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It was a great 2012-2013 in both cross country and track across the Bayou State. Many of our seniors will soon be on their way to start their college careers both athletically and academically so we wanted to salute them one more time in this special feature.</p>
What was your most memorable race?
I would have to say my most memorable race would have to be the 2013 State track meet two mile because I finished second, finally making the podium. it was just the best way to end a great senior year.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
My biggest competition would have to be Zach Capello. Even though I never beat him every time we were in the same race it gave me just that little bit of extra motivation to give it my all, and most of the time I would P.R.. My other biggest competition was my running partner Hays Bondy. Everyday at practice we pushed each other as far as we could so that we could be the very best.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishments would have to be dropping my times as much as I did between my junior and senior year. I dropped over a minute in my three mile, 30 seconds in my two mile, and 10 seconds in my one mile. This helped me achieve all my goals for my senior year.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
If I could change anything it would have to be that I wish I would have been more serious about running before the my junior year.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
I started running cross country my sophomore year, after the first meet I got a stress fracture and had to stay in a boot for a month. Once I came back I wasn't in enough shape to make my teams top seven, so I had to watch my teammates run the state meet. It motivated me to show my teammates that they could rely on me the next year. I became the teams top runner and broke the school record on the first meet of the year, the same meet that I got my stress fracture from the year before. Also my junior year I was a member of the baseball team and the varsity track team. In order to do both sports I would wake up between 5-5:30 in the morning to get my run in before school.
What will you miss the most?
I'm will certainly miss all my teammates and coach. We were more like a family than a team.
What advice you would give to younger athletes?
The advice I would give athletes is don't let one bad race ruin a great season. Set your team goals and personal goals high at the beginning of each season, and flush away all the bad things from a run but hold on to all the good things.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
My coach and I are best friends. We run together all the time. He grabbed me my freshman year, while I was doing baseball workouts, and said, "you have good form and potential why don't you come run track for me during the spring." he has never given up on me, I owe all of my accomplishments to him. When I'm in a race our minds are always on the same page, I know what he wants me to do before he even says it.
What are your college plans?
I will attend the University of New Orleans and major in Exercise Physiology to either become an athletic trainer or physical therapist. I will run Cross Country and Track for the Privateers.
Is there anyone you would I like to thank?
I would like to thank God for this great talent, my coach for helping me realize my talent and helping me reach my full potential, and my family and teammates for always pushing me and never giving up on me.
Anything you would like to add?
Don't give up on yourself. If you don't believe that you can do it then you will never do it. as Pre would say, "to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."
More Coverage:
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.