As part of the Hoka One Future Stars program, MileSplit is highlighting some of the top underclass cross country runners throughout the country. Our next profile will feature Liam Conway of Owen J Roberts. Conway emerged as the top freshman in the 2014 AAA state cross country championship race after finishing in the top 30 at District 1 and Paul Short. A bronze medal performance at the PAC 10 championships started his push towards a state berth and the tag of future star. Conway reflects on his 1st high school cross country season with PennTrack!
Tell us how you got started with competitive running.
I’ve been a runner ever since I can remember. My family and I would run 5k or mile races on holidays whenever we could. My love for running was always there, but the race that sparked my passion for competition was a 4th of July mile race in Provo, Utah. I went into my middle school track career wanting only to see where I stood as a runner, and surprisingly broke the 32-year-old OJR middle school record for the mile.
What were some of your goals heading into this season?
Going into the fall cross country season, my specialty at that time was middle distance on the track. Therefore, I wanted to discover who I was at endurance-based races. My main goal for the season was to go into the low sixteens. In the middle of the season, I surprised myself and soon decided to commit my goal to making PIAA States.
What did the coaches expect from you this season?
I owe a lot to my coaches this season. They had a lot of confidence in me, telling me they thought I had a strong shot at making states. At that point, it got me thinking and gave me a huge amount of motivation in achieving this goal. Even through the toughest of workouts and the many gutty races, I reminded myself of the confidence my teammates and coaches had in me.
How nervous were you for your first race? What did you want to accomplish?
In the past, nerves before races would get the best of me in many cases. Since then, I’ve developed ways of getting over my nerves. I remind myself that the training and hard work will guide me through each and every race I run. Specifically for my first cross country race, I liked the fact that I was running in areas where I could be alone – the woods were very calming and they gave me time to think and relax even during big races. All I wanted to do for my first races was to see where I was at the beginning of the season and predict where I could be at the end of the season.
Talk about the one race that gave you the belief that you could be really good this season.
The one race that gave me the belief that I could be very successful this season was the Paul Short Invitational. The course was fast and flat, something I like much better than the hilly state course at Hershey. I surprised myself at the place I came in and ran my best time of the season, 16:10. Through every race after, I was aware of what my potential was.
How have you gotten along with your older teammates as you have moved up the ranks of the team?
When I came into the season, I soon learned that the upperclassmen were the greatest role model teammates anyone could ever be honored to have. During every workout of the season, my older teammates were there to push me. I was given so much drive this season from them, which helped me discover the runner I am and could eventually be. The great thing about Cross Country is that even athletes from other teams were giving me encouragement. My teammates and I are not only friends, we are brothers.
How did your goals change going into the big meets?
Going into the big meets like Paul Short and districts/states, I was armed with many dual meets under my belt. I knew that, in big meets like these, I would always be running with a pack due to the sheer amount of athletes. Before heading into these races, I visualized and mentally prepared myself for anything to occur. I love the big meets because they give you the chance to make a statement as a runner. My goals, in particular, were to stick with the specific top packs.
Has running become your favorite sport? Why or why not?
Before I began my serious training in running, I was a soccer player. I do believe that soccer provided me with a big part of my endurance and athleticism. Though, throughout my entire life, running has easily been my favorite sport because it is like no other. During runs, you begin to discover who you really are. The camaraderie between teams is a very special thing you can savor in the sport of Cross Country, giving you a whole new set of friends and teammates. Running to me is not only a sport; it is my passion that I will cherish through my entire life.
Which course has been your favorite to run? Least favorite?
During my first season of cross country, I’ve run at so many different courses. I can say though, hands down, my favorite place to race is the Lehigh University course. It is flat and fast, which gave me the ability to run my best times there. My least favorite course that I ran at was the Twin Valley Invitational course. The Twin Valley Invitational course was tough mainly from the reason that it was very hilly and I wasn’t exposed to this type of course early in the season.
What are you most excited about going forward as a runner?
My main goal is to sustain my improvement and drop my times down to see just how hard I can push my body to the limit. I’m excited to see how my endurance running transitions over to the winter and spring track seasons. I enjoy the competition from the runners in the PAC-10 conference and the district/state athletes. From there, I will transfer my running to summer track for the AAU Junior Olympics.
