This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Pre State Interview

Q: How do your previous experiences at state competitions shape your mindset and preparation for this year’s race?

A: My previous experiences have shaped my mindset because I’ve been through them almost throughout the years, especially at my previous two state meets, and I’m just ready for whatever conditions adversity, or challenges are thrown at me. I’m excited for it. I feel like I’ve matured and learned how to race to the best extent and push the pain throughout the race. Push through halfway and the last mile race so I’m just really excited to see how much I push myself for my last race. I’m excited just to see how I end up.

Q: What specific aspects of your training have you focused on this season to ensure you’re at your best for the state meet?

A: The team and I have tried to attack our workouts this year. Try to simulate the bigger races in our workouts, try to push each other and be smart in the training, not go too hard too early on, and just kind of balance it out with the easy days, and our tapers have been great recently. We were just trying to rest our bodies and hit the workouts harder, but have less volume, but also still attacking them. I’ve been finding my weaknesses and then and then trying to strengthen them, and my workout has been great this season for me.

Q: Do you have a specific race strategy in mind for this upcoming state meet, and how has it evolved from your past races?

A: My strategy this year is going to be to attack the 1st mile and get out fast because based on my previous experiences at Detweiler if you get out slow, you’re screwed because of how talented and big the field is, it is really hard to weave through packs of runners throughout the race. The 1st mile is downhill so I wanna get out in around 4:45 or be near the front pack so I have a good position going to that 2nd mile.

Q: How do you mentally prepare for the pressure of competing at such a high level, especially since you’ve been there before?

A: I try to stay calm. I’ve felt less pressure and nerves this year because of my senior year and I’ve had to deal with it more than when I was younger, but I just realize it’s an opportunity. I imagine what it would be like if I wasn’t there. Like it’s so it’s so relieving to make it past sectionals and I realize that this is a great opportunity for how I handle it as a person I’m gonna have a lot more opportunities in my life so this is a big opportunity in front of me and our team I realize like we have to execute. You don’t get many of these chances. I also try to look at the fun in it. It’s a sport. I try to smile and have fun with my teammates because, at the end of the day, It’s just a sport. I do it for fun. I do it to make connections and it shouldn’t be that scary even though it is the state meet

Q: How has your role on the team changed this year compared to previous seasons, and what advice do you have for younger teammates who are experiencing state for the first time?

A: My role has changed compared to past seasons because in previous years, I kinda just focused on myself. I cared about the team too, but I just worked on my personal goals and training working hard since my junior year and especially this year, my role has changed to become a leader, and I feel like I’ve been doing a good job with that I’ve tried to give a lot of younger runners advice, and help them with my past experiences. My advice to younger and as always, is just stay consistent, stay healthy do little things that will help you prevent injury and you’ll see the gains and success in being consistent every day daily another thing I would say is just being a good teammate this can go a long way and you’ll find joy in the sport if you just be a good teammate to everybody.

Q: What are your personal goals for this state meet, and how do you hope to leave your mark as a senior runner?

A: My personal goal is to have the best race of my career if that means a PR great, if that means racing to my best ability and not PRing, that’s great also but it isn’t as much about time. I just wanna have a really good placement and put myself in a good position as I said earlier get out fast that first mile like 4:45 if I feel that’s too fast and I fade during the race, it’s OK I just that I know I give my all, but I just wanna feel like I had the best race of my career and hopefully, that is a PR but I also do want our team to finish top 10, a trophy (top 3 as a team) would be awesome but realistically top 10 would be great. I want to leave my Mark in my last race as my strongest. I feel like that will be a huge demonstration of my career and that it will be awesome.

Post State Interview

Q: After making it to state three times, how do you think your approach to racing has evolved over the years?

A: My mindset has changed over the years because of my experiences. I tried to have the approach on every race like it could be my last. Nothing to lose mindset. I just relaxed before my races and tried to enjoy the moment versus in the past where I would get super nervous before races and at the start line. At the smaller races, my mindset has also changed because I realized that I don’t need to have my best races early in the season. I also learned how to recover and take care of my body better through the years. I also didn’t let the nerves get to me this season because I realized that at the end of the day, it’s just a sport and I’m supposed to have fun and do it with my friends. This year was nothing new in terms of the sport, I just had bigger goals and bigger fish to fry and I was going to remain calm and collected throughout the season and keep my eyes up on my goals both in the race and every day in practice.

Q: As a senior, how does this race compare to your previous state races in terms of your preparation, goals, or emotions?

A: This last state race was not possible to compare to any of my previous races. The emotions heading into the race, during, and after were something I’ve never felt before and the preparation was a lot different. As I mentioned before, in previous state races when I was younger, I would get super nervous and it would sort of become a mental block because of how nervous I was, but this year was different. My mentality was a lot more chill and just saying to myself I have worked for this race all season and all 4 years. I knew that I had done all the training and preparation possible and no matter how I did I was gonna be happy with the result and realize there is nothing more I could have done.

Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to younger teammates who hope to make it to the state in the future?

A: You can’t become an All-State or a state champion overnight.

My Coach always says “You can’t win a state championship in a summer, but you sure can lose one”.

This quote sat with me because I realized that if I’m slacking off in practice or not working hard, the whole state is going to catch up. After all, someone is always getting better. It’s a long and slow process to become great in this sport, so you have to remain committed and be confident in yourself and you will see amazing results. This sport is 50% physical training and 50% mental training. Not only do you have to train like the best, but you also have to believe you are the best to be successful in cross country.