Walk me through the race. You went through 400m in 54.2 and came home in 55. What was your plan entering the race
This was my last chance to run fast before State. I just wanted to go out fast and see what happened. I studied some Cade Flatt and Colin Sahlman videos from last year and they went through the 400m in 54 and 600m at 1:21-1:22 so I needed to be around that ballpark to give myself a chance.
Did you know you were going to run sub 1:50 during the race?
About 700m to go, I looked at the clock and knew I had a chance if I closed faster than a 16. And I know I can run 14-15s any day of the week.
How is your body feeling now 36 hours after the race?
Body is feeling great. I'm still trying to process everything that's happened though.
How did you celebrate Friday night?
I went to Chick-Fil-A with some of my teammates.
What was your order?
8 count chicken nuggets, a chicken sandwich, and a cookies and cream milkshake.
What got you into running?
I missed football tryouts and my mom wanted me to do a fall sport so she signed me up for cross country.
Who has been the most impactful person in your running career? Maybe a peer or coach? And why?
Definitely Ethan Strand. He's always felt like a big brother to me and has great advice about running and life in general.
You recently committed to attend the University of Virginia next season and continue your running career. What made you choose them?
Coach Lananna has a great legacy and I think he and his training will put me in a great position to run fast as I can, as well as the great academics that Virginia is known for.
Before this race, what's been your favorite high school running memory?
Going 1,2,3 at Outdoor State [last year] with Max Armstrong and Henry Strand.
Walk me through your morning routine with an afternoon track race.
I'll usually do some homework and watch a movie. Then I'll have some chicken noodle soup from Panera as my lunch about three hours from my race.
What's your favorite shoe to train in and race in?
Right now, I'm really liking the New Balance FuelCell Supercomp trainer for weekly mileage and for races I like the Nike Dragonfly.
What's your favorite movie?
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.
If you could go on a run with any professional runner, who would it be?
Jakob Ingebrigsten.
Would you rather go to the deep ocean or deep space?
Deep space.
What would be your superpower? Excluding super speed.
The ability to fly.
If you had to give up any of your five senses, what would it be? And why?
Smell. Being a runner my shoes can start smelling pretty bad.
What's your favorite place in Birmingham to run?
Mountain Brook. It is a nice change of scenery compared to Vestavia.
How do you want to be remembered in Alabama High School running when you graduate?
Someone who loved to run and compete and showed others what is possible.
