What was your most memorable race?
My most memorable race had to be the 2012 state championship because I was a part of the team that most people thought didn't have a chance, but we won.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
Over my fours my biggest competition individually had to be my brothers because I had three brothers on my team and we are all very competitive. As a team though, I believe St.Paul this past year was the biggest competition. They are a very strong team.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment was finally getting top 10 at state my senior and breaking 16 minutes for three miles.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
I can't think of anything that I would change throughout my high school career. We were a team that overcame doubt and many challenges but we showed that you can do it. I wouldn't have wanted it to be easy.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
The most difficult obstacles I faced was during my sophomore year. I was working hard but didn't show a whole lot of improvement which discouraged me, but I came out of the slump my junior year.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss my team the most. We are brothers now. We made history together and no one will ever take that away from us.
What advice you would give to younger athletes?
To younger athletes, I would say never give up and chase your dreams. Don't let someones disbelief in you cause you to quit or give up something you love. Prove them wrong and regret nothing.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
My coach has influenced me tremendously. Without him I wouldn't be here running where I am today. He knew how hard he could push us to make us better and he was smart in how he handled our schedule. In life, he became a guy I would go to for advice for anything. On any given day on a run we would talk about not only running but college and future plans in life. He changed my life.
What are your college plans?
My college plans consist of focusing on my grades first. Running is a close second. I look forward to running for the University of Louisiana at Monroe and trying to compete within the Sun Belt Conference. Hopefully help our team win a conference title. Who knows.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
First of all, I would like to thank God. Without him nothing is possible. I would like to thank Coach McDuffie for being the best coach I have ever had. I would like to thank both of my parents who pushed me to start running and havent missed a meet since I started. Lastly I would like to thank the people who doubted us. Y'all motivated us more than you know.
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Want to be featured in our Salute To Seniors series? Drop me a line: pat@louisianarunning.com and answer the questions above! Congratulations to the class of 2013 on all their hard work and success.
