As part of the Future Stars series presented by Hoka One One, MileSplit is highlighting some of the top underclassmen cross country runners throughout the country. In this athlete spotlight, we feature Trumansburg High School (NY) Freshman Evan Whittaker. As a middle schooler, Evan competed in the Middle School Mile at Indoor Nationals. This past weekend, he was the second fastest freshmen from the merge at the McQuaid Invitational. He has strong aspirations in the Class D Rankings.
Interview with Trumansburg High School (NY) Freshmen Evan Whittaker
Last year, you had a pretty strong showing at your first major meet during New Balance Indoor Nationals, running the Jr High Mile. How did that affect your training during the summer, knowing you would be competitive in your freshmen year?
Going to Nationals was a nerve racking experience, not to mention the first time I ever set foot on a banked track. I didn't know how I would match up with that level of competition, but overall was happy with the outcome. I don't know if it changed anything with my training, but it definitely kept me motivated to improve.
You were the second fastest freshmen of the meet at McQuaid. Walk us through that race. How did you feel? How was it racing in your first big invitational?
I actually felt really good. I was nervous, but looking forward to see how well I could compete with that large of a group of experienced varsity runners. The starting line dash was intimidating, I got slightly off course once, and I had a collision with a spectator near the finish, but all in all it was a great race and I was amazed that I could hold my own at this level.
Section 4 has been on the rise over the past few years, especially in cross country. How much of that have you followed first hand, and does it inspire you to do better?
My sister Kristin is a junior, and has been running since modified. While watching her races I definitely became interested in following the top notch runners throughout section 4. I was lucky enough to be at Trumansburg at the same time as some great runners such as Tyler Sutherland, Cal Randle, and Alex Kenney, all of whom are running at the college level now. I even got to run one season of indoor and outdoor with Tyler and Alex, and they both mentored and inspired me to do my best.
As one of the top runners in Class D, how do you motivate yourself to push through practices, knowing your team may not be as deep as some of the larger class schools?
Being small, our team is very close and we have a lot of fun together. It's just about everybody doing their personal best and helping each other to improve. I stay motivated by setting goals and competing against myself to keep improving my times.
How do you approach races, knowing this is your first time seeing the course, knowing other runners may have had four years of experience on it?
Well, I actually did get off course for a second at McQuaid, but we always walk the course as a team before the race, and the upperclassmen try to point out any tricky spots.
How do you motivate yourself when you are heading into big races? Any pre-race rituals?
I like to be pushed. It motivates me to improve, so I look forward to the bigger meets, and competing against a different group of runners. I don't really have any rituals that I know of other than always eating pasta the night before a race.
What are some of the meets you most like to race in?
I loved the Indoor Nationals! The Armory is an awesome venue. For CC so far McQuaid is my favorite.
How has your training been influenced over the summer, based off the trial and errors of last year?
Not much has changed. I just have added mileage and am working on some sprinting as well.
Do you have any goals, either time or performance, for the upcoming season?
Just to keep improving my PR s and hoping to make and then do well at states.
What’s one interesting fact about yourself, outside of running?
Before I switched to running full time I played ice hockey for seven years.
