Silver medalist Leonel Manzano picks up where he left off
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
AUSTIN — In many ways, U.S. Olympian Leonel Manzano is following the same training regimen that helped him capture the silver medal in the men’s 1,500 meters at the London 2012 Summer Olympics.He just returned from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where he participated in a month of altitude training. Altitude training is an annual commitment for him.
And, he restarted his weight-training program, something he picked up last February.
“It was great to get away and focus on training,” Manzano said of his time in Mexico. “It’s still very, very early in the season.”
He has been training for four to six hours a day in addition to working on his strength.
But Manzano, a 2004 graduate of Marble Falls High School, also has had to make adjustments in his schedule.
That’s because he has made more public appearances, including one at the Endurance LIVE Sports Awards Gala on Feb. 23 to pick up the award for the Male Running Performance of the Year.
Presenting him with the award was Jim Ryun, the only other American man to win a silver medal in the 1,500 meters at the Olympics. Ryun captured his at the Mexico 1968 Summer Olympics.
“I had no idea he was going to be at the event,” the former Mustang said. “It was a great honor to share the moment with him.”
He still maintains his weight of 127 pounds, noting that distance runners “want to be as little as possible.”
The former University of Texas runner was unsure if he’ll run at the Texas Relays in April. But he plans on running in the USA National Road Race on April 23 in Des Moines, Iowa.
In addition, Manzano will have to qualify for the World Championships, which will be Aug. 10-18 in Moscow.
The US Outdoor Track and Field Championships are June 20-23 in Des Moines.
“We still have a very long way to go,” Manzano said.
jfierro@thepicayune.com