Senior Sendoff - Benjamin Knox - Hewitt Trussville High School


Athlete Name:
Benjamin Knox

School:
Hewitt-Trussville High School

What was your most memorable meet and why?
The 2016 outdoor state meet, I won 2 state championships. The first in the 1600m and the second in the 3200m, I ran a PR in both and set a new state record in both as well! I also got to spend a large amount of time with some other teams and got to know the people from Auburn especially well as well as spending time with my own teammates. Very pleased with my last performance sporting the Hewitt uniform.

Where did you face your biggest competition?
The Mountain Brooke Invitational 2016 when I had the pleasure of finally racing Ryan Ford, Dylan Pausic, and Dylan Dean together. First time racing Ryan!

Out of all of your high school accomplishments which stands out the most and why?
The indoor state meet 2016, I won shattering my own PR by 11 seconds in the 3200m and winning my first state championship.

If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
I would have worked harder for my cross-country seasons in particular and do more more training meant to push you to your limit and beyond for mental toughness. Listen to my coach more and always give my all in training early on.

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
Pushing through the pain of intense racing and accepting that it'll hurt. Really giving all I have in competition and practice especially. Focusing on my running and blocking everything else out.

What will you miss the most?
My teammates and all the competition I know. Really will miss Coach David Dobbs and helping out with the team, really enjoyable helping underclassmen develop a passion for running and confidence in their abilities.

Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Everyone is capable of great things, all it takes is devotion and passion for what you want to accomplish. You'll need to focus and give everything you have while accepting it's going to hurt.

What are your post-highschool or college plans?
I will be running XC/Track for UAH and plan to study Mechanical Engineering. Overall goal is to make it to the Olympics and run for team USA!

Who would you like to say thank you to?
I would like to thank David Dobbs, my coach. He brought the best out of me and helped develop me into the runner I am today. I owe my success to his many years of experience and complete honesty. If you weren't living up to you're potential, he'd tell you. I'd also like to thank Ian Carter and Daniel Rush for being role models and training partners, I learned what it will take to be great by training with and listening to them.