What were your initial thoughts about breaking the 400m indoor record?

I thought initially that my coaches were joking when they said that, and then I realized, “Oh, that’s real.” That’s pretty cool. I felt accomplished.

What has been the most enjoyable part about being a track captain?

Helping the new kids learn the ropes, and then seeing the kids that I’ve coached grow up a little bit. We’ve had some seventh graders who were there in my freshman year, now they’re sophomores and you can watch that.

How do you prepare for a track meet?

Generally for track meets you’re psyching yourself up, you’re talking with your friends. A little bit of music, kind of get in the zone. Make sure you’re drinking a lot of water. You sleep enough before and then you stay relaxed all throughout the day. When it comes time to warm up and run and make sure you’re ready, just put down your head.

What has been your best track memory?

Either after sections of last year, when I went to sections on day two before the 400 meter and we were driving home on the bus, or there was a meet at the U of M last year where I won the 400 and the sun was setting and we were wrapping up and picking up a tent. It was just a lot of fun.

What are some goals you have set for this season?

I want to first break 50 (seconds) in the 400, then I want to break 23 in the 200 and then I want to set the record for the 400 meter.

Prior to the race, did you know about the record, and if yes, was it your goal to break it?

I had no clue. I did not know what it was the year before. Turns out I came super close. The previous record was 53.1 and I ran a 53.1 a year beforehand as a junior, so I came super close to breaking it last year, and then this year I beat it by almost a second. I did not know that that would happen. That’s what the record was, though I was not told beforehand. I didn’t even know that there was an indoor 400 meter record. I just showed up and I ran.

How do you prepare for track during the off season?

I play soccer as well, so a lot of it is soccer and then I do club track as well. (It’s) a lot of keeping yourself in shape, making sure you’re staying active. That can be in the form of soccer and then also training the right muscle groups, like doing track specific workouts in that respect.

What does breaking this record mean for you?

Because I already broke the indoor record, it would signify a completion of my high school track career. That’s the best, giving 100 percent, I reached the summit of where I wanted to be for my high school track career.