Lucas Culpepper
Prattville HS
What was your most memorable meet?
What was your most memorable meet?
My most memorable meet was during cross country my senior year. It was the Bullfrog Pond Run hosted by Saint Claire County. This was my most memorable meet because I won first place and broke 18 minutes for the first time. Not to mention I had been hurting pretty bad in my hip for a couple of weeks leading up to the race so I was not able to train hard.The race also was quite muddy which made it even better! I never thought that I would have won a cross country race for high school, but I did my senior year.
Where did you face your biggest competition?
I faced my biggest competition either at Jess Owens for cross country or at the state indoor track meet, however I think this coming weekend in Gulf Shores running the 4by8 for state will offer me a lot of competition.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments which stands out the most?
The accomplishment that stands out the most would be making it to state my senior year in the 4by8. I am an all out distance runner and to me even the mile is not really a distance race to me. I'm used to 5k's, 10k's, and half-marathons. No one thought that I would ever go to state in the 800m. They thought I would go in the the two mile possibly, but I made it in the 4by8 and not even close in the 2mile.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
Eating healthy! It got better during season, but I am one of the unhealthiest eaters out there.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
During cross country my senior year and a pretty bad hip injury, but fought through it and overcame that and came out with a great PR and a 2nd place overall and 1st place overall victory in the 5k back to back.
What will you miss the most?
My teammates and coaches and waking up early on Saturday mornings.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Stay focused and don't give up. Running is 90% mental and 10% physical. Keep your head held high and persevere. I have been inspired by the young junior high athletes coming up and running with the high school athletes and actually competing against them and winning. We have had 8th graders come from the junior high and compete with us. So don't give up because the young can do it to!
What are your post-highschool or college plans?
I'm headed to Huntingdon in Montgomery to run cross country and majoring in youth ministry.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I would first like to most importantly thank God for blessing me with the ability to run. Without Him right there beside me I would not be where I am today. Second, I would like to thank my high school coaches, (Coach Derrick, Coach Greg, Coach Batts, and Coach Williams), for pushing me and believing in me through the end and giving up their free time to help me get better. Finally my friends and family for supporting and encouraging me through the good and bad races, and I cannot forget the my 9th grade teacher, Mrs. Searcy, she is the one that got me to join the track/cross country team at school. If it were not for her getting me to join then I would have never gotten involved in running.