(Photo by Jeremy Danzie)
Miami Columbus senior Humberto Freire started running track his freshman year after his English teacher/coach asked him to join the team. It wasn't just that day, but everyday for weeks. His love for running grew and he joined the cross country team the following year. As a 9th grader Freire's times were around 4:40 in the 1,600, 2:00 for the 800, and 17:30 for 5k. He remembers his very first cross country race.
"My first cross country race was a JV race at Larry and Penny in Miami (Ferguson Falcons Invitational). I started in the back and slowly caught everyone winning the race."
His time was 18:37.53. Three years later he is coming off his first ever 4A state championship in track. Freire surprised most people when he emerged victorious in the 800m, 1:53.03, the fifth fastest time of anyone in the state. With a strong speed background, he has been building the cross country base, and says he is rearing to go.
Summer training has been going well. We just got back from our Hell Week in Tallahassee and everyone is looking good. Workouts are not fun, but I prefer any speed workout over a long run."
As a junior, Freire was 21st at the state meet and ran a personal best of 16:21.07 on the ARP course at the FSU Invitational/Pre-State, a course he calls his favorite. He is looking forward to the Spanish River Invitational, flrunners.com Invitational and GMAC Championships. The senior wants nothing more to win a team title in 2015 and says his favorite thing about the sport is grinding it out every time he toes the line.
I love the competition. Knowing that everyone is doing everything they can to beat you, that drives me to be the best."