What a difference 6 months can make in the life of a distance runner. A prime example is with Chris Trebilcock, a senior at Santa Fe High in Alachua. Chris is presently ranked 3rd in the Flrunners.com 1600m rankings (as of 29 March 07), but to most followers of distance in the State, Chris is a relatively new elite distance runner who has burst onto the running scene as of late due to a change in focus and training. Chris placed 9th in the 1600 at the 2006 FHSAA State Track and Field Meet with a time of 4:34:40.
During the Cross-Country season of his senior year, he ran a PR of 6:22 at the Regional meet and then placed 6th at the State meet running 16:49. He has since lowered his 1600 time to 4:21.90 at the Alachua County Meet on March 24th, finishing second to PK Yonge stand-out Michael Anderson. His 3200 PR was also set at the Alachua County meet where he finished second again to Michael Anderson running 9:59.97.
I had a chance to catch up with Chris prior to the 40th Bradford Invitational held in Starke, Florida on March 30th where he plans on running the 800 and the 1600 with an eye on setting PR's in both.
Q: Chris, congratulations on a great season so far. A lot of folks have noticed the great strides you have made in the past several onths. First, can you take us back to this past Cross-Country season and tell us how it unfolded or you?
A: Well, my Cross Country season was a pretty bumpy one. At the start of my training I was going through a lot of personal problems and that was playing on my mind at that time. So instead of dwelling on those problems, I devoted myself to running and pushing myself as hard as I could. Through the summer I ran nonstop, only taking breaks for an occasional road race here and there. When the high school season started though I had to break apart from my new coach and found myself
in the coaching position. My high school is not known for great runners. The last great male runner was Josh Jett, my former distance coach. He coached me my Freshmen through Junior year, and even helped me reach a short-term goal of making it to State in the 1600 last year.
Unfortunately, he had to leave coaching before my Senior year. It felt like he left the team basically in my hands. So every day I would go out and try and give the team the best workouts I could find for them to do. The next difficulty arose at the UF Invite Cross Country meet, where I had my worse placing of the season (19th). That race affected me for too long, and I let another race slip through my grasp due to
the doubts in my head from the UF meet. But with districts coming, I finally put that all behind me and pushed ahead to get third at districts. In the next race, I claimed second, just 10 seconds behind the winner (Ben Martucci, The future 2a runner up). At state, my goal was to get a medal. The hot and hilly course took its toll on everyone, but I held on for sixth place. So, in the end, my Senior year in Cross Country was great. I reached all my pre-season goals: to medal at state, break 16:30 and, most importantly, to lead my team to regionals for the second time in a row.
Q: The track season started with you running indoors at the Diet Pepsi Gator Invitational in Gainesville where you placed 6th, behind some notables such as Joseph Franklin. How did you feel after that experience? Was that the first indoor meet you competed in?
A: That meet opened my eyes. I went out and ran the fastest mile of my life, but I only finished 6th. In some ways I was hurt: How could I rain that much and get 6th? But my coach reminded me that this race had been against some great runners, and it was early in the season. That was my first indoor race, and it was very weird for me. The 200 splits really got me confused and seemed to rob me of my kick somehow. So I left the indoor race knowing I had more work to do. But it was a great honor to run with them, and now I know what I need to do to compete with them.
Q: Now, you're being coached by Courtney Chambers who ran for one of the
all time Florida greats, David Bowden at Boyd Anderson. Coach Chambers also competed for the University of Florida. There seems to be a lot of synergy with that relationship. Could you describe the relationship between the two of you.
A: There is so much I could say about Courtney I do not even know there
to begin. I guess the first thing to say is that I am beyond grateful for everything he has done for me. For the hours he has coached me and the weekends he woke up early to meet me at the UF Track to watch me run some broken 800's. In my earlier years, I liked coaches who would let me slide with things like slowing down my pace or cutting out some of the workout. But with Coach Courtney I feel like I always need to do my best even though, technically, he's not my coach. That is one reason I think our relationship works well. I trust his advice and I know it ill make me better. He is also a great guy just to hang out with and has a crazy sense of humor.
Q: Besides your dad and Coach Chambers, who inspires you?
A: Of course, you have the obvious ones like Jim Ryun, Alan Webb and the ever famous Steve Prefontaine. But over the years, my competitors have become my inspirations from Jeremy Criscione, Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Kellam Bartley, and, of course, the Harris and Anderson brothers. All have inspired me in different ways.
Q: You seem to excel in the 1600. Is that your favorite distance or is it just working out that way?
A: The mile is definitely where my heart lies. That comes from my freshmen year when Santa Fe had runners who could beat me in the 800, plus we had a guy who ran the two mile well. So, the mile was all mine, and over the years I have worked on tactics for it. This year is my first time in the two mile, and in all three times I have raced it I have been really disappointed because I haven't found my groove. But, no worries, I will.
Q: What are your remaining goals for the rest of the season?
A: In my freshmen year my long-term goal for high school was to break 4:30 in the 1600. (The school record, held by Josh Jett). My goal now is to get down into the low teens. With my AA, I will be running against Connor Revord and Joe Franklin, so to win State, I will need to run that fast. In the 3200, I want to run sub-9:30. In the 800, my goal is to strongly break 2 minutes. That may seem really simple to you and even to me but the two-minute mark is something that, in my freshmen year, I would never have believed I could achieve. My coach wants me to hit 1:56, and I believe that's possible.
Q: Have you thought about running in college and if so, what schools are you interested in attending?
A: Yes I do plan on running in college. It is just a matter of which college. I have thought about every major and some smaller colleges in the state. I have thought some about going out of state, and I would be open to it. I have grown up on the outskirts of Gainesville and ave always seen myself as a Gator. And I admire a lot of the current UF runners as well as the guys who will be going there next year. With a group like that I could see myself going far.
Q: So far, who has been knocking at the door?
A: Well, I've heard from Webber and Nova Southeast, and I plan to visit them both. They both seem to have good programs and strong teams. And there are some other schools I'm interested in. But, there is this one school . . . and my girlfriend said
perfectly what I am feeling: "Your situation is like a pregnant woman. They don't go out and tell everyone they are pregnant the first 2 months they find out. Simply because you never want to have to explain what happened if something goes wrong." So there is a school I really want to go to, and we will see how that works out. I will let you know as soon as I am certain.
Q: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
A: I am not sure. I ask myself that a lot. Running for sure, but in what form I don't know. A big dream of mine is to coach when I get older. But I am not sure where higher education is going to take me.
Chris, congratulations again on a great season so far and all the best in the future.
Flrunners Stat Page https://www.milesplit.com/athletes/59733
Stats: ? 400-49( 4 By 4 Split)
800 (2:00.5)
1600 (4:21)
3200 ( 9:59)
5k (16:22)
Born: November 18, 1988
Height: 5'11
Weight: 137