Christian Sterton Heads A Talented Ada-Borup/NCW Squad

Photo provided by Christian Sterton

Christian Sterton of Ada-Borup/Norman County West class of 2019

Personal Records:

1600m - 4:42.34

3200m - 10:33.59

3 Mile (xc) - 16:34.70

5K (xc) - 16:37.00

State XC 2016 - 27th place

State T&F 2017 - 1600m 17th, 3200 16th 

Where were you born and what sports did you play growing up?

I was born in Fargo, ND, I started playing football in 4th grade, and my 6th grade year I joined basketball. I decided to quit basketball after my 10th grade year because it seemed like I was always hurt for track in the spring. This winter I'm going to train for track and strengthen my shins.

How did those sports prepare you for running cross country? Why did you make the decision to be a distance runner?

Playing football from such a young age I think really gave me a hard working mentality. In elementary school we would have track and field day every year and I would always do the shorter distances but in 6th grade I tried the 800 and I was pretty good at it so my 7th grade year when I joined track I told coach I wanted to run the mile and 2 mile on the first day of practice.

What about other family members?  Has anyone been involved in cross country or track & field?

My brother Alex Sterton played golf his 7th grade year, and I didn't think he would ever be a runner, then we convinced him to try track in 8th grade and he was very impressed. He ran the 4x400, 800 and the mile and his times were very fast for an 8th grader. He was going to run xc this fall but decided to play football, he's around 5'11" and 150 so he's built for football and he's having a great season so far.

Kris Sterton, my mom, ran the 800 and mile in high school and was pretty fast. Mike Sterton, my dad, isn't a runner but pole vaulted in high school. My older sister Alivia played softball when she was in high school.

How far is your team's long run? What do you usually do the day after the long run?

The longest distance we will go is 8 miles and then do some lifting after. The day after we would usually go around 4 miles and do strides after.

Photo provided by Christian Sterton

What is the hardest interval workout you have ever had?

The hardest workouts for me would probably be the 12x400s with a one minute break in between.  I'm not a fan of the shorter distance runs. We usually do workouts Wednesdays if we have a Friday meet. Thursday then would be an easy 4 mile run.

How does your coach usually supervise practice?

Coach Spencer Ruebke usually runs with us but if he doesn't he will drive to a spot with our water bottles or even watermelon and Kool-Aid some days. Ruebke is very organized and has everything planned out in advance.

What things do you like to do the day of a meet to prepare for racing?

On meet days I will have a light breakfast and I will have my headphones on until right before the race starts to get me pumped up and ready for the race. As a team we will walk the course and then cheer on the junior high and start to stretch and get loose. 40 minutes before the race we will go on a run and then do any last minute stretches and form running.

What are your goals?

Since I was in elementary school I've always wanted to win state and back then I thought it would be in football but now with cross country that goal is very doable with some hard work and dedication.

What types of race strategy you have tried?

Usually I stay up with the leaders and try to kick it in the last mile but sometimes coach has us pack run the first mile and then turn it over. That strategy would help me at state because I would be used to being behind and try to catch people at the end of the race.  My favorite and most effective racing strategy is going out with the leaders. I fell like I push myself the hardest that way.

What obstacles have you had to overcome in sport or in your life?

My 9th grade year I got to run one indoor meet, I ran the mile and the 4x4, I got second place in the mile with a pretty fast time. I had shin pains from the beginning of the season but after the first meet I knew something was wrong. I went to get a MRI and I had a stress fracture and a stress reaction on my shins so I had to sit out track that season.

This past school year I had a really good cross country season and was excited for track & field to begin. I practiced the first few weeks and then we had our first indoor meet and I decided not to run to save the shins. Then that week I had a dirt bike accident and broke my collarbone and wrist and I thought I was out another track season. Coach wasn't very happy with me, then right before subsections I got the clear to run as the pain allows. I ended up going to state in the mile and two-mile.

Which teammates help you the most in your sports?

Nick Mathsen, Tyrel Quick and Connor Thompson usually pushed me the most last year.  This year Tommy Stewart and Jennings Lee are also pushing me by working hard at practice, and they are taking it serious too. This really motivates everyone else to do the same. I'm friends with pretty much everyone on the varsity team girls and boys. Everyone gets along very well.


Photo provided by Christian Sterton

You are the defending Section 8A champion.  Who will be your top competitor for that crown?

Daniel Wilson from Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton pushed me a lot last year and he's improved a lot from last year so he will push me even harder this year.

Last year the top five teams in your section were in order:  Perham, Pequot Lakes, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, Wadena-Deer Creek and Ada-Borup/Norman County West.  Who will contend to move on to the state meet this year?

I believe our team could go to state this year because we have all improved from last year and we didn't lose any runners. I think Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, East Grand Forks, Perham and Ada-Borup/Norman County West will be the top contenders to finish among the top two teams.

Ada-Borup/Norman County West won the Northwest Conference last year in the first year of cross country in the history of the school!  You won the individual title.  How do you see things there?

Our team has a good chance of winning the conference meet again this year. East Grand Forks did not have a qualifying team last year but they have a very strong top five and might be the top team to push us along with some of the top teams from last season.  Roseau, Warroad, Bagley, Lake of the Woods, and Stephen-Argyle Central are usually also top teams in the conference.

Do you have any friendly enemies among the top runners? Who do you talk to a lot among other teams?

Cole Nowacki from East Grand Forks and Dan Wilson from Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton are my "friendly enemies."  

What was one of your worst mistakes as a distance runner? Where did it happen and how did you react or solve the problem?

Not working as hard as I should have in the off season was probably one of my worst mistakes. I'm planning on doing a lot more in the off season from track and xc in the future.

What was the greatest thing you have learned as a distance runner? When and where did this happen?

I've learned that you can push yourself way harder than you ever thought. At the section meet last year I knew going into it I had a chance to win, and that really motivated me to push myself as hard as I could. Coach told me to stay with the lead pack until the second mile, and then try to put them away.

After mile one I was in first place and was feeling good, Jacob Dickerson of Perham was behind me. After mile two I tried to put him away but he stayed right with me the whole time. With 100 meters to go we were neck and neck and I beat him out at the finish line.

What are your plans for after high school?

After high school I am planning on running in college. I'm not sure what I want to go to college for yet.

Photo provided by Christian Sterton