As we head off into the blue skies and sunny weather of spring track (if only), we still have some catching up to do. There were so many quality athletes in New York State, that we didn't get a chance to speak with all of them. So were bringing you a new feature called "Catching Up," where we get to talk to some of the athletes that have been showing success in the parts of the state we may not always get to. First up is John Knox III, out of Gloversville in Section 2. The winner at the Section 2 State Qualifier for the 3200m, his senior season has included trips to the XC and Indoor State Meet. What did he have to say about the experience? Check it out below.
You’re coming off a great Indoor season. Section 2 is most known to be deepest for distance running, and for almost all of the regular season, you were undefeated? What were you doing that was working so well for you?
Yes, most of the season I was undefeated. What seemed to work for me was increasing my paces on longer runs. As the season progressed the increase in my paces for these runs became easier to hold and in the end, I think really helped with racing.
One of your bigger invitational’s was Dartmouth Relays, where you faced some big competition. You ran very well, right next to Andrew Tario of AP. What did that race do for your confidence, as you beat out a lot of out-of-state talent.
I think that my race at Dartmouth was a big surprise to everyone including myself. It created a great amount of confidence in racing and my training. I was completely surprised in how I did. It was one very big highlight of my indoor season and I certainly won't forget it.
As the state qualifier came closer, your season bests were starting to drop. What kind of workouts were you doing in practice taught you how to push yourself to those speeds?
I think the most influential workout that boosted my confidence was tempo runs. The feeling of pushing yourself to the end and when you finish it’s a huge boost of confidence. It definitely made me excited for the upcoming races after finishing that workout.
At the State Qualifier, you blew out the race, again facing Tario of AP. York mark still stands as NY #4, it was that good. What was your mindset heading into that race, and did it stay the same after the gun went off?
Going into the race I had my race plan set. Mentally, I treated it like any other race. I simply knew what I had to do. I knew going into the race there was a lot of great competition so I prepared myself for that. When the gun went off I kept the same mentality.
What did it mean to you to make your first state meet as a senior, both in Xc and Indoor?
Making the state meets in Xc and in indoor was one the greatest experiences I've ever had in my running career. It has been my goal since the day I started running a few years ago. Running with such good competition has not only given me more experience running but the experiences continue to motivate me to do better.
How did the race at Cornell play out differently than the ones back in Section 2?
The talent in that field was incredible. I knew right from the get-go that it was going to be a good race based off of what everyone had ran. The other difference was it went out a little slower not by much though. Overall, I think the biggest difference was the fact that it was my first Indoor state meet and I was certainly nervous at the time.
With your indoor season in the books, what is on the horizon for you in Spring Track? What are some big meets or milestones you look forward too?
This is a great question. I really would like to see my team score in the top 3 in our league championships or even see top 3 at sectionals. My team has certainly grown and with new people coming into the program, I can’t wait to see everyone’s performances. I t would certainly be a great way to end my senior year. In terms of milestones, I would really like to see 4:20’s in the 1600 along with possibly a sub 9:15, 3200m.
The biggest question for most seniors is about the college search. How was the process for you, how much of your decision weighed on the track program, and where did you eventually decide(if you have already)
Most of my decision weighed on what career I wanted to go into. For me, I had decided on going into aviation. A lot of schools usually don’t offer it. I was looking at schools based on if they had the right major/field I wanted. Although most of my decision wasn’t directly weighed on the track program, I knew I would continue running after High School no matter what. As far as schools go, I have kept my options open and will soon choose one out of those in which I have been accepted.
Favorite song to run too: Phoenix-Lisztomania (very catchy upbeat song)
Favorite thing to do with the team when you’re not running-…
Favorite snack: Cliff Bars……so tasty!!
Favorite place to run: Ahh this is a tough one..I would have to say Saratoga state park. There is great scenery and trails; Iove it!!
Best Advice you can give the freshman on your team: Work hard and be patient and the results of that work will come. You can’t win every race but always be confident in what you are doing and you can get where you want to be.
