Arab High School
What was your most memorable meet and why?
I would say that this years indoor state meet was the most memorable by far. Our team came in seeded to place 4th but we knew that we had the ability to go fight for a red or blue map. We ended up getting state runner up as a team and it was so memorable to see my teammates training and hard work pay off when it meant the most and on the biggest stage. And the support that we had for each other was something I've never seen as a high school athlete but I was so thankful to be apart of that team.
Where did you face your biggest competition?
I would definitely say new balance nationals indoor in Boston this past year. The competition was loaded with division one talent and even guys that weren't seniors yet were out there throwing down because we all wanted to make that all-American status and wanted to be the national champion. We all knew going into that meet that any athlete could win that meet and any athlete could go out there and hit a big PR. The competition was tough, but also enjoyable because of the amount of support, each one of the athletes had for each other during that competition.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most and why?
Getting All-American at indoor nationals. When I started track my seventh grade year, I could never have imagined having the success that I did, or even going as far as I have, but my coaches and teammates pushed me every single day, whether it was in the weight room or on the track to be the best that I could be, and that is what has gotten me to where I am today.
If you could do it all over again, what would you change about your running career in high school?
I would definitely say that the sooner you buy into a system the better because a lot of athletes are doing track as a second sport like I was at first, but they don't realize that if you buy in to the training and the workouts that the sport of track and field can take you so many places. I wish that I had taken the sport more seriously at a younger age because the payoff is 100% worth it and it can be so much bigger and better the sooner you commit.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome during your HS Track career?
For me it would be the injuries. I lost my sophomore outdoor season to a torn hamstring and then after coming off my best season yet in indoor this past year I suffered a freak injury while warming up for a meet; dislocating my knee cap and fracturing my femur and tibia. This injury was devastating to me especially since I had just signed with Virginia Tech and all I could think about was what my future would now look like. But thanks to Gods healing power and great doctors and physical therapist I was able to make a comeback for sectionals and later would go on to get two state medals on a fractured femur and tibia. I knew that I wasn't ready to be done with my high school track career nor was I ready to leave my teammates and coaches yet, so I worked hard and pushed myself every day and did everything the doctors told me to do during those 8 weeks to get to the position where I could go and compete with all I could give for my teammates and coaches.
What will you miss the most?
I'm gonna miss the relationships that I've formed with my coaches and teammates over the years. At one point my teammates and I were complete strangers and now it's like we are siblings with how close we are. We will always have each others backs and we aren't afraid to push each other to make one another better.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Enjoy the time and the memories while they are in front of you and don't focus on the future so much or you will miss the great things and moments that are happening in the present because once you run your last race or you take that final jump you can't go back so make the most of it while you can.
What are your post-highschool or college plans? Who would you like to say thank you to?
I'm going to jump at Virginia Tech University and will major in Graphic Design with a minor in digital marketing. I want to thank my coaches and teammates for pushing me to be the best that I can be, because without them I wouldn't be in the position I'm in today. I would also like to thank the coaching staff at Virginia Tech for giving me the opportunity to compete at the next level. I'm so excited to see what my future holds and to get back to work. Go Hokies!