Photo Provided by Hunter Gowin
Personal Records:
800 - 2:07 (split)
1600m - 4:47.57
3200m - 10:07.37
5K (xc) - 16:41.25
2016 State XC - 68th Place
Where were you born?
I was born in Breckenridge, Minnesota and have lived here my whole life. When I was younger I played basketball, football and ran track. I also joined wrestling last year. I didn't join cross country until my sophomore year, and I wish I would've joined when I was younger. Now I just compete in cross country and track, and train in the off season.
Which sports do you still play?
I have been competing in track & field since I was in the third grade. It was only in the summer for me until I entered junior high school in the seventh grade. Track has helped me the most because it helped me realize that I should take my running more seriously. Track also helped motivate me to join cross country along with family and friends. I don't miss competing in those sports, but I do like to play basketball and football for fun. Being a distance runner, I have had to give up some of my free time, because it takes a lot of time to train everyday to make myself better.
Who is your main sports role model?
My dad was a good football player when he was in high school and worked very hard to be the best he could. He is a good role model because he showed me that hard work can pay off in sports and in everyday life. Sawyer Gowin and I are twins on the boys team and my younger sister Rachel Gowin runs on the girls team.
Are you related to John Gowin who was an All-Big Nine Conference runner as a sophomore in 1994 for Rochester John Marshall?
I am related to him, but not very closely. I have never met him.
Photo Provided by Hunter Gowin
How did you get interested in distance running?
I first got interested in distance running when we used to run a mile in P.E. class during grade school and jr. high and I realized I had some potential. That led to me joining the youth track program, and having success in that. Family and many friends have encouraged me to run track and cross country.
Who does the recruiting for cross country for the Cowboys and the Cowgirls?
We have 22 boys and 14 girls out for cross country this year at Breckenridge/Wahpeton. We recruit by hosting a Pup run for the younger kids in the community.
What obstacles have you had to overcome as a runner?
As a freshman I developed lower back pain, but I went to physical therapy and was able to run again. I also had some knee pain this summer but it was nothing major and didn't slow down my training very much. Through these injuries and therapy I have learned what parts of my body I need to strengthen to stay healthy.
Is cross country a team sport?
We believe that it is a team sport, especially when you can have guys pushing each other, and making each other better. We have a team goal to make it to state this year, which gives us motivation to work together and make each other better.
Who do you run with in practice?
During practice I run with Zach Haire who is in my grade and has ran times of 10:30 and 17:13 for the 3200 and 5K CC respectively. We are very good friends and he is fun to run with because he is a very hard worker. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have some teammates that were faster than me, and if that would make me push myself harder to try and train with them. Coach Larry Lasch will sometimes run with the team, or sometimes he will bike.
What was your summer training like?
I had a routine that I stayed with all summer. It went like this for the most part:
- Saturday: Long run starting out at 8 to 10 miles early and eventually 12 to 15 miles toward the end of the summer.
- Sunday: Off
- Monday: 6 miles steady
- Tuesday: 4-6 miles progressive. If I was running 4 miles it might be 6:10-6:00-5:50-5:40 for example
- Wednesday: 6-10 miles over rolling hills in Fergus Falls. (A 20 drive for me.) Or a local sledding or ski hill.
- Thursday: 4-6 miles easy recovery run
- Friday: Progressive run, Steady Run, or sometimes Fartlek. If it was a fartlek run I might do something like 2 minutes @ 7:30 mile pace followed by 2 minutes @ 5:45 pace.
I like to run at around 4 p.m. during the summer and twice a week with Haire when we can arrange the days. During the school year I do morning runs in addition to regular practices.
What are your goals?
I usually base my goals off of the previous season, and my off season training. I will sometimes change my goal after the first couple meets. This year my goals are to run under 16:20, win the section 6a race, and to make the top 25 at state.
What is your race strategy?
Most of the time I base my race strategy based on who is running in the race. It also depends on how many runners are entered.
How did the State Meet go for you?
One thing I was able to do at the beginning of the race was to locate the runners I knew from my section. As the race goes on you will see less of runners you run with during the season. It being my first time I might have chosen the wrong group to run with.
My best time going into the meet had been 16:55 and I was 7th in Section 6A. What happened at State is I took off too fast. I was trying to run with the kids from my section including Ryley Nelson and Jacob Bright from West Central; Hans Holzner from Hillcrest Lutheran Academy; Jordan Malikowski of Royalton; Emmet Anderson of Staples-Motley; and Josh Bailey of Benson/KMS.
At the mile I was with them in about the top 30-40 runners. I ran a 5:09 first mile which was by far my fastest first mile! Some in that group began to pass me but I was still in the top 40-50 runners at 2 miles in 10:50. That showed me that I had slowed a lot. I continued to drop back and especially found the last long hill tough and wound up in 68th place.
It was my first time running at the state meet and I think I will pace it a bit different next time. That will be a work in progress for me throughout this season. I enjoyed a lot of things about state, especially going around the pond and having a chance to think more about my strategy, as compared to when I was in the loud and crowded areas with people.
What are your favorite courses?
Since this is only my second year in cross country I haven't been on a lot of courses, but some of my favorites so far are Perham, New London, and Park Rapids.
Who are your most competitive opponents?
Some of my most competitive opponents are the Perham boys Clayton Anderson, Carson Speicher, and Brandon Ohara. I don't talk to them a lot, but they are always fun to race against and we are always pushing each other. Another person is Jacob Bright from West Central Area. He is a very good competitor and it is fun to race against him.
Who will be the favorites among teams at the Heart of the Lakes Conference Meet?
I think a favorite for the conference meet are the Perham boys. They seem to be tough every year. We enjoy running against them because they make us better.
What about Section 6A who will be the favorites among the individuals and teams in that meet?
I think a heavy favorite for the section 6A race will be Jacob Bright, because he took second last year and is the top returner. I would say that Breckenridge is in the hunt for a section title, but West Central Area also has a good chance at the title. They are the returning section champs and have another solid team this year. We finished in 6th place last year but were only 53 points off third place. West Central and New London-Spicer went on to state.
Do the Cowboys have any rituals before a race?
Before every race we circle up and say a prayer, and have a pump up session.
What else are you involved with besides sports?
I am involved in choir, FFA, and I do a lot with 4-H. I am also very involved with my church parish and the youth group.
Do you have any plans after high school?
I would love to compete in college, but I do not know where I am going yet. I am interested in going to college for accounting or physical therapy.