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
Portions of this article taken from a feature story by Kevin Beck first published on flrunners.com on November 4, 2004...
Justin Harbor got his first introduction to the sport in his third-grade gym class. "The gym teacher used to have us run two laps around a pair of soccer fields," says the lanky athlete. "I used to race these two other kids, and the teacher said I should enter a 5K. So I did -- it was a Jingle Bell Run, I think. But when you're that age, it's like, 'when is this ever going to end?'"
As a freshman at DeLand High School, his career got off to a rocky start, as a tibial stress fracture knocked him out for the majority of the cross country season. The next spring, he ran the frosh mile at the Golden South Invite and also at the adidas Outdoor Nationals in Raleigh, NC, notching respectable 4:34s in each.
As a sophomore, Harbor, now at Flagler Palm Coast and training under nationally renowned coach Peter Hopfe, was healthy and ready to make an impact. It didn't take long. He easily won the Five-Star Conference Freshman-Sophomore Championship in DeLand, then took eighth at the flrunners.com Invitational IV in 15:45 (where he was the top sophomore). He led FPC to easy team victories at conference championship meet (15:49) and at the 3A Region 2 Meet, in which FPC's lead foursome ran as one until the final strides. At 3A States, Harbor was fifth in 15:45 and second on the runner-up (to Chiles) FPC squad. Harbor strode away with the 12th-fastest boys' time of the day.
Two weeks later, Harbor made perhaps his greatest impact of the fall of 2003 with a 9:18 3200m at the Florida Milers Club All-Comers Meet in Gainesville. This run was overshadowed by the 8:51 thrown down by Ryan Deak, returning to his former home state from Colorado for a time trial, but was still a breakthrough. However, he slipped to 137th (16:31) at the Foot Locker Regionals a week later. "I could have just run the sophomore race there (at Footlocker)," he notes. "But I wanted to get the experience of running in the seeded race."
His sophomore track season Harbor opened by shredding the field by 8 seconds at the Lyman Classic in the 1600m (4:26 PR); later in the day, he came back to win the 3200m as well. He then ran 9:27.8 for two miles (equivalent to a 9:24.4 3200m) at the Florida Relays, earning fourth. He easily swept both the 1600m and the 3200m at the 4A District 2 Meet, then was edged out by Hoover in a great 1600m dual (4:16 for each) at the 4A Region 1 Championships, coming back to grab the win in the 3200m (9:37). At 3A States, Harbor capped off his season by taking 3th in the 1600m in 4:21.5 and winning the 3200m 9:31.3.
In anticipation of a breakout junior cross country season, Harbor laid down a the fondation by logging a slew of base miles, and the work paid huge dividends. Harbor won the flrunners.com Invite V, pulling away from Criscione, Hoover (whom he had never beaten in cross-country) and others with an extended kick in the final 1200 meter. He went undefeated in Florida that cross country season, with the exception of a 35-second loss to Criscione at the Buchholz Bobcat Invite, where he purposely went out recklessly (4:38 at the mile) so as to mimic Foot Locker-type conditions. During the postseason he romped to wins in the conference, 3A District 3, and 3A Region 2 meets, with FPC also triumphing in all three easily.
During a 3200 meter time trial on the track in October versus collegiate athletes Sam Vazquez (FPC alumni, on the All-Decade Team) and Tyrone Bell (Ridgeview HS and Florida Southern College great) he tore it up and broke the 9-minute barrier. This gave him a lot of confidence going into the state meet, as well as his ultimate goal to peak for Footlocker South. At the state meet he earned his first state championship with a stunning 15:19 performance under the lights at Ed Radice. And then came his season the pinnacle meet of his season and ultimate goal, Footlocker South, where he got the job done. He broke the 15-minute barrier going 14:57 on the swift McAlpine Park course. More importantantly he took third place and qualified for his first trip to Footlocker Nationals.
That spring he had a good track season, but struggled in the big races. At the Florida Relays he had a respectable showing, taking third place in the mile (4:18.77). He traveled to California for the Arcadia Invitational, but was relatively flat with a 9:26 3200 showing. His best showing of the year was a 4:12.13 at the regional meet that gave him the #3 state ranking in the event. The next week though at the state meet, only competing in the 1600 individually, he ran a meager 4:24.06--for third place in the 4A. He came back with a 9:14 two mile a month later at Nike Outdoors, but the 15th place finish was hardly redemption for the high expectations he once had for the season. Good thing he had another year!
His senior cross country season was another one for the ages. He spent a lot of time on the road that season, seeking out the best the country could throw at him. He started off by winning the Carrollton Invitational in Georgia (15:43.81) and then took 7th place (15:41) against some of the best in the country.
The following week at the flrunners.com Invitational and it was certainly a memorable one. It's not so much that he won back-to-back flrunners.com Invitational titles or even his time. It was how he ran this race. One word: hardcore. This was one of the most gutsy races that most of us have ever witnessed. The flrunners.com Invitational, in its 6th year and serving as the Prestate meet, took place on the brand new Little Everglades course. This was the first time anyone had ever run there and it would test many that day under its hot sun and long, slow, unforgiving hill that runners battle three times, including up to the finish. Justin lead the race virtually from the gun against the state's best field, fighting off advances from studs like James Osbourne, Kyle Cooke, Jon Blocker, Alex Wills, and Michael Anderson.
Coming out of the infield Harbor worked hard to gain separation from James Osbourne and coming up the final hill he got some breathing room. But oh that final hill! That notorious and difficult long hill toward the finish at Little Everglades! It has claimed many-a-victim over the years and we've seen a number of race leaders get eaten up and passed in a woozy, wobbly last 150 meters over the years. That was't going to happen to Justin... one of the most determined runners in Florida history. Despite being utterly dead, he finished. Just barely. He ran his legs out, pushing his body to the max. After crossing the finish line, he made it not another step. He fell to the ground, body limp in exhaustion. He had done it though. He finished. His time of 15:26 was 8 seconds better than James Osbourne could muster. Under those hot conditions, on a brand new and challenging course, that race was an eye-opener and if we didn't already know it we learned this kid is fierce!
And then came perhaps the highlight of his career--at least in regards to national prestige. The Manhattan Invitational is the largest cross country race in the country and its tradition goes back for many many decades. You compete on this 2.5 mile course at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City not only against your competitors, but against the ghosts of the past. On a windy, rainy, nasty day, Harbor's time of 12:34.5 not only one his race but was the fastest time out of any of the races making him the overall champion. In case you're wondering there are over 20 boys races on that single day and around 15,000 athletes in total. (photos)
Harbor continued in that manner winning his conference, district, and regional meets. And then came the state meet. If you remember back, this was the year that the state meet course was measured incorrectly and was about 45 seconds long by most estimates. Harbor paced his race perfectly, having ran that 15:26 earlier at the flrunners.com/Prestate meet he knew the course, but did not anticipate the extra length. He shook it off though and challenged up the hill, he finished with a time of 15:59 and another state championship--only Michael Anderson had a faster time on the day (and his 15:53 had the benefit of being early morning's cooler conditions). Behind his leaderships, Flagler Palm Coast also stepped up it up and FPC took home the team championship.
A week after the state meet, Harbor let his personality show through. He is confident and playful and wanted to have fun with his college signing. There was a lot of hype on who the much-recruited prospect would choose. He laid out on the table hats from his well-known final choices: Florida State, Florida, Oklahoma State, Oregon, and Tennessee. Justin took off his jacket revealing an FSU shirt... then he shook his head... took off his shirt to reveal an Oregon Ducks shirt underneath, his real choice. (Ironically, after first attending Oregon, he came back home and is currently a Seminole) (Photos and story)
The next week, he suffered his only loss to a Floridian that season. Steven Bell and Sean Blaney defeat the perhaps still exhausted Justin Harbor, who finished in third place in 15:52. Justin came back the next week though and qualified for his second trip to Footlocker Nationals by finishing in 7th place (15:01) at Footlocker South. Harbor struggled with the hills in San Diego's Balboa Park and was unable to finish the race at Footlocker Nationals. After the race, Justin was interviewed by MileSplit reporter Don Rich who asked about what it takes to make Nationals twice.
He said, "Dude, work hard. There is nothing you can take to get here. Nobody you can know to get here. It's legit. You go to a regional, finish in the top, and you come. The biggest thing for me is my parents. They have been really good role models. If you want to get here, you can't just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk."
Sadly, just over a month later his strength and role model died. His father, Randy Harbor, suffered a heart attack and passed away on January 20, 2006 before the start of his senior track season.
Knowing it is what he would have wanted, Justin pushed on for his father and dedicated his season to his memory. Justin had received a coveted invitation to compete in the Boston Indoor Games and made the trip just a week after his father's passing. He ran a 1600 equivalent of 4:11.21 indoors--the fastest time he'd ever run as a prep athlete. Inspired much? Justin put in another indoor meet that season, finishing in second place with a time of 4:14.18 at Nike Indoor Nationals in Maryland.
Justin was not prolific his senior season--competing only in a few outdoor meets--but he got the job done when it mattered. He focused on the short suff that year and it paid off. He won two state championships in the 800 and 1600 with times of 1:55.10 (PR) and 4:15.22, respectively. What a great career!
Personal Bests: 14:57 (XC, 5K), 8:59 (3200), 4:12.68 (Indoor Mile, 4:11 1600 equivalent), 1:55.10 (800).
Interview
Justin, congratulations for making the All-Decade team.
Thanks a lot Jason it’s an honor to be on the list. My high school years wouldn’t be complete without the flrunners Invites. Two titles I’ll never forget.
When you reflect back on your high school career what are you most proud of?
There are many things when I look back running related and not that make me really proud of my high school days. There were many race opportunities in my day and plenty of great competitors. I guess what makes me the most proud is the fact that I took advantage of traveling not only in the state of Florida, but all over the U.S. to compete. If I wasn’t racing the state’s top athletes, I was on a plane to New York, California, North Carolina, or Boston to square off against the nation’s best. I have won many state titles from the 800 meters all the way to cross country, but I would have to say the most memorable accomplishment was the Manhattan Invite at Van Cortland Park where I took the win over all. The race is like Flrunners, but on steroids. It has 15,000 competitors and multiple flights of races and is only a 2 mile cross country race on a challenging course. The fastest time of the day wins. Many greats have ran and won this race and makes me feel accomplished to be able to have my name next to theirs on the winners table, plus I got to venture all over New York with my teammates and make memories that will stay with me forever. Your teammates are your second family going through high school, and anytime I got to travel with them it made the trip even better.
Who or what things made the biggest impacts on your success?
First and foremost you got to be right with the big guy upstairs. I have been blessed to have coaches, friends, and family support me throughout my running career (Platnum71). Coaching wise I had two of the best coaches in the state and at one point had them at the same time. Peter Hopfe, now coach of Embry-Riddle, was a distance and middle distance guru. He always knew how hard to push me and what made me thrive. Not only was he a great coach, but a good mentor to me as I was growing into a young man. David Halliday took over as my coach my last year and really opened up my miler ability. He was great at speed play and getting me to unlock my middle distance ability. Coach Halliday got an even harder situation, because he was there trying to coach me after my father passed away during the indoor season of my senior year. He handled the challenge with what appeared to be ease, never pushing me to race right after, but being a great motivator and guiding me through that tough time and we still prevailed to get some fast Pr’s that year. Nobody could one up my dad though, always at every meet he could possibly make, providing me with what I needed to compete and even up-rooting the family to move to Flagler. He believed in me 100% even when I was at my lowest of lows. My parents were great and really helped me achieve many of my goals.
Who were some of the athletes you remember that you loved competing against?
Guys from that period were very talented and competitive. A few guys that vividly stick out in my mind would be Jeremy Criscione, Andy Biladeau, Justin Taylor, Coleman Hoover, and Tim Mcleod which a few of them made the All-decade team as well. Without good competitors racing would not be what it is. I remember many battles against Jeremy where it came down to the line. He was extremely tough and never gave up. Same goes for Justin when he came sprinting by Andy and I at Florida relays and nabbed the win literally at the very last second. Hoover had me on my toes all through my sophomore year when it came to the mile. I wouldn’t be the runner I am today if it wasn’t for racing against these guys. I feel like we all had the same mentality…..Go big or go home.
Besides a particular athletic accomplishment, what are some of your best memories from high school athletics?
Ok my mom would be upset if I didn’t say this one, but one of them would have to be my senior year where I was voted Prom King. I totally had no idea and one day I was walking around school and people kept walking up to me saying they voted for me, I was confused but just rolled with it, I had no idea what they were talking about. So when I was at prom and they announced it I was totally shocked, but really stoked that I was voted my schools prom king no matter how cool I tried to play it, I was a giddy little school girl on the inside. One other good memory would be that I got put in football class. It was me and fifty huge football guys, Coach Allen thought it would do me good to have some extra time in the day to train and lift. When I would show up to class, he would look at me and say “Don’t have something you could be doing?” Basically he put me in the class not to be in class if that makes sense. So every day I would show up and then he would point me out of the locker room to go for a run.
What are you up to now and how are things going at FSU?
Things now are good and getting better with every week of training that goes by. Its summer session now so I am spending my days in classes and escaping to the beach every chance I can to surf before the season starts. I had a rough first two years, but last year was a major step in the right direction. I pr’d in the 8k during cross country and then the 1500, mile, 3k, and 5k during the indoor and outdoor seasons. I placed 5th in the mile and scored at the ACC Indoor championships and then placed 5th again outdoors in the 1500 and 8th in the 5k at ACC’s scoring again. We won both team titles and I felt proud that I am contributing now and still improving, next stop……nationals.
What advice would you give to today's high school athletes?
My best advice for high school athletes right now would be to have fun and train hard. I have learned many things from my past experiences and the most important thing is if you’re not having fun or still have the love of running, you will not succeed at the championship level. Never give up and never count yourself out. There are so many variables with our sport and you will be slapped in the face a few times. This is where the champions are separated from the rest, it’s what you do when you get pulled down to pull yourself back up that makes a champion.
It’s the countless hours you spend on the roads or the trails that make you a champion. The sacrifices you make in order to not miss a workout or a run even if its summer time or a vacation that makes a champion. The mentality of a champ is not one of winning all the time, but of progress. As long as you’re moving forward and pushing your body to new levels you will be on your way to success.