What was your most memorable race?
My most memorable race was the 4x800 at districts my junior year. We weren’t seeded in the top four, but we rallied as a team to come in 3rd place with a time of 8:18 and advanced to regionals. It was extremely exciting because it was three of our first times advancing to regionals.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
I would say my biggest competition have been my teammates. Especially Jeremy Abreu and Kyle Griffey. Those two guys matured with me throughout our running careers and pushed me harder than anyone during races and workouts. Also, Ryan Aponte from St. Augustine High School has provided some intense competition for me in the 800 and 1600 meter races.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment was advancing to regionals with my team in cross country this past season. We knew it was a big race and for five of the top seven, it was our last chance. I finished All-District but that didn’t matter. We needed to advance as a team. We ended up coming in 4th so we made it to the next level of competition! It was my greatest accomplishment because we were able to come together as a team and do something that we failed to do the previous year. It was great to have the four other guys that had been with me since freshmen year finally achieve one of our goals.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
I really wouldn’t change anything. I was blessed to have a pretty successful four years of running. The one thing I would change however is my 5k PR. I finished with a final PR of 17:00.30. Being .31 seconds from the 16’s is painful and I think about it all the time. I would have definitely pushed harder for that extra .31 seconds so I could say that I broke 17 minutes in the 5k.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
The most difficult obstacle for any runner is staying motivated. Over summer, winter, and spring break it is hard to run. It’s very tough to get yourself to get up early and go out in the heat or cold to do a run. I also had pneumonia during this track season so that was a definite obstacle that I had to push through. I wanted to quit running after my freshmen year but my friend Alek convinced me to stick with it, and I will always be grateful to him for that.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss the camaraderie and the thrill. Cross country and track are sports where you make friends. I’ve made lifelong friends through these sports and I’ll miss the feeling of looking forward to going out and running with the guys after a long day at school. I will also miss the thrill of the race. Winning a race or breaking a new PR are by far two of the most thrilling experiences one can achieve. I’ll miss the feeling of placing high with the team in relays and just the accomplished feeling that you get after completing a workout or race.
What advice you would give to younger athletes?
If you have a dream, go after it. The only person that can stop you from doing something is yourself. Never stop working for your goals, and if you give everything you’ve got, the breakout races and PR’s will come.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
My coach, Coach Rivera, is an incredible individual. He has taught me so much about running and life. I would not be the runner or the person I am today if it wasn’t for Coach Rivera’s influence and hard work. It takes someone special to take time out their day to help teenagers run fast. He has a wife and three kids whom he treats with the up-most respect and you’ll never hear Coach Rivera say anything negative about his runners. He’s always positive and makes running fun! I said fun, not easy. He’s been a coach, a role-model, and a friend, and I strive to be like Coach Rivera one day.
What are your college plans?
I will be attending the University of North Florida and I hope to either run on the team as a walk-on or do some sort of club running at the school.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I’d like to thank God, my parents, Coach Rivera, Coach Blue, my Freshmen 5 teammates (Alek Abate, Jeremy Abreu, Luis Bueneventura, Kyle Griffey), all my teammates, my older brother Brad, Alyssa, Sam, and the Nease girls team, and everyone that has cheered for Nease XC and Track along the way!
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Just a shout out to the younger guys on the Nease team I know that they will do amazing things and although I never ran in a state meet, I know that they will work like maniacs to get there. I have no doubt that the Nease guys team will be the team to beat the next few years. Always remember: winning gets you medals, but giving 110% day in, and day out, makes you a champion. Congrats to the class of 2013!
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Want to be featured in our Salute To Seniors series? Drop me a line: TGrasley@milesplit.com and answer the questions above! Congratulations to the class of 2013 on all their hard work and success.