This is the latest in the series of features honoring the members of our the flrunners.com All-Decade Team. We hope to highlight as many athletes as possible on this list and will hopefully continue to release one per day until the start of cross country regular season.
Career Summary
Football is huge in South Florida and Tim Harris, like many other star track athletes, juggled both seasons. And perhaps at one time he wondered which he'd choose. Going into his senior year he had just concluded a junior track season that had earned him fourth place in the 800 with a PR of 1:53.94 and also a state championship with his Miami Northwestern 4x800 team with a blazing 7:45.92.
Senior year brought him to a new school, Miami Booker T. Washington, and he served as the team's quarterback in the fall. His successful season including 1,381 yard and 15 touchdowns passing and 400 yards and 5 touchdowns rushing probably earned him quite a few calls and letters from interested pigskin coaches. But then came his senior track season.
Early in the year at the Steak n Shake Invitational, then one of the top meets of the year, he nearly equaled his PR from the previous state meet and won that big race in 1:53.98 and took second in the 1600 (4:24.15). A week later he won the Bob Hayes Classic in a new best 1:52.68. But the momentum of his progress was only beginning.
In April came the Mami Gatorade Invitational, which is a college meet that typically hosts a few top high school athletes and usually leads them to national level times. This year was no exception and Harris was that guy. In one meet he went from being a stud in the state to national spotlight. He dropped a 1:50.36, which was third amongst collegians, and vaulted himself to what was then the fifth fastest all-time for a Florida high schooler and the US #1 time as of that date.
With all that new pressure heaped upon him though (and without the benefit of being pushed by college athletes), could he live up to his own new hype? Yes.
A month later at the state meet and Harris put any remaining critics to rest. He won the 3A state championship handily when he smacked down a state meet record 1:49.75. Tim was thought to have a chance to win a national title at adidas Outdoor Nationals (now Nike Outdoor Nationals). However, since Florida's tracks season starts and ends so early compared to the rest of the nation, that five week gap after the state meet is a real peak killer.
Tim didn't participate in any of the "gap meets" between the two races, but shut it down until Nationals. It paid off. He came back even stronger and defeated the strong field by over half a second to win in 1:49.30, which was at the time the third fastest all-time for a Floridian (now 4th).
Having the high school national championship, he set his sights on USATF Junior Nationals the following week. 1:50.94 in the prelims and 1:50.82 in the finals there minted him another gold medal and earned him a trip to Italy to represent the USA at Worlds. Tim ran solid times of 1:50.75 and 1:50.97 in the qualifying rounds there.
After high school, Tim stayed in town to attend and run for the University of Miami. There he became the most successful middle distance runner in school history, setting school records in the indoor 800, outdoor 800, and outdoor 1500. He was All-American many times over. Since completing his athletic elligibility in 2008, he is now an assistant coach at UM and is still competing.
Interview
When you reflect back on your high school career what are you most proud of?
When I think back to high school, I don't think there is any moment that sticks out more than crossing the finish line in the 800 at the Class 3A State meet my senior year. For me to look at the scoreboard and see that I had broken the state meet record that so many other great half milers in our state had gone for, it was an amazing feeling.
Who or what things made the biggest impacts on your success?
First, without Jesus Christ nothing I've done would've been possible. But both my parents did a great job of training me and keeping me humbled in all phases of life. Also competing under Coach Jesse Holt for the Miami Northwest Express Track Club has played a huge role of getting me started with track & field and being apart of his club has only helped my career.
Who were some of the athletes you remember that you loved competing against?
I've competed against a number of great athletes but none were more exciting to race against than guys like Paul Cross, Kevin Hicks, Ryan Snitker, and Stephan Smith. All of those guys helped me to better my races thorughout my high school career.
Besides a particular athletic accomplishment, what are some of your best memories from high school athletics?
Being able to travel to Grosseto, Italy in my senior year as part of the U.S. Junior National team will be something that always sticks with me. We had to oppurtunity to travel outside of the country to compete and meet some great people. The experience was unbelievable.
Catch us up on where you are today and your career at Miami and beyond.
I was fortunate enough to have had a pretty good career at the University of Miami. Being a 4 time All-American and 6 time ACC Champion in the 800 was all I could ask for. I would have loved to reach my biggest of goal of winning an NCAA Title but that wasn't in the cards. I've since graduated from the University of Miami and now still training under my college coach, Mike Ward. I'm working to be one of the best in the United States and after that, the world.. I've also began my coaching career as I'm now coaching football and track at my alma mater Booker T. Washington Sr. High.
What advice would you give to today's high school athletes?
I had a wonderful time competing in the state of Florida. The level of competition I've faced in our state has gotten me ready for numerous competitions following high school. Enjoy it all now because it all goes by fast but relish every moment of your time in high school. Run fast and continue to represent us well!