Monday, March 09, 2009

Catching up with former Cardinal Newman and current Oregon runner, JK Withers...

Today we chat with former Cardinal Newman runner and current University of Oregon runner, JK Withers. During his high school career, he was a 3 time state meet qualifier to the California state cross country meet. He finished in 2nd place his senior year at the NCS MOC meet behind Arcata's John Figueiredo in the Division IV race. He was the Santa Rosa city champ in the 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 during his HS career. He won the NCS area meet in the 800 and 1600 during his junior and senior seasons. He won the North Coast Section Meet of Champions his senior year in the 1600 running 4:14.16 in 2004. He is currently a 5th year senior at University of Oregon with the following PRs: 400-49.3 in an open HS race, 800-1:52.17 this indoor season, 1500-3:46 from 2007 and mile in 4:03 this indoor season. With a string of good health and with Vin Lanana leading the way, JK is looking for some breakthrough times this outdoor season.

1) Looking back at your high school career, what do you feel was your best race in Cross Country? Track and Field?
Looking back I would say that my best cross country race was at the beginning of my senior year at Spring Lake. The race was just a dual meet, no big deal type of thing, but it was one of those days where I was just rolling and it felt so easy. For some reason the feeling of that race has stuck with me. In track I would have to say that my best race was at Piedmont my senior year. I was in really good shape at that time and pr’ed by about 10 seconds in that 1600.

2) What do you think you did in high school that helped prepare you for college in terms of training?
In high school I did most of my training on my own, and its hard to be motivated when you’re alone and its pouring rain and you have repeat quarters or whatever. I think that since I was used to doing things on my own I was more disciplined when I got to college. It’s definitely easy to get distracted, so when I finally got here I didn’t get too lost in any of the other college aspects.

3) How did you end up choosing University of Oregon?
I was actually dead set on going to Cal Poly until about May of my senior year or so. My close friends were going there and I was stoked about the whole thing. My last visit was here at Oregon, and my Dad and I came here on a really nice day, we were kinda lost wandering around campus and ended up stumbling upon Hayward Field. Before I even talked to anyone I thought to myself this is where I want to run everyday for the next few years.

4) During your freshman season, what was your toughest adjustment?
My freshman season ended up being pretty rough. The whole first half of that year was a very tough adjustment. It turned out that my coach would be asked to leave, so he was basically checked out, and I was left to my own devices for much of that year. So it was hard when I came in excited to run for this great program and the people already there didn’t want to be.

5) Besides the competition, what are some of the biggest differences between high school and college running?
I think that the biggest difference between high school running and college is lifestyle. Things in high school are easy because everything is laid out for you. Go to school, practice afterward, dinner is made when you get home…easy. When it comes time to take care of yourself some things fall to the wayside. Sleep is neglected to hang out with girls til the am, dinner is whatever is quickest so on and so forth. Running in college has it’s learning curve just like anything else.

6) What do you miss about high school running that is not present in college?
I miss a few things from high school, one of which is just being able to run in the Bay Area and the great trails back home. I miss my teammates and my coaches, there was definitely less emphasis on performance and more on having fun, which is natural, but that is just part of the progression to more serious running. What I had in high school was great and it all helped mold me into the runner I am today.

7) Tell us a little about your high school coach and how he helped you during your high school years.
In high school I was lucky enough to have two coaches Pat LaFortune and Chris Puppione. Coach LaFortune always kept things in perspective and looked at the big picture, he taught me to just relax and enjoy the process because that is what it is really what it’s all about. I do this sport because I enjoy running fast. Theres no need to get stressed and nervous. Coach Puppione was very inspirational and I felt he always got the best out of me, he got me to run very well in races that I really had no business in. He also helped to develop my work ethic in training. Having both a competitive view with a philosophical one I feel was perfect for me.

8) What distance will you be mainly focusing during track?
This season I will be primarily focused on the 1500/mile with a few 800 races as well.

9) What are your goals for this coming season?
My goals for this season are to just keep improving and stay healthy. A big goal is to make a strong bid for nationals and make an impact there. I feel I only scratched the surface this indoor season.

10 Tell us a little about Vin Lanana and what he has meant to you as a collegiate runner and what he has done for the U of O running program.
Having Vin as my coach has been a lot of fun. We get along just fine, we are always cracking jokes and what he has done here at the U of O is incredible. He has so much experience in the sport and knows so much. For me personally, it took really until this season to benefit from his coaching because my first year was a mess in regards to the coaching dilemma, but the other years I’ve either been hurt (non-athletic related) or dealing with some problem or another so it’s nice to be up and going with his program.

11) What would your advice be for prospective college runners?
My advice to prospective runners is to work hard and enjoy the process, it goes by quick.

Thank you very much JK!

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