Arlington Hts. woman mentors female runners

In 1983, Janet Leet won a national championship in cross country. Now, nearly 30 years later, she is inspiring young female athletes to pursue similar dreams.

For the last 14 summers, Leet, an Arlington Heights resident, has been in charge of RunSub5, a Nike-sponsored running camp for female distance runners near Kankakee.Leet#146;s focus at her camp and in her private coaching is mental toughness, and says her main purpose is #147;to get these girls to believe in themselves #8212; who they are and a direction, not just in sports, in life in general.#148;#147;It makes them look at the sport in a more healthy, exciting, fun environment,#148; she said.That focus seems to have been inspired by her own successful running career.Before becoming a 10-time Division I all-American, Leet had her own challenges. A New Jersey native, she joined the cross country team in second grade, but only because her school didn#146;t allow girls to play basketball until fourth grade. It turned out to be fortuitous #8212; she ended up loving the sport, went on to nationals for the first time in fifth grade and ended up winning the Kinney (Foot Locker) national title in 1983 as a high school senior.New Jersey named her its High School Cross Country Athlete of the Century.Her success didn#146;t stop there. She ran for North Carolina State, and her proudest moment occurred when she placed 23rd in the World Championships in 1987 while competing for Team USA.Leet says she has taken her success and competitiveness and channeled it into her coaching. One of Leet#146;s campers, Sydni Meunier, attributes her personal running success to Leet and the camp she puts on. Meunier, who will be a senior at Gibson City (Ill.) High School, says Leet is a motivational person.#147;She just shares her story and you just want to get a piece of it,#148; she said.Meunier returned this summer for a second year, coming off a junior year where she won two state championships.Each evening, Leet speaks to the girls, offering relaxation techniques, visualization and goal setting.She really wants to share her love and passion for the sport.#147;We want them to walk away excited #133; everything we do is to build their self-image,#148; she said.When Leet isn#146;t running through the streets of Arlington Heights, you can find her at the racquetball courts with her husband, Brad, or cheering on their kids.Her son, Michael, runs for Prospect High School and her daughter, Jenny, plans on playing soccer for Prospect this upcoming year.