What was your most memorable race?
My most memorable races were in cross country the 2012 Footlocker South Regional and in track the 2013 FSU Relays 3200m Invite. Both of these allowed me the opportunity to race with some of the best in the country and their presence inspired me to be my best.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
Wow, that’s a tough one. Soutuhwest Florida is so stacked with talent but Carlos Miranda, Buddy Gates, Jose Cartegena, Bobby Ormsby standout as fellow seniors I have gone head to head with for four years week in and week out.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
I try to be the best that I can be and hope that my work ethic / team first focus is something that is contagious in my team and with others that I meet.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
Nothing! It has been a great honor to be a part of team and to be given the opportunities that came to me because of the athletic department at FMHS. I will be a Greenie forever.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
Mango sap my junior year of track and field. It turns out it contains the same toxin as poison ivy and I found out the hard way days before out district meet. Not cool.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss my coach and teammates for sure, but I will also miss the meets that have become a regular part of my life for the last four years.
What advice you would give to younger athletes?
The advice I would give would be to do the work without over thinking it. Trust the training.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
This goes back to the previous question. He taught me to trust the training plan, lift up your team by your actions, and be humble about your results. That goes for athletics as well as academics.
What are your college plans?
I will be attending and running at Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA. I love the school, the city, and the coach.Go Bees!
Who would you like to say thank you to?
Dang, that’s a pretty big list. First and foremost my parents for everything they do. Without them I literally would not be here. My cross country / distance coach Yancey Palmer, track and field coach Richie Rode, coach Kelly Britton, my team especially the seniors, Jason Byrne and the whole Milesplit team, Dr. Bob and the whole Distancepreps team, and the many, many friends that I have made over the years on the field of competition.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I have met a lot of great people over the course of my high school career, too many to mention, and all of them have left me with a little something whether it was advice, or an observed action, or maybe just a encouraging word when I needed one. Coach Bob Braman once told me, ‘Do what you love and be true to yourself’. I think that pretty much sums it up for me and would be the advice that I would give when asked.
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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.
