Name: Harrison Knowlton
School: Leavitt
What was your most memorable race?
Probably regionals my sophomore year. It was my first race at Twin Brook and it had rained and left standing puddles and mud everywhere. I came into the race not seeded in the top 20 and ended up placing 15th (and beating Will Shafer by 4 seconds.) I was psyched beyond belief.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
I've had a few close races with a bunch of different guys over the years. Me and Chandler Vincent had an intense sprint to the finish last year in the state 3200. At Western Regionals this year, I had to duel it out with Patrick Carty for at least the last half mile. Both of these guys are tough competition, I just didn't get to race them often. Chris Walfield became super fast last year during track and I barely edged him out at FOC this year.
Last but not least, Chris Cote. I wasn't competitive with him until last year and even then, only this year did I really start to challenge him. We've had plenty of races separated by a second or less in XC and track this year and he is always a threat, no matter how terrible he says he feels. He has definitely been my biggest competition.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
I'm assuming this is still running related. I would say qualifying for the New England Outdoor Track Championship this year. I lead the state race for 7 laps and then was outsprinted by Chris at the end. Even though the field may not have been as competitive as years past, it's still much harder to do than in XC. Also, this year I managed to not step on any white lines for every championship race which is also an accomplishment.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
I would've done XC as a freshman. I regret doing soccer because I ended up running on my own anyway and a summer and fall of real running to start of high school could have given me a boost. Soccer set me back a tad.
Also, doing strength and eating better. I started doing strength my junior year and eating better only the last couple of months and last summer but I wish I would've started sooner now that I've read so much about the benefits of both. It took me a while to realize that there are more factors in improving your times than just running more.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
I've been lucky to have had no injuries my high school career. However, when I started running I was overweight and it took years before I started to become competitive. Those times were pretty rough.
One obstacle that took away a KVAC ribbon and state medal was stepping on the white line during the 3200, not that I'm bitter or anything. It may have taken recruiting my teammates to yell at me not to do it, but I finally overcame that this year.
Also, I didn't get longer spikes for the state XC race this year and I was slipping the whole way. It could have been really easy for me to get discouraged but I still managed 5th.
What will you miss the most?
I'm going to miss my team and my coaches. I've been with them for a while now and it's going to be completely new faces for college. Also, I've made some good friends from other teams who I probably won't race with ever again.
What advice you would give to younger athletes?
Have fun. Runners are some of the best people and you can make some great friends on your team. Running can be fun.
Be careful. This year some of the top runners in the state were out because of injury. Pushing yourself too hard too fast can hurt your body. Running isn't a quick gain sport so you have to be patient. Listen to your body and cross train when you need to.
Summer training is everything. I want to believe that the good base I got during the summer still helped me during outdoor track. I've seen athletes skip summer training and have it affect them for the rest of the year. The summer is a great time to boost your fitness and you should take advantage of that. Getting a strong running base and doing strength over the summer sets you up for success for the entire year.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
I've cut off 27 seconds off my 1600 and 1:06 from my 3200 since freshman year and around 1:50 from my 5k since sophomore year and I credit them as being a prominent factor in my improvement. More importantly, they've kept running fun. They've allowed me to push myself and improve to the times that I want while also making sure that I'm enjoying myself.
What are your college plans?
I'm going to Middlebury College in Vermont to run XC, indoor, and outdoor track.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
My parents for always believing that I could run, and then coming to support me in meets (even one in South Carolina) no matter how hot or cold or rainy it may be. My coaches for cheering me on and keeping me in check. My teammates for laughing at my jokes. Mother Nature, for holding back the rain a couple of minutes so that I could finish a workout or two. All the guys I've raced against who've shown great sportsmanship because that makes racing much more enjoyable.
More Coverage
Do you know a class of 2015 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