Glen Lake senior Marissa Treece makes long-distance running look easy.

During her freshman and sophomore years on the Lakers' track team, and in her sophomore and junior years on the cross country squad, Treece won state distance-running titles.

In her junior year on the track team, however, Treece was denied a “three-peat” after coming in second place in the 1,600 and 3200-meter events at the Division III state track finals. Though she lost both races by less than a half-second, she’s made a goal to return to the winner’s podium.

Marissa Treece won distance-
running races in New York and
Ann Arbor earlier
this month,
and will lead the Glen Lake
girls' track team again
this spring.

“Losing last spring, I was so mad. I just want to get back there this year, win it all and set the record so it can never be broken,” she said. To help accomplish that goal, Treece began working with long-distance running coach Joe Shay of Central Lake last summer. Shay has also helped guide his sons in cross-country and long-distance events at the high school, collegiate and now professional level.

Treece said Shay has helped her increase her endurance and training regimen. She used to run about 20 miles a week on average. Since training under Shay, she’s now averaging between 45 and 60 miles a week. She said Shay also had her work on increasing her speed.

The training has paid off. Two weeks ago, she won a national track meet in New York and set two new personal bests in the 5K and 3,200-meter. Her 5K time of 17:04 was 50 seconds faster than her previous best effort. She also ran a 10:22 in the 3,200, which easily topped her previous best of 10:43.

“Good coaching, focus and good competition all helped in those wins. You’ve got to have good competition to do your best,” she said.

Treece will be running for the University of Notre Dame’s cross country team this fall. She received full-ride scholarship offers from Syracuse, Illinois and Nebraska for cross-country and track, but went with Notre Dame after visiting the campus. “It is just so beautiful down there. Plus the campus is not right in a city, so you can concentrate on your studies but still have fun,” she said. She also credited Shay with helping her get noticed by college coaches.

At the Michigan Indoor Track Series indoor state finals at Ann Arbor over the weekend, Treece won the 3,200 with a time of 10:34, one second off the record for the event. Competing at national events around the country and the state has forced Treece to learn how to manage her time.

“It’s a skill you will definitely use in life. Like, if you have a two-hour car ride to a meet, you get your homework done because you have an assignment due and won’t have any other time to work on it because you won’t be home,” she said. While some people would be overwhelmed by such a busy schedule, Treece said she enjoys it.

“For me the busier, the better,” she said.

Glen Lake girls’ track coach Paul Christiansen said Treece has been a wonder to coach and watch develop over the last three years.

“Marissa has worked very had to be where see is. She gave up basketball and pole vault this year and I know she really missed being part of the basketball team,” he said.