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Peters Township runner strives for perfection

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Peters Township’s Sydney Shock ranks among the top cross country runners in Class 3A of the WPIAL.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Peters Township's Sydney Shock ranks among the top cross country runners in Class 3A of the WPIAL.

Knowledge is power. Just ask Sydney Shock.

When the Peters Township High School junior gets confused, she asks questions.

“I want to know as much as possible,” she said.

That attitude works in the classroom as well as out on the cross country course for Shock.

Academically, she maintains a 5.25 weighted GPA in her courses, which include AP calculus and biology. Recently, she achieved the highest possible ACT composite score of 36.

Fewer than half of one percent of students who take the exam earn a top score. In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2021, only 4,055 out of 1.29 million students earned a 36 on the test that includes English, mathematics, reading and science.

Because the ACT features a science portion and since she gravitate towards STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), Shock said she did well. Plus, she practiced.

“That helped a lot because I knew how much time to budget to each portion of the test,” she said.

Allocating her time is crucial to Shock’s pursuits. In addition to being a member of the National Honor Society, Math and Science Clubs, Shock plays the violin in the orchestra. Plus, she runs cross country and track.

“I don’t have a lot of free time with school, trying to get as much work done in study halls, running, doing homework and then getting some sleep,” she said. “Honestly, I don’t really know if there is a secret to my success other than I try hard and I always just try to do the best I can.”

Peters Township girls cross country coach Kristin Sortino agreed with that assessment.

“Sydney is very dedicated and it shows through her actions. Since she started with us, she has not missed a single practice or workout. She puts the time in and makes no excuses. Whatever she wants is attainable because of her work ethic.”

Shock has attained some of the best times on cross country courses and tracks across Western Pennsylvania. Her top marks are 18:55 this fall, 5:11 in the indoor mile and 11:22 in the outdoor two-mile. She is the No. 1 runner on the PT girls cross country team and is within reach of setting the school’s record of 18:03 held by Kathy Knabb.

This fall, Shock had a top-20 finish in the Red, White and Blue Classic. She finished fourth at the Marty Uher Invitational, which is run on the same course where the WPIAL Championships will be held Oct. 27. She also placed 15th at the Foundation Meet, on a course where the PIAA Championships will be held Nov. 5 in Hershey.

“Sydney has been working hard and we are happy with how her races have been going. She is bumping up closer and closer to No. 1,” said Sortino. “Her strengths as a runner are that she puts her mind to it, she has her plan of attack and sticks with it. She doesn’t settle until she crosses that finish line. We are excited to see what she will do.”

Shock’s goals are to do well enough at the WPIAL Championships to again qualify for states and then try to compete in regional and national competition at the end of the cross country season. As for track, she ultimately wants to run a sub 5-minute time in the mile and a sub-11 in the 3,200 meters.

“I have a lot of strong competition,” she said. “Top 10 in the WPIAL would be fantastic and making states is always the goal.”

Shock started setting racing goals when she picked up the sport in the fourth grade. Previously, she participated in soccer, lacrosse and softball. She even danced competitively. When she ran in a fundraising event with her father, Jason, an ultra-marathoner, Shock fell in love with the activity.

“Running was always the favorite part of all the sports I tried and while I tried to keep dancing, it involved a time commitment that I didn’t want to make because I liked running more. So I stuck with that,” she explained.

Shock runs every day but Sundays, chalking up usually 30 miles per week. Even during the summer months, she does not waver though she may indulge her dad in a jog.

“My easy runs,” she said. “When I was 12, I started passing him.”

Shock acknowledges there is a genetic component to her success. In addition to her marathoning father, her mother, Denise, used to play tennis for Upper St. Clair High School. Shock added that both her parents are smart.

“Genetics is definitely useful but the dedication to try as hard as I can is more significant,” she said.

Shock noted there are similarities and differences to doing well in the classroom and in sports.

Doing well on the ACT afforded her the “feeling of exhilaration” that she enjoys out on the course.

“This was enjoyable but cross country is a process,” she said. “Every race is different. You have to plan every time. With the ACT, I knew the format and I knew how it would go. Like cross country, I had to practice. There is a lot of dedication to academics as there is to athletics.”

And for good reason.

“In running and cross country something could happen. You could suffer a major injury but academics can stay with you forever. As long as you have a dedication to academics, that will take you through live.”

While Shock would embrace a running scholarship, she is pursuing academic scholarships and is focused on her performance on the PSAT exam she will take this month. She took the exam as a sophomore and missed only one question.

Scores from the junior PSAT determine semifinalists and finalists in the National Merit Scholarship program.

“A lot is riding on the test so I am a list nervous,” she said. “I have high expectations for how well I will do this time.”

Age: 16

Birthday: Nov. 26

Parents: Denise and Jason

Siblings: Bridgette, who is a student at CMU

High School: Peters Township

GPA: 5.25

Favorite class: AP Calculus and biology

Sports: Cross country and track

Activities: NHS, Math Club, Science, Orchestra

Dream college: I like the Ivy Leagues but as long as I love the school and campus, I will love going there.

Major: Biology or math related.

Career: Something in the STEM field

Food: Avocado toast.

Color: Purple

Restaurant: Juniper Grill

Book: What If by Randall Munroe

Movie: Spiderman franchise. anything.

Athlete: Olympian hurdler Sydney McLaughlin

Dream Destination: Somewhere with good scenery and good running trails.

People might be surprised to know this about you: I have Celiac disease. Any amount of gluten makes me sick. Until I was diagnosed, it ruined a lot of things and it still can be frustrating at times but I have learned to live with it.

Person you would like to have dinner with: Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge. “He seems to have the right mind set on how he approaches the competitive nature of running and he’s down to earth.”

Lesson sports has taught you: If you work hard and are dedicated, you will see improvements and it will improve your life.

In 15 years, I will hopeful have a stable job and still be running.

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