Ani Veltcheva is only 12 years old, but her list of accomplishments reads like she's been running for twice that many years. In the running world, she has won numerous age group awards and at nine set an age group world record for a 5K on the road, with a blistering time of 18:47 which would have ranked in the top 50 high school times this year in Florida!
Recently, the youngster from Gainesville set a new meet record at the FLYRA Middle School State XC Championships conquering the 3K Holloway Park course in 10:38.67. We caught up with her on the eve of the AAU Cross Country National Championships in Tallahassee to find out a little more about this talented and well round athlete.
How did you get started in the sport?
I've always enjoyed being active but I started running in first grade at my elementary school's Morning Mile Program. Morning Mile is a program that allows students every day before school starts to run laps, record their distance and get small tokens for every 5 miles they run. Back in first grade Morning Mile was definitely more of a social thing for me. My friends and I would talk and goof around as we walked around the track. I didn't start actually running at Morning Mile until the end of the year when my P.E. teacher, Ms. Schweibert, told me that if I start jogging I would be able to complete 100 miles and get a t-shirt. I really wanted the t-shirt so I started begging my parents to take me to school earlier so I could jog. The next year in second grade, I jogged more and without realizing it I became faster. To my surprise, I ran almost 400 miles by the end of that school year. After that, each year I ran over 600 miles. In fifth grade I ran 666 miles and set the new school record, which I still hold.
You did the morning miles program in elementary school was that really your first taste at competing?
No. I first started competing when I was 6 years old, at swim meets. I remember my first swimming event ever was the 25 meter butterfly. When I finished, I looked around and the others were only halfway done! Since then, I have won many swimming medals and trophies and have competed at the Florida Age Group Championship (FLAGS), which is equivalent to a state meet.
Do you remember your first race and what that was like? What was it that you loved about the road races, 5K's, and longer distances?
My first running race was the Dog Days 5k in Gainesville, FL in 2013 where I ran with some of my school friends. That was a long time ago so I do not remember very much about this race, but one random thing that I do remember is that during the race, there was a turtle on the road and we helped to pick it up and carry it to safety on the grass. I also remember that there were so many dogs at this race! I love animals, so it was really fun.
Where do the athletic genes come from? Is it something that runs in the family?
Everyone always thinks that my parents were Olympians, which is quite funny to me. The truth is that the only other junior Olympian in my family is my older sister Toni. Toni went to the Junior Olympics for rhythmic gymnastics where she placed second in the nation. She also competed at artistic gymnastics and was the state champion on balance beam. Toni and I are very competitive with each other, but at the end of the day I know that she is my biggest cheerleader.
At age 9 you set the world record for a 5K on the road with at time of 18:47. Was it at that point you realized you had a special gift?
Yes, at age 9 I set the world record for my age group for the 5k road races. My time was 18:47, which beat the previous record by 18 seconds. I had no idea that my times were close to the record until 2 months before I set it. When we found out, my mom asked me if I wanted to try and set the record. For those two months we went to different 5k almost every weekend. It was really fun and great practice. First I was 5 seconds off, then 2 seconds off, and one time I was even 1 second off the previous record! I have to say the Betty Griffin House 5k, that I set the world record at was special because my entire family came to support me. Normally my mom is the only one who can attend my competitions, but for this race my dad and sister got the time off from work and came too. Having them there encouraged me to run super fast because I wanted to make my family proud.
How many age group national records do you hold?
To be completely honest I'm not sure. I run because I love running. Often I only realize that I've set a new record when the commentator announces that I am on a record pace during the race.
For example, this summer at the AAU Club Nationals in Orlando, I set a new record for the 3,000 meters, beating the old record by seven seconds. During the race, the commentator said that my pace was faster than the previous record one and he encouraged the crowd to start cheering me on. This motivated me to keep up the pace and that's how I set the new meet record.
This year you started working out with Coach Enoch Nadler and the Florida Track Club. What was your training like before then and why the decision to join that group?
Team Florida Track Club or Team FTC is open to everyone. The majority of the runners are students and adults, but there are also a few kids around my age. I like the competition and the support that I get in the team and coach Enoch makes the practices a lot of fun. Before joining Team FTC, I ran on my own or with my sister and mom.
What has your training been like this year? Di you have a favorite workout? I know I talked to Adair Lyden (former Lake Nona runner who you train with) and she told me you are a true student of the sport and just love training and always go out there with a smile.
Yes, that's right. I really enjoy running in general. If I had to pick, I would say I am better at long distance running. I am really happy that Coach Enoch is a long distance runner. My favorite practices are when he runs with me and we do distance training.
You've run four XC races this fall, but your best race was probably the MS state meet where you set a new record, and smasheed your PR by 16 seconds. What was the key to success in that race?
I think that what really helped me set a new course record and PR was the competition that I had in the race. My goal was to run below 11 minutes, but the competition of all the fast girls around me helped me push myself harder and go faster.
What have you worked on between that race in the end of October and this week leading up to AAU XC Nationals.
Between the FLYRA Middle School Championship and the AAU Nationals I ran two races - the AAU Florida District XC Championship in Ocala, which was the qualifier for the AAU Nationals, and the second one was the USATF Regional Championship in Tallahassee. I am happy with the way I ran at both of these races. In Ocala, I set a new PR of 10:34 and finished 54 seconds ahead of the girl that placed second. In Tallahassee, I crossed the finish line 29 seconds before the second place runner.
Last year you were third at this meet. What is it going to take to win the race on Saturday and what would that mean to you?
There are a lot of fast girls at the National Championships, so I am happy that I will get to race against them again and maybe set a new personal record.
Being so good at such an early age how do you stay focus, healthy, and hungry to compete every year?
Competing is really fun for me, it always has been and I believe it always will. I see each competition as an opportunity to achieve a new best time, race someone new, meet new people, and make new friends.
I know it's early and you are only 12, but what are the long term goals?
For now, my goal is to keep working hard in both sports and school. But my goal is to one day become an Olympian in both swimming and running.
Lastly, tell us a little about Ani outside of running. I hear you are a math wiz and a national qualifier at swimming as well?
Outside of running, I have many hobbies. I swim for 2 hours almost every day after school at Gator Swim Club. I also love math and compete in different math competitions throughout the year. Another hobby of mine is competing in the school Spelling Bee. In 6th grade I finished top 10 in my middle school and in 5th grade I was the school champion. Reading is what I love doing most in my free time.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
As I mentioned earlier, I really like animals. I like to volunteer at the Alachua County Humane Society and help out with the dogs. My family also fosters puppies from Gainesville Pet Rescue. I love to play with the puppies and help train them, so they can find good homes faster. Right now we have a little puppy named Tyson, and he loves to get his belly rubbed. I am working on his endurance, so he can become a running buddy for someone one day.
