Sydney was born at the KI Sawyer Air Force Base in Marquette, Michigan to Sid and Diana Pounds on January 19, 1975. She attended Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Iowa. She ran for coaches Deb Anderson and Joel Kruckenberg, whom she gives credit for her high school success.
Sydney’s high school career was outstanding and included the following accomplishments. She won almost every cross country race, 800, 1500, and 3000 meter runs that she competed. She won district titles in cross country, 1500 and 3000 meters all four years of her high school career. She also won five individual state titles (two in cross country and three in the 3000 meter run) and was a member of a 4 X800 meter Relay championship team. She also finished as the Class 2-A runner-up in cross country in 1989 as a freshmen in high school and finished fourth in Class 1-A her junior season. During her career at Gilbert, Sydney’s team also enjoyed a tremendous amount of success as well. They were the Class 2-A State Champions in 1989, runner-ups in 1990 in 2-A , and 1991 in 1-A and finished fourth in 1-A in 1992. It wasn’t any different in Track as her teams placed in the top 10 all four years, winning the State Title in 1992, and finishing as the runner-up in 1991. They were third in 1990 and eighth in 1993.
Sydney continued her career at Iowa State University. While at ISU, Sydney continued to accumulate accomplishments in both cross country and track and field. During her sophomore season she led her team to a runner-up finish in the Big Eight and co-champions of the NCAA District 5 meet. She placed 3rd in 1995 and 12th in 1996 at the Big 8 Cross Country Championships. She was the top finisher for Iowa State in the NCAA Cross Country meet in 1996. Sydney earned Academic All-American honors in 1995 & 1996. On the track Sydney became ISU’s first ever Big 12 Champion when she won the 5000 meters, setting a school record with the time of 16:54 at the Big 12 Indoor meet. She was voted the outstanding Big 12 performer for Iowa State. Sydney placed in the 5th in both the Big 8 Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 1995. She placed 8th in 3000 meter run at the Big 8 Indoor Championships in 1995 and 5th in both the Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
Sydney continues to train and run local track meets and road races for the Wisconsin Track Club. She completed her first Marathon in January of 2001.
Sydney received her degree from Iowa State University in 1998 in chemical engineering, and went on to attend medical school at the University of Wisconsin.
She is currently completing her residency at the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak Michigan. After graduating from Iowa State, she married Shane Leach a former Muscatine and Iowa State middle-distance standout. Shane is employed as an engineer for General Motors. They enjoy running together in their free time with the dog, Prefontaine.