ELON, N.C. – In their first year with the Elon women’s cross country team, freshman Elyse Bierut and sophomore Tereza Novotna have made immediate contributions to Phoenix head coach Christine Engel’s program with their performances so far this season.
 
The pair were the first two runners to cross the line for the Phoenix at the Southern Conference Championship last weekend and rewrote the program’s record books in the 5K race. Bierut ran a time of 17:52.82 and Novotna in 17:56.05 for the third and sixth fastest times respectively on the all-time list for the program and earned All-SoCon second team honors.
 
Both runners had time to sit down with ElonPhoenix.com for a quick Q&A session.
 
ElonPhoenix.com: What brought each of you here to Elon?
Tereza Novotna: “I came here because I knew that Coach Engel was a good coach from my phone calls with her. I also knew that they had a great team and people support each other.”
 
Elyse Bierut: “I could tell from my phone calls with Coach Engel that I wanted to train under her. Once I got here, I found that there is such great team chemistry on this team and it makes a difference when you are training.”
 
EP: What were your first impressions of the campus at Elon?
TN: “It was a bigger school than my previous one (St. Leo University) and it is a beautiful campus. We have so many options here as far as courses to take and to gain some knowledge and experience.”
 
EB: “The people here are really nice. The weather is nice and it's a great place overall.”
 
EP: At what age did you decide to start running?
EB: “I started running in the fall of my seventh grade year around 12-years old. It just became my thing to do immediately and in high school I decided that I wanted to continue to pursue it in college.”

TN: “Growing up in the Czech Republic, I didn’t run cross country. The main sport I competed in was orienteering. It’s running in the forest with a map and compass to find control points. It’s like a combination of running and thinking. When I am back home I compete in a number of athletic competitions.”
 
EP: So what brought you to cross country in the United States?
TN: “I heard about the opportunity to study abroad and to be a part of a cross country team and I’m here.”
 
EP: What do you enjoy about running?
TN: “The great feeling that you get afterwards that you did something nice. I also like running in nature and taking the views of the countryside.”

EB: “I like the health benefits that it gives you and its great to run with others. It’s very rewarding especially after you’re done.”
 
EP: What does each of you miss the most being away from home?
TN: “I miss my family and friends, but I’m coming home for Christmas.”

EB: “I also miss my family and friends as well, but I grew up right on Lake Erie and I always try to appreciate that when I was at home when I did. Here not being by a lake or body of water like that, I really miss it.”
 
EP: What was you proudest moment this season?
TN: “Before the race at the Elon Invitational, I didn’t feel confident. After a talk with coach, she motivated me and when I finished the race I felt great that I went through the limits and I did the best that I could.”

EB: “At the SoCon meet we could only run nine girls, but every other girl drove down to the meet in Charleston to watch us compete and stayed through the award ceremony. I was really proud to be a part of a team where everyone is so supportive of each other.”
TN: “It was amazing to see them drive five hours to watch us run for only a 20-minute race.”
 
What other sports (besides running) do you love to compete in?
TN: “Back home I do a lot of cross-country skiing so I’m excited to go home for Christmas.”
EB: “I did play tennis and swam as well as a few things here or there, but as far as athletically running is kind of where it’s at for me.”
 
EP: A couple of days ago it was Halloween. Did you dress up?
TN: "At home we didn’t celebrate Halloween so this was the second time I’ve ever celebrated the holiday. I was Marilyn Monroe."
EB: "I was a butterfly this year."
 
EP: What is the most played song or band on your iPod?
TN: "Right now a Czech band called Charlie’s Straight."
EB: "I’ve been listening to a lot of John Mayer and Matt Curney. I’m also a Bruce Springsteen fan. I’ve been to a couple of his concerts with my parents."
 
EP: What do you like to do in your spare time for fun (besides running)?
TN: "I love traveling, hiking, being with my friends and taking pictures."
EB: "I like reading and listening to music and being with my friends."
 
EP: What would be the one word that you would use to describe each other?
TN: "Caring."
EB: "Strong-willed."