Deak to Compete for a Colorado High School

The definition of a hill workout seems to change depending on your zip code. A bridge is just a bridge to most people, but to a coach in Miami it's an opportunity! A dirt mound at a construction site might be insignificant to the populous, but in an at sea level community like Sebring we see a chance to acclimate our legs to elevation.

Folks in Tallahassee, on the other hand, now they have a significant advantage. They have hills! At least if you are a native Floridian you think so.

The Deak family did not let their skewed Florida perception of elevation fool them. They wanted to give their son Ryan, who ran 8:57.74 3200 and 4:05.84 1600 equivalents this spring, every opportunity to live out his dream: to run for the fabled University of Colorado Buffaloes.

The story has become pretty well known by now since we broke the news in mid-March (see our article "Rocky Mountain Ryan"), so we will spare retelling the tale. However, there has been a significant revelation. Contradicting original plans, Ryan announced to flrunners.com that he will be going out for his high school team in Colorado.

"I didn't really know what school I was going to go to at first," Deak said, "I thought I might go to Fairview High School in Boulder." It was no doubt going to be difficult on the high school junior, moving thousands of miles from his Florida home, getting used to high altitude training, and not knowing anyone at all. But one night during a conversation with his parents, he realized something: he DID have a couple friends in the Rockies!

"One night I had the idea...(to) call Megan and Katelyn to ask them a few questions about (their) school," Ryan explains, "I got to know the name Smoky Hill, because at Footlocker Nationals I met Megan and Katelyn Kaltenbach, who attend the school."

For anyone who does not follow the national cross country scene, Smoky Hill has a tremendous national reputation--especially for their girls team. Lead by the amazingly talented Kaltenbach sisters, they were ranked 5th in the nation last year by Harrier Magazine. Their boys team is no slouch either; they were the fifth best team in Colorado last year and were anchored by now graduated Brent Vaughn.

"(After talking to them) I knew I was going to attend the high school, but I wasn't sure if I was going to run for the (team)." But that night he couldn't seem to rid the thought of being part of a team again out of his head. "As I laid in bed that night," the 17 year old said, "I thought about how fun it was to be on a team and travel with the guys and just being part of a team is fun because you get to help the team out."

After a conversation with Coach Greg Weich Ryan's mind was made up, "Greg said he would be glad to have me... So, I told my parents the next morning... and that was that."

The family is now living in Aurora, Colorado. Ryan is enjoying his new environment and adjusting to the altitude--more difficult than most realize, not just because of the mountains themselves, but more so due to the oxygen-depleted air. "I knew I had to get used to (it) before college... I go up to Boulder every weekend to run there. It is a beautiful place. Every day I run here, I am more relieved of my decision!"

Even though he is no longer technically a Florida athlete, we'll be watching Ryan this fall and will surely report on his progress. So far he has one race in Colorado under his belt, he used Boulder's Sunrise Stampede 10K as "low intensity, long tempo" run last weekend. Ryan finished in 33:34 for 23rd place against international competition. As his lungs expand to accommodate the thin air, Ryan will be in excellent position to excel on the national scene this cross country season.

Ryan also wanted us to extend his thanks and love for everyone back in the Sunshine State. "I do miss all my Maclay friends and the rest of my friend's down south in Miami. I wish everyone (in Florida) the best of luck in the future."

Good luck to you, Ryan!