By JEFF GLUCK
Staff reporter
12/22/2002

"And the winner is ... Jessica Leitsch."

The News Journal's and coaches' selection as the girls cross country runner of the year trotted up to the stage to receive her award.

"Um ... hi," she said, addressing the state cross country banquet. "Congratulations to everyone. It was a great year. We have a dance this Friday from 8 to 11, and you should all come."

It is clear that Leitsch, a sophomore at Brandywine High, doesn't dwell on any one activity too long.

In addition to running, Leitsch is on the school's swim team, plays in the ultimate Frisbee club and is a member of four student organizations (student council, Key Club, Teens Against Tobacco Use and Youth to Eliminate Loss of Life).

"I've just always been really involved and outgoing," Leitsch said.

Given all that Leitsch accomplished this season, it is hard to believe she had time for anything else.

Leitsch won every race she entered this year.

"I had no idea this could happen," she said. "I didn't expect it at all. To be honest, I was just hoping to make the top seven."

Leitsch found herself in a different role than last year, when she constantly chased Meredith Lambert, last year's runner of the year now a freshman at Princeton.

"Last year, they would say the key to beating Meredith is to run with her, and she'd get scared," Leitsch said. "This year, I'd be running by myself and people would start coming up on me. I'd find myself getting scared also."

That didn't deter Leitsch, however. She set a time goal for every course, then lowered it after she beat each one.

Leitsch had the state's best time at all five major courses - Bellevue State Park (18:30, five seconds off Lambert's course record), Brandywine Creek (19:58), Killens Pond (19:18), Lums Pond (19:37) and White Clay Creek (19:15).

"I'd just change them to keep challenging myself," Leitsch said.

Perhaps the challenge is why Leitsch participates in so many activities. She started swimming when she was 4 years old, then joined the track team in sixth grade. After excelling in both of those sports, she now tries her hand at ultimate Frisbee.

"I'm not good at it," she said with a laugh. "It's just for fun."

Leitsch had plenty of fun in winning the Salesianum Invitational, the New Castle County championship and the Division I state championship.

As for the dance to which she invited a roomful of strangers: "My friends were organizing a winter dance, and they were worried that not enough people would come, so I just invited some."

Next year, maybe Leitsch needs to invite some more competition.