State Champion spotlight: Colin Tardiff Scarborough HS

What were you preparations leading up to the state meet?

My biggest preparation leading up to the state meet was to stay loose. I did a lot of rolling and stretching in the weeks approaching states. I also made sure to protein load two days before and carbo load the day before the meet.

How did you deal with the pressure and emotions that come along with competing in a state meet?

I didn't read the seeds for the meet because I have found that it makes me more nervous. I thought of the state meet like any other regular season meet, just to try and calm the nerves a little bit. I tried not to think about the meet until I was on the line about to start so I wouldn't psych myself out and over think the race.

You started the meet off with a state meet record in the 4x800, what did it mean to go out and set the tone in the relay? You came back to win one of the most exciting races of the day in the mile with a big kick What was going through your head with 400m to go, and when did you know you had won the race?

The 4x800 was my first state championship so it really raised my confidence and got me excited for the rest of the meet. With 400m to go my legs were feeling really good, my coach yelled "you're going to win this race!" So I just went for it. I didn't know i had won the race until I crossed the finish line; I was so afraid of getting out kicked at the last second.

Coming into the season what were your goals, and did you achieve them?

Coming into the season I wanted our 4x800 to win in the state meet, and for our entire team to win the state meet. I wanted to win the 800m too, but I wasn't focused on the mile at all. Our 4x800 won the race and i got an individual state title, so yes my goals were met for the season.

Last year you had to drop out of the mile because of an injury, how satisfying was it to be able to stand on top of the podium as a state champion this year?

It was very satisfying to finally be on top, not necessarily because of last year but because I've been trying to win the mile since freshman year and I finally did. Winning the state title, since we lost last year, felt really good to redeem ourselves. A lot went wrong last year but even more went right this year.

Mile Progression

800m Progression

2015-16 Results