t sure I would be able to compete at this level,” Pounds said. “I was lapped off the track in both of my races in my first Big Eight indoor championships.”

However, Coach Lee said she made it through her beginning struggles and has improved her confidence of running to win.

“She has become one of the Midwest’s top collegiate distance runners,” Lee said.

Not bad for a runner who said she joined junior high track “because her friends were in it.”

Pounds said she loves to compete even though she finds she gets a case of the nerves before races. She said she has had a lot of encouragement throughout her running career from her family, who is “very into sports.”

In addition to support, she said she has had inspiration from other runners, her teammates, family and friends.

After she crosses her final finish line as a Cyclone runner, Pounds said she is sure she will keep running but does not plan to compete professionally.

Until then, Pounds will be competing for crimson and gold and will work to qualify for nationals in the 5,000-meter run.