Throughout the summer, we will be honoring graduating seniors with our annual Salute to Seniors series! To submit your own questionnaires to be posted on the front page of PennTrackXC, check out this page and email your responses to Dan Beck (daniel.beck@flosports.tv)
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Today, we salute Jonathan Thrush of Muhlenberg. The distance runner closed out a strong high school career.
Thrush had a very strong senior season. In XC, he took second at the Berks County Championships, before going on to win the PIAA District 3 title a week and a half later. At that race at Big Spring, he clocked his 5K XC PR of 15:52. He then medaled at the PIAA State Championships with a 14th place finish at Hershey. He was 21st at Foot Locker Northeast.
On the track, he placed sixth in the 3K at the indoor state meet, running a PR of 8:41. His 1,600 meter PR from indoors is 4:33, which he ran during his junior year.
Thrush, a Cal U. recruit, reflected on his career for PennTrackXC.
What was your most memorable race/competition?
My most memorable race was the Carlisle XC Invitational my junior year. It was the biggest invitational I had been at and I had just started running more competitively. But when our team got there parts of the course had flooded and created a stream which flowed through the middle of the course. When I was racing I found out the water was very deep and almost went to my waist and we had to run through it 3 times. This is definitely one of my most memorable races.
Where did you face your biggest competition?
My senior year I faced my biggest competition at the State and Regional level. In cross country I faced my biggest competition at the Northeast Footlocker Regional and the State meet. And during indoor I faced my biggest competition at the indoor state meet.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
Out of all of my accomplishments the one that stands out the most to me is my 6th place finish in the 3k at the PTFCA indoor championships. It was a PR and a great placement in such a strong field. It is also all the classifications where as outdoors I would only race against one classification. This made it a bigger accomplishment in my eyes.
If you could do it all over again, what would you change about your athletic career in high school?
If I could change something about my athletic career it would be how I treated the sports as an underclassman. I enjoyed doing XC and track as a freshman and a sophomore. I just didnt take them as seriously and did not run as much as I should have.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
The most difficult obstacle I had to overcome was my lack of confidence during my senior XC season. I had improved a lot from my junior year and I wasnt really use to being at the front of the pack. I was able to get over it towards the end of XC and it never really was a problem during indoors.
What will you miss the most?
What I will miss the most is my teammates, coaches, and the relaxed team atmosphere.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Advice I would give to younger athletes is to do the small things and be as consistent as you can with everything, like your sleep and training. Doing this early will really help you when you are a upperclassman.
How have your coaches influenced your performances and your life goals overall?
My coaches influenced my performances through increasing my confidence which I was able to translate to the rest of my life. They also taught me to set big goals but also be realistic at the same time.
What are your post-high school plans?
My post high school plans are to attend California University of Pennsylvania and run Cross Country and Track.
Any shoutouts?
I would like to thank my family for supporting me during my high school running career. I would also like to thank all my coaches for helping me develop good habits and to become a good athlete.
