Agoura High School’s Lisa Novik leads by setting an example

Lisa Novik

Lisa Novik, an Agoura High School senior, is in her fourth year as a member of the Charger cross-country team. Last Thursday, in a meet held at Agoura, Novik won the girls’ race in a time of 18:43.

"I wasn’t out to go and break the course record," Novik said. "I want to by the end of the season, but this wasn’t the meet to do it. I just wanted to get a feel for the course. Now I know where I need to work and what training will help me."

Agoura cross-country coach Missy Andrews said Novik prepared well for her final year as a high school runner. "She is running very strong," Andrews said. "She trained all summer, worked hard. She just progresses every year. Every year she runs stronger and stronger, so I expect her to have a real successful season. And she’s planning on continuing running in college."

The girls’ team at Agoura had a lower turnout than hoped for and that’s presented a challenge for Novik. But, as she did last year, she currently trains with the boys’ team.

"I think that has really contributed to her running success," Andrews said of Novik’s working out with the boys. "That’s when she really stepped it up. When we increased her mileage and started having her train with the boys."

Novik looks at the glass half full when describing her team this season. "I just want to say something about my team," Novik said. "A lot of them are freshmen or sophomores and they are kind of still new to running, not really sure what it’s all about. I know having someone run four minutes faster than you every race is really intimidating." (Novik runs that much faster than her young teammates.)

"But I think they come out with a good attitude and they are really supportive, and it’s just really cool to have a team like that," added Novik.

Andrews said her star runner does see the bright side of things.

"That’s the good thing about Lisa," Andrews said. "She rolls with the punches. Whatever is presented in front of her she handles it and deals with it and doesn’t overreact and she just keeps on plugging. There’s nothing that stops her from working hard.

"She’s a great kid to coach," Andrews added. "She works hard and always has a positive attitude."

At times, Novik has to temper the intensity she demands in her teammates as a Charger team captain.

"I think they might get mad at me sometimes, and sometimes I am a little more serious than they want to be, but I am totally willing to have fun with them and I hope they get as much out of it as I do," Novik said about her rapport with her teammates.

Andrews noted that Novik is an exceptional student who leads by example. "She a quiet kind of leader," Andrews said of Novik. "She leads more by example than verbally, but she’s a great leader in that she never gives up, she stays positive and she works hard every single day. She doesn’t ever come to practice and have a day that it would be apparent that she wasn’t training hard."

Novik said she’s just now hitting her stride.

"Now is when you are really getting to see that my races are starting to get really good and I’m starting to feel really strong," said Novik. "It’s all paying off for me and that’s really cool."

—Steve Ames contributed

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