Sunlake senior Cason Meyer was one of the better #3 runners in the state this past cross country season with a 16:09 5K best and consistently running in the low to mid-16-minute range for one of the top cross country squads in the state.
Meyer kept that momentum going into the track season recording personal bests across the board at 800 meters in 2:00, 1600 meters in 4:24, and 3200 meters in 9:34 making big strides from his junior year. His performances catapulted him into an opportunity to run at the next level for the University of South Florida in the fall.
Below are his answers from our Salute to Seniors series Q&A as a final farewell to all of our class of 2022 Florida high school track & field athletes. If like to contribute your own, more details can be found here.
Salute to Seniors: Cason Meyer (Sunlake)
What was your most memorable race/throw/jump/vault/moment?
2020 State Championship cross country race where we placed 2nd, we came in ranked low and surprised everyone.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
My biggest competitors were my teammates Colby Robbins, Alex Pena, and Cade Whitfield as well as our boy Zack Poekart from Cypress Creek who was at every single one of our races.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
I believe my greatest accomplishment was that I always kept pushing my boundaries, setting new pr's and bigger goals.
Who would you consider your biggest role model over your four years competing?
I can't name just one of my biggest role models, I looked up to all of the sunlake runners older than me and saw them achieving success and making it to the college level. I wanted to have that kind of success too.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running or field career in high school?
If I could do it all over again I would have listened to my coach about doing the little things right. Skipping core sometimes was probably not a good idea Lol.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome? How did you overcome them?
The most difficult obstacles I had to overcome were setbacks, injuries and sickness. They are unexpected and really annoying, but I learned to roll with the punches and become stronger.
What will you miss the most?
I'm gonna miss my teammates the most. For the past 3-4 years we have spent hours together every day at practice ripping countless long runs and workouts together.
What advice would you give to younger athletes?
Don't stress, and always listen to your coach. Enjoy your time with your teammates, and success will come.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
As far as performance goes, I would be nowhere without Coach Reeves. I've done every run and workout he has ever prescribed, and I improved year after year. For my overall life goals, Coach Reeves has really given me a love for running and the process behind it. I aspire to be like him, a senior citizen who still loves to crush long runs.
What are your post-high school or college plans?
In the fall I will be a University of South Florida Bull! I can't wait to continue setting bigger goals and run with my new teammates at the next level.
Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?
I would like to say thank you to my parents for the incredible support, my Coach for always pushing me to be a better version of myself, my teammates for making all of the miles more fun, and all of the friends i've met along the way. Thank you.
