What was your most memorable race/moment?
My most memorable race was definitely the 1600 meter racewalk in this years PVC Large School Championship. Looking at the times of the other racers, I didn't think I stood a chance. My friends and coaches kept telling me that it was the last race of my life. That really got into my head and helped me do as well as I did.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
My greatest competition has always been Caribou High School. Their team always has a lot of good racewalkers, and they've always pushed me to my limits.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment was definitely getting 4th place in PVC's this year when I was seeded 8th. The feeling was unbelievable.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
I would definitely run cross country all four years. This was the first year I ran it, and my times dropped dramatically. It really helped with my cardio and lower body strength. I would also train harder. I've always been sort of lazy, and I wish I had changed that sooner.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
Easily the most difficult obstacle was the criticism. A lot of people make fun of me for doing racewalk. They say "it isn't a real event" or(and I'm going to rephrase) "only idiots racewalk". Things like that get into your head and bounce around all season. The only way that I overcame it was realizing that racewalking has always been a part of my life. I've been doing it since I was 7 in rec track, and I wasn't going to stop just because people were making fun of me.
What will you miss the most?
I'll definitely miss belonging to a team. I'll also miss seeing my track friends from other schools at meets.
What advice you would give to younger athletes?
Train. Hard. Without training, you're not going to succeed. You need to train. And you need to be dedicated. If you don't go to practice everyday, you won't reach your full potential.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
My coaches always supported me, no matter what. They'd give me the encouragement I needed before and after every race.
What are your college plans?
This fall I will start the Conservation Law Enforcement program at Beal College. Unfortunately, Beal does not have athletics, because I would like to continue competing in track.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I want to say thank you to all of my coaches. Coach Hoch has always been there for me, from football freshman year, to PVC's this year. Coach Kash started coaching last year, and has been one of the biggest reasons my times have gone down. And finally, I want to thank my dad, who is also our schools head coach. He's been there for me my entire life. He's always supported me and been an inspiration to me, both on and off the track.
More Coverage
Do you know a class of 2014 track and field or cross country athlete? We'd like to salute them! Have them answer the following questions plus send 2-3 photos (can not be from another website or publication) to dveilleux@milesplit.us