Ocala Vanguard freshman Joey Fitzpatrick came into high school highly touted after a very impressive middle school career. Fitzpatrick has lived up to those expectations this fall finishing third or better in his first three meets. His personal best of 15:54.80 at the Spikes & Spurs Classic is the fastest freshman time in the state and currently ranks him eighth nationally for the class of 2018. Find out more about this Hoka One One Future Star.
Interview with Ocala Vanguard (FL) freshman Joey Fitzpatrick
How did you get started in the sport?
My brother Boston was having fun and success so I dcided to start running in fourth grade.
Do you remember your first meet?
My first meet was a cross country invitational in Los Angeles, California.
You had huge success in middle school. Talk about your 8th grade year in particular and how that really made you ready for high school.
My final year in middle school was beyond my expectations with four state titles (outdoor triple of 800,1500, and 3,000m) and a national cross country championship. I knew it was time to train and prepare for the next level.
At that state meet, you ran 2:05.22 for 800m, set a new PR and US#1 middle school time of 4:19.09, and then blasted a 20 second personal best of 9:21.27 in the 3,000m to win by seven seconds. What was that day like for you?
It was definitely my career highlight. I was very fortunate to win the three state track championships. Sometimes you just get fortunate and that day I had a whole lot of fortune!
Did you feel pressure coming into high school, not just being one of the top incoming freshman in the state, but in the country?
Did you feel pressure coming into high school, not just being one of the top incoming freshman in the state, but in the country?
I had a lot of pressure in middle school because of the goals I set. Coming into high school i just wanted to train consistent and see where it would take me.
What was your summer training like?
What was your summer training like?
This summer i put in about 400 miles.
First meet of the season at the Spikes and Spurs Classic you get third in 15:54.80. What was the game plan for that race were you surprised at the time so early on?
First meet of the season at the Spikes and Spurs Classic you get third in 15:54.80. What was the game plan for that race were you surprised at the time so early on?
I was hoping to break 16 minutes. I was very happy to get that done early in the season.
A lot of people thought that course might be short, but you proved it was the real deal the next week running 16:01.67 at Florida Horse Park Invitational. That was a gutsy performance with state 800m champion Avery Bartlett's come back and being able to hold him off at the line. What were those last 100m like and what did it mean to come away with the win?
There was a lot of screaming! I knew Avery was coming like a freight train. I was lucky to win.
You've finished in the top three in your first three meet. How would you assess your season so far?
The season is going great i have awesome teammates, awesome coaches, and it feels like we're on a roll.
What are the goals for the rest of the year?
I'm not trying to get to far ahead of myself, just trying to run one race at a time. I'm hoping my brother Boston and I get to run state together since he is a senior.
What do you love most about running?
I like to get tan on long runs, I can eat all the food i want without worrying about gaining weight, bus rides with teammates, and most of all I love the competition.
