Artise Lewis was ten years old when he first started running track. He was introduced to the sport by his father Andra Smith as well as Coach Ellis the owner of Florida Elite Track Club. Ellis noticed the youngster running around the field out front front of older athletes. Smith says his dad was going to wait to put him in the sport, but Ellis insisted otherwise.
“He told my dad and I that I run that same year. That was five years ago and I have been running track ever since. I still remember my first race. It was a race in Miami which was put on by Miami Gardens and I finished third. Everyone was amazed at how I ran that race (800) for that to be my first race ever."
Lewis is still putting on a show for fans. He opened up 2015 with a win at the Jimmy Carnes Indoor Meet and has gone undefeated in the 800,1500, and 3000m in middle school competition. The only times he didn't finish with a gold medal were against collegiate fields at the Embry Riddle Classic. He says the season has been going great.
“I have been training ever since toward the end of football season. I was playing football and training for track at the same time. I have been competing versus some high school and college athletes to better myself. I have a great team around me to help me through the long seasons and the long workouts.
The Ocoee Middle School 8th grader works out two to three hours a day with a support team that consists of his father who is one of his coaches, lead coach Adolph Morris, Dr. Allan Sidorsky who maintains him in peak health, his mom Brenetta Smith who is in charge of his nutrition, and sister De'Anna Smith who is always their to cheer him on. Running for Florida Elite the past few years, this year he is running with powerhouse program and defending team champions Miami Gardens Express. It's a change that Lewis says is bitter sweet.
“Coach Ellis of Florida Elite suggested it will be best for me to run full time with MGX this year considering they are one of the top teams in the country and it would benefit me better. I have great respect for Coach Ellis, because he gave away his top athlete to run with another team, because he cared about my benefits in the future."
At the FLYRA Middle School State Championship on Saturday, Lewis will compete in the 800 (11th in 2014) and 1,500m run where he was 8th last season. In addition, the 8th grade mid-distance runner will also line up on MGX's 4x400m relay. He says he obviously wants to finish first, but wouldn't mind setting some records in the process.
“In the 1500, my goal is to finish first and if I have a chance I will go for the record, but you know I am running in a great field of athletes. I especially know that I am going to get challenged by Clayburn Milford of Maclay School and anyone of the athletes in this event will have the same opportunity that I have so I will definitely have to run."
In the two-lap 800m run, he is gunning for Emare Hogan's middle school state meet record of 1:56. Lewis ran 2:02.63 to break the Dr. Phillip's standout runner at the Florida Elite Invitational about four weeks ago. He says if the opportunity for a record is in reach in that event or the relay he is going to aim for it.
“Once again there is a great field of athletes so im sure they are thinking on the same level as myself. On the 4x4 me and my MGX teammates hope to go record if the opportunity is there. As you know MGX is a very good track club with Coach Dee as the head he likes things done a certain way, and that's for each and everyone of his athletes not to be good but to be great."
Lewis is the top seed in both individual events, but says the 1,500m is his favorite. This should be one of the most exciting races on the afternoon as both he and Milford come into the meet separated by hundredths of a second, each having run under 4:20 this season. For Lewis, it will be his last Middle School State Championship and one of the biggest meets so far of his running career. Don't worry though, he says he has been putting in the work.
“On Sunday, I did an hour and a half workout in the sand. We have this workout I like it call running in the valley. It's about a half a mile there and back while being timed four times in a row doing a hundred push ups in between with a five minute rest between each set. After that I do 10 hundred yard sprints and plyometric jump in the sand. I do about 15 reps 20 yards long then we work on turnover by running down a hill 10 reps. After that I head to the gym for stomach work and to do light lifting finishing up with a 30 minute swim"
Who says Sunday is a day of rest? Not for Lewis.See what the rest of the workout week looks like.
"On Monday I have my doctor then I train with Coach Adolph doing 3 300s with a 15 minute rest in between each. After the 300s I did speed ropes and 10 reps of jump ropes for 10 seconds each rep. After doing my outside workout I head to the gym to finish up with a 30 minute swim and a hour of yoga also in between my workout I do 350 pushups."
"On Tuesday I am with my dad again we did 2 1200s, 3 800s, 3 400s, and 2 200s, all for time with a 5 minute break in between each. At the end I usually finish up with 6 strides and I head for the gym for my swim."
"Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I am with Coach Adolph strategizing and doing different training techniques (etc.). This is just one week of a certain form of workouts I have different forms of workouts for each week to help me develop."
He admits he will do whatever it takes to win. The 800m record is his top target and he has plans of hitting times around 1:53 if all is right. Lewis isn't just thinking about this weekend though, or even high school, he already is making plans for college and the future. He plans to attend Stanford University with a double major in business management and engineering, pursue his dreams of being an architect, and if it's the plans a professional runner.
“I would like to enter into the pro circuit and become a Olympic runner for USA. I know I have a long ways to go and I know it may be challenging and it could be hard at times, but God has blessed me with something and I am going to use it to my full potential."
