Delaware champ Olivere sets sights on NXR SE

By Mary Albl for DyeStat 

Lydia Olivere has grown up surrounded by runners. 

Her first memories of the sport involve going to her oldest sister Lindsey's practices when she was in grade school. 

Her dad, Paul, ran for the University of Delaware. 

Her sister, Maddie, older by one year, is a teammate at Padua Academy. 

Her cousins, aunts and uncles, yeah, they run, too. 

In Wilmington, Delaware, the name Olivere is associated with running. 

“I've been coaching now 11 years. Her oldest sister came through and I know her aunt personally,” Padua cross country coach Marnie Giunta said. “She wasn't new. I knew she was an up-and-comer back when (Lydia) was young.” 

NXR SOUTHEAST ENTRIES

But at Padua, Olivere, a junior ranked US#27, is doing her best to make a name for herself outside the Delaware running community. 

This fall, she's posted wins at the Carlisle Invitational and Paul Short Run in Pennsylvania, and finished second at the prestigious Manhattan Invitational in New York City. 

“We're very well-known in Pennsylvania,” Giunta said with a laugh. “And I think the state of Pennsylvania loves seeing Lydia run.” 

Olivere heads into the Nike Cross Southeast Regional Championships in Cary, N.C. as not only a contender for a spot at nationals, but a name that could win it all. 

“When you get to watch her, she's a natural. She loves the sport,” Giunta said. “She's having fun doing it, and she's truly determined to be successful.”

Success for Olivere started immediately during freshman season at Padua. With a strong senior class beside her, she was brought under their collective wing and found her place without having to be the face of the program immediately. She won the New Castle County Championship and the DIAA Division 1 state title. 

During outdoor track, she broke five minuts in the 1,600 meters and clocked  10:46.70 for 3,200. 

A transformational sophomore season that included an injury, illness and increasing outside expectations followed, and it took a toll by the end of cross country season.   

“At the end of last year I think I had hit my peak,” Olivere said. “I was just physically tired and mentally tired.”

Olivere experienced growing pains, literally. Giunta said when she arrived as a freshman she was a tiny 4-foot-8. She now stands at nearly 5-4. 

“You can't be perfect every day,” Giunta said. “That pressure is always there, and I think we saw it more her sophomore season when the cat was out of the bag (that) she is that good.”

Giunta describes Olivere now as a “completely different runner.”

A summer spent building up endurance and strength has helped put Olivere at a different level physically and mentally. 

“This year I will say, she's calm and cool as can be,” Giunta said. “You definitely can tell she's experienced at the starting line just by looking at her face. She's very relaxed, she has her game plan and shes ready to go. Not one challenge has intimidated her.”

What helps offset the pressure is her outgoing, goofy personality. Olivere said her mindset going into races is making sure she's excited and happy. She's all about embracing the challenges. 

“She's a prankster,” Giunta said. “She's a lot of fun to be around. But she's serious when it's time to work. Outside of that, she's having fun loving life.”

This fall has been a lot more fun for Olivere. Aside from strong showings at out-of-state meets, Olivere won the country championship title in 17:43.13 and followed that up with a dominant showing at the Division 1 state championships at the difficult Brandywine Creek State Park 5,000-meter layout. She finished in a course record time of 18:23.1, winning by more than a minute. Her sister Maddie was third as Padua scored 19 points to secure the team title. 

The confidence is high heading into regionals with a chance to earn a trip to Oregon on the line. 

“This is definitely the strongest our team has been yet, so that's really exciting,” Olivere said. “Individually, I'm just excited because I know there's going to be amazing competition. And I have nothing to lose. I just want to go out there and PR and have a good time. I'm not putting any pressure on myself.”

It will be an Olivere family affair down in Cary. Her older sister Lindsey, who placed 41st at NXN in 2010, lives in North Carolina (she went to Duke) and will be coming to watch. Her parents will be in attendance as well. 

Olivere said the family support and love of running has been a tremendous blessing. 

“It's just a love we all share and it's made me enjoy it even more,” Olivere said. “They are really excited to go down to Cary and see how we do.”