XC Watchlist: Will Shaughnessy (Brunswick HS)


Shaughnessy opened his season with a course record at Laliberte Invitational.


XC Watchlist: Will Shaughnessy

School: Brunswick HS

Year of Graduation: 2020

2018 State Meet Finish: 16:06.34 6th in Class A


What has your summer training consisted of? How much mileage you putting in?
Summer training has been great! I spent the summer working at Slovenski camps in Raymond, Maine where there are awesome trails to run on as well as some pretty insane hills on the roads. I was pretty much always running either uphill or downhill on all my runs and I think that really helped my strength. I threw in a tempo run here or there to mix it up but nothing crazy for workouts. My mileage started out at 40-45 but I've been doing 50-55 consistently for about month. 

What are your goals for the upcoming season?
As with every season, the main goals are to stay healthy and improve upon my times and places from last year. I don't really have a specific time goal but I'd like to get a big PR at Regionals. My main goal is to get at least top 20 at New England's and possibly try to compete at NXR.

What is your favorite workout that makes you feel most prepared for success?
That's hard to say...I think I'd have the go with 1k repeats. I always feel comfortable doing longer reps and I feel like I get a lot of benefit from them. Gotta love that lactic acid feel in the legs. 

What did you learn from last xc season that will help you improve in 2019?
Last season I realized what I was capable of when I had my breakthrough race at festivals. I'm feeling a lot more confident in myself heading into this season and I have big expectations.

Do you have a favorite course?
Another tough one...I'm probably in the minority here but I'd have to say Cony. It's an absolutely brutal course but the trails are beautiful and you always get a really good feeling of satisfaction from finishing a race there.

What do you love most about running? 
I love the feeling of going on a long run and falling into a rhythm that just feels effortless. When that happens the miles just fly by and that's when I feel the most alive and free, as corny as that may sound.

Now that you're a senior how is the college search going? You have a top 5?
The college search is going well! I won't say which are in my top 5 right now, but I do have a top choice. But who knows, opinions change, and I still have some visits to do.

How is your team looking for the fall?
Better than ever. The boys have put in more work this summer and I think a lot of them will improve a lot from last season. I think everyone was a little disappointed with how our team placed at states last year and are motivated to improve upon that finish this year. In particular I gotta shout out my boy Tyler; he puts in the work and is incredibly methodical with his training and I think he's gonna make big moves this season.

What shoes will you train in and race in?
I train in Saucony Freedoms and I think I'm gonna try out the new Nike Victory XC's this fall for racing.

Favorite subject in school?
Probably science.

What was the last movie you saw and what did you think of it?
Last movie I saw in theaters was Avengers Engame. I saw it as an absolute win, but I guess that was inevitable.

What is your Pet Peeve ?
Probably stepping in a puddle of water while wearing a nice pair of socks.

Lastly, if you were stranded on an island with three things what would they be?

I think I would have to bring my dog, a pair of running shoes, one of those toy drinking birds that wear top hats and perpetually drink from a glass of water as they stare into your soul. 



Personal Records High School
Outdoor
400 Meter Dash56.95
800 Meter Run2:06.84
1600 Meter Run4:29.84
3200 Meter Run9:32.80
Indoor
400 Meter Dash56.79
800 Meter Run2:04.67
One Mile Run4:33.86
Two Mile Run9:43.70
CC
3000 Meter Run12:04.77
4000 Meter Run13:01.25
2.x Mile Run (CC Short Course)13:48.00
5000 Meter Run16:04.76