Mia Royall shares with MileSplit SC her track and field journey and a video recap of her Dorman Distance Carnival elite girls mile race.
"Don't put so much pressure on yourself to hit certain times, be in a certain place, etc. You'll find that progress comes when you learn to enjoy the process of training, racing, and making great friends through the sport." - Mia Royall, to young runners
How did you get involved in the sport and why?
I kind of started when my dad would take me on hikes at my local greenway. He'd motivate me to hike with him by promising ice cream afterwards. Eventually when I got to third grade I joined girls on the run as well and would do 5Ks with my dad and my girls on the run team. I started dreaming of maybe running at a big school one day and going to the olympics (I was a really cocky fifth grader). And eventually I joined track in middle school which was kind of where I got more into running.
How was starting outdoor at Dorman Distance Carnival with a school record and MileSplit SC all-time database rank of 15th in the mile?
I think starting my outdoor season with a school record was great, I was super happy about that. Especially because the mile is an event I don't always get to run regularly so this may have been one of the few chances I'd get to run it. The previous record holder was Morgan Werner who was someone I didn't get to meet/be on a team with. However, the previous record holder in the 1600m at my school was Katie Pou, whose record I broke last year at states. Being on a team with her my freshman year was amazing and she's someone I still look up to even now.
Watch Dorman Distance Carnival 2024 races
What are your goals for outdoor after a windy day at the meet, but also a good time in the mile?
This year in outdoor I would really love to get my 800m time down a little more and defend my state title. There's a lot of great competition this year so I think this will be a good season to end on. I also really want to get under five minutes for the 1600m especially being so painfully close to that goal.
Tell us about the United States Military Academy and your commitment? What are your plans there and how did it come about?
Most people don't really see me as someone who'd join the military but I feel like West Point is more than just a military school to me. It's definitely a school that comes with a lot of both physical and academic challenges, but also a lot of prestige, especially for someone majoring in stem like me. It attracts a very talented and diverse group of individuals and I really loved the people I met there on my visits. When doing my visits to other schools I just felt like I fit in the most at West Point and that I'd get the most out of going there.
Anything you want to say to younger runners?
Don't put so much pressure on yourself to hit certain times, be in a certain place, etc. You'll find that progress comes when you learn to enjoy the process of training, racing, and making great friends through the sport.
What is your motivation for this season?
Because I'm already committed, I guess my motivation is really just enjoying my last year of high school track. I love showing up to practice, getting to see my team everyday and feeling like I've accomplished something after every run, even if it's just a shorter six miler. I really love the adrenaline rush I get during a race and strategizing what moves to make during races and the prospect of competing for another title. I feel like after four years of running I don't get super nervous before races and kind of anticipate them more. I also just really love getting to travel for bigger meets and meeting new people from all over.
What hobbies do you have?
This year I started getting more into journaling everyday. I think it's a great way to self reflect and when I get overwhelmed by school or just life in general I find it to be a good outlet. It's also just a super easy thing to do and can be done in a lot of different ways depending on what fits you best. Personally I just write whatever pops into my head at the time and sometimes recap my day, but some people who are more artistically inclined make really cute creative journals, adding random pictures or capturing memories within a more interesting collage. I'm not exactly good at stuff like that but I really like looking at those types of journals.
What do you want to say to your support?
I'd really like to thank everyone who's been there for me throughout the years, especially my parents, coaches, teammates, and my friends and family. I'm going to miss everyone so much when I'm in New York this year and I couldn't have done any of this without you.