What was your most memorable race?
My most memorable race was a small conference tri- meet my junior year. There were no reporters, no photographers, hardly any fans, and I got destroyed by over a minute. Why was it so memorable? Because that was my first race since shattering my tibia as a sophomore. After the injury, doctors had said I wouldn't run competitively again. It felt surreal when I finished. I had proved people wrong.
What would you consider your biggest competition?
My biggest competition had to be Michael Clevenger from Decatur Macarthur. At the Illinois State Meet our senior year, he beat me in the 3200m by 1 second as well as the 1600m by 2 seconds. He is one of the best runners I have ever competed against, and I have tremendous respect for him. While he got the best of me in high school, I am looking forward to racing him in college.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments which stands out the most?
This was Freshman year, but of all my high school accomplishments I still treasure the 2008 AAU Cross-Country National Championship. I won the race, running 12:55 for 4k, and my team (Belvidere Tornados) took 2cd.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
I would listen to my coaches when they told me not to play basketball the night I broke my leg. I missed an entire year of not just training, but normal daily living. While playing in that game against my coach's will is a big regret, I truly believe that there is a reason for everything, and God works everything for the greater good if you love him and trust him. Honestly, I wouldn't change much. I was blessed with great coaches, great teammates, and a great fan base throughout high school. All these factors, as well as the leg injury I had to overcome, made me the runner that I am today.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
This had already been mentioned, but the most difficult obstacles I had to overcome were the freak injuries I had to deal with throughout high school. After a great freshman campaign in which I ran 9:44 for the 3200m and finished 8th at the State Meet, I was diagnosed with dead bone tissue in my left fifth metatarsal. The injury forced me to miss the entire summer and my sophomore cross-country season. Within my first two weeks of training, I suffered a stress fracture on the right side of my pelvis. I took 6 more weeks off, and started running again in January. I put in a fantastic winter, whipped myself back into shape, and I was starting to regain confidence in my fitness. On February 23, 2010, I ran my first track meet of the year, running 10 flat for 3200m, winning with ease, and qualifying for the Indoor State Meet. The very next day was the beginning of the Intramural Basketball playoffs. My coaches told me not to play, telling me I was going to get hurt and ruin my track season. I definitely didn't take their concerns seriously as I had been playing basketball my entire life. Nonetheless, I played in the game and just as my coaches had predicted, I got hurt. I suffered a spiral fracture in my right tibia with hairline fractures running down into my ankle. The pain was unbearable. I knew it was serious, as I still remember being able to feel my leg in pieces. The injury was so bad, some local doctors told my parents that my return to competitive running was very doubtful. It was a long road back. There were so many times when I just wanted to throw in the towel, but I just kept persevering and working hard day after day. Even when I was cleared to train again about a year later, I still had to overcome adversity. My leg was nothing but skin and bone, and my fitness was at an all time low. For my first couple track meets my junior year, I had run faster times as an 8th grader. It was beyond frustrating, but I just kept believing in my coaches, myself, and God's faithfulness, and before I knew it, it was my senior year and I was running 9:02 (3200m) and 4:13 (full mile). It's funny, I committed to run at the University of Illinois exactly 2 years after breaking my leg. It's crazy how things work out.
What will you miss the most?
Collegiate running is going to very different and there are plenty of things I will miss about high school, but what I will miss the most are my coaches and teammates. During the 10 mile runs together, there is a special bond that forms between us. Throughout these last 4 years, my teammates became my best friends.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Younger athletes are sick of hearing this from teachers and parents, but STUDY HARD AND GET GOOD GRADES. I can't stress how important that is. So many young athletes today blow off school, thinking all they need is athletics to get them into college. From personal experience I know that nothing is guaranteed. All it takes is one bad injury, and a superstar athlete may never complete again.
What are your college plans?
I will be majoring in Bioengineering and running cross-country and track at the University of Illinois. My goals for collegiate running are very big!
Who would you like to say thank you to?
There are so many people that contributed to the success of my high school career. First and foremost, I want to thank Jesus for allowing me to return to running and giving me the strength and endurance to overcome the many obstacles I faced. I want to thank my family and friends for always being there for me and giving me such a great support base. My parents were always so encouraging. Additionally, I want to thank my coaches. I am so excited for the future of Grayslake Central cross-country/track because I know the program is being led by a great coaching staff. I wouldn't trade Coach Jimmy Centella, Coach Andy Gerken, and Coach Brent Pitt for anyone. I want to give thanks to some of my former coaches, including Chris Baldwin, Joel Peebles, and Casey Gantt for guiding me to a fantastic freshman season. I want to give a special thanks to the legendary Don Volkey. I ran for him in 8th and 9th grade in the Belvidere Tornados youth program. He taught me almost everything I know about training and racing, and I owe him the credit for installing such a great work ethic in me. I would also like to say thank you to Dr. Jeffrey M. Mjaanes and Teresa Beckman for guiding me back from each of my injuries. While I was out there running the races, there were so many people that made my performances possible and I will forever be grateful.
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