Daily Journal Athlete of the Week: Hillsdale’s Naia Hsieh

As Hillsdale senior Naia Hsieh turned the corner onto the infield at Westmoor High School and noticed her dominant lead as she headed down the home stretch at the PAL No. 1 cross-country meet, she was surprised to see just how comfortable a lead she held.

Hsieh’s time speaks for itself, as she took first place in the girls’ varsity race on the 2.7-mile course in 16 minutes, 7 seconds. After crossing the finish line with that unique runner’s high of exhaustion and excitement, it would be another 37 seconds before she’d watch Oceana senior Lara Scanziani-Grijalvo finish in second place.

“I wasn’t too sure until I turned onto the track,” Hsieh said. “And I was like: ‘Wow, this is so cool!’”

Hsieh has earned Daily Journal Athlete of the Week honors after not just dominating the season’s first Peninsula Athletic League meet, but for claiming the first individual championship in a PAL varsity race of her career. Her previous best finish was last season’s PAL No. 2 meet, where she took sixth.

“It was a goal for her this season to be up front at a PAL race, so to accomplish that goal was pretty nice,” Hillsdale head coach Chris Lucey said. “It’s always rewarding when your hard work pays off.”

Running the uniquely hilly course at Westmoor wasn’t what Hsieh had in mind, however. Having never previously run the course, Hsieh, along with the rest of the PAL, was expecting to run the meet at the originally schedule venue at Half Moon Bay, a course where she’s previously seen some success. Two years ago, at HMB’s host Artichoke Invitational, the then-sophomore took first place in the frosh-soph race.

When talks started brewing at the beginning of September of a possible Cabrillo Unified Teachers Association strike — a strike that didn’t happen after the CUTA reached a deal Sept. 12 with the Cabrillo Unified School District — the meet was moved to the Daly City campus at Westmoor.

“I was nervous because I’m used to running Half Moon Bay ... so I’ve run that course a lot and I’m pretty used to it,” Hsieh said. “But I was excited because I thought it would be a bit of a faster course without Cougar Hill in Half Moon Bay.”

Hsieh didn’t know about the shorter, but steeper, hill at Westmoor. That’s OK. It turned out to be her secret weapon.

The senior didn’t take a big lead at first. In fact, Hsieh didn’t lead at all. Running side by side with Scanziani-Grijalvo most of the race — the two tend to be friendly while competing after running in the PAL together since they were freshmen — Hsieh drafted the front of the pack for the first mile or so.

Once Hsieh pulled ahead, Scanziani-Grijalvo went with her. And the two were running even until they reached the last mile heading toward that short but steep incline unique to Westmoor.

“We were kind of battling up the hill,” Hsieh said.

That’s when Hsieh heard her coach’s voice in her head. One of the fundamentals Hillsdale trains on is when to attack a hill. The general rule is run 10 fast steps after the incline.

“So that’s what I did,” Hsieh said, “and I think that’s where I separated, right after that last hill.”

Hillsdale’s next finisher was senior Ashlyn Kelly, who took 11th in 17:29. Hsieh finished over a minute faster. With Carlmont racing to the team championship — the Lady Scots’ top three placers were Daniela Cuadros in sixth (17:03); Katelyn Elliott seventh (17:07); and Anita Metzler eighth (17:10) — Hsieh’s alliance with Scanziani-Grijalvo (16:44) served her well.

“She and Naia did the same thing at the (season opener) Lowell Invite,” Lucey said, “in that they were running together and racing together. ... It’s been really fun to watch them for the last four years.”

Hsieh, however, is intent on Hillsdale developing its team philosophy. The Lady Knights took fourth place in the team element at PAL No. 1.

“Well, I think what’s really special about cross country is everyone individually has their ups and downs ... and I’ve definitely had some races that I heaven’t been happy with. But ultimately the work you put in is the work you take out. And ultimately I love how my team fosters that mindset.”

In her second year as captain of Hillsdale cross country — a team that has never won a PAL championship — Hsieh is the right leader to help get the program to the next level, Lucey said.

“She’s just so consistent,” Lucey said. “She pays attention to the work she’s doing, she pays attention to the pace she’s running for the different types of workouts, she’s one of our captains ... it’s not just about her. As a senior leader, she’s focused on helping her teammates ... and that’s fun to watch as a coach.”