Walk us through what happened on the course and how things unfolded.
At the start of the race, it was a good pack of seven or so through that first mile. We through the mile around 4:44 which is a little faster than I planned but I worked with it. After that I was just trying to work hard with Ethan [Edgeworth] the rest of the race.
What were your expectations entering the race, for yourself personally being your opener and for the team?
My expectations going into this race were pretty high because I have been really confident in my training and my preparation. The team has also been working extremely hard in racing their best and to give it all they got. It's safe to say that we are excited and ready for the rest of the season.
To go off that, what's the dynamic like on this Huntsville Boys team? They've been the team to beat the last few years and you're leading the charge toward another successful year. What makes them special?
Our team is more than that. It's a family of close guys that love to see each other succeed. We all trust each other and these guys feel like brothers to me.
This summer your top guys went to Project Gold Running Camp hosted by Northern Arizona University. Despite not being a school sponsored trip, what prompted you all to go?
Will Pinson and Jackson Harris went there last summer and they said they enjoyed it. We then decided to go as a group and [it] ended up being one of the best trips we've had as a group.
What got you into running?
When I was little, my mom used to do road races and triathlons. She brought me to a race once and I thought it was really fun. After that, I have been doing road races until about seventh grade when I joined Huntsville High XC.
What's your go-to celebratory meal after a good race?
I don't really have a celebratory meal, but if I were to pick a meal it would probably be some steak.
What's your preferred racing and training shoe?
My go-to racing shoe would be have to be either Vaporflys or XC 5's. My training shoes are the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2s.
What's a unique prerace ritual you have?
The night before a race I take an ice bath and do some yoga.
What's the hardest workout you've ever done?
The hardest workout I've done was probably our Oakville workout with a mix of 1,000m and mile repeats.
Who's the most famous person you've ever met?
The most famous person I have met would probably be Abdihamad Nur.
Who is your funniest teammate?
All of my teammates are funny but I think Owen Otto is probably one of the funniest. Or Jackson Harris.
