Chase Weavarling Interview
Coming off an impressive victory last weekend at the Bull Run Invitational, Chase Weavarling (junior-Poolesville HS) has all the momentum in his favor. As this trend is continuing, Chase is becoming one of the premier cross country athletes in the state, not to forget he leads the state already with a 5k time of 15:39.
For those that are unfamiliar with Chase and his improvements, you should take notes because Chase has made a huge leap from his sophomore to his junior year this year. Last year Chase was a good runner, a top ten finisher at states, but not a great runner. This is where the change happened and it wasn’t an eight inch growth spurt. Chase attributes his improvements in large part to his county and regional championships last year where he had big “pr’s” and says that these “pr’s” led to him having a lot more confidence that he could improve more and that he could be the best in the state, something he said is one of his goals.
Chase, like a lot of runners and coaches, says the biggest change was his attitude; “ you have to really want it” Chase said. Chase has shown that drive working from thirty to fifty quality miles a week by the end of the summer and now is running roughly forty miles a week. Chase said that this has been key to his success and that success comes from the work ethic, wanting to be the best in the State, and doing everything you can including sleeping, eating, and training the right way.
Looking forward it is going to be a great three seasons for Chase who will likely be the favorite in nearly all races he runs in. Chase ultimately wants to win this year’s AA State title and help lead his team to states as well as qualify to run out in San Diego for Nationals this year. Chase is humbled by his success and doesn’t want it to stop, if he keeps up the work and keeps pushing himself everyday, it will be no surprise when he crosses the finish line in first place and finally gets his first, and well deserved, State title.
Aside from the technical side and story book side of Chase and his career, here are some other things that all come together to make Chase the runner he is. For instance, Chase’s favorite event is the 5k and his second favorite is the 3200 but when asked why it was he simply said- “more time to catch up”. Chase, like many athletes, gets nervous if he is not personally dictating the pace; consequently, he likes to go out hard but his coach is more in favor of going out at a “personal pace”. Training wise, Chase enjoys the shorter distances, his favorite workout being 10x400. Chase thinks the 400 “is a neutral distance and the workouts are not long and not too strenuous” like mile repeats. Chase has made an honest effort to improve his kick which he said was a little bit of a weakness freshman and sophomore year for him. Chase says now he can run sub 60 in a 400 and is still improving. Working on a kick might be a good thing as his favorite runner has a great kick, Galen Rupp. Chase enjoys watching him because of his kick.
All else aside, Chase is becoming one of the best runners in the State and is only a junior! That being said, there is not better way to end this piece then with Chase’s own advice for someone who is in a position similar to his last year- “don’t get overly confident with yourself…it’s a total mental game, you have to want it so much to get to this level”.
Chase Weavarling Interview
Coming off an impressive victory last weekend at the Bull Run Invitational, Chase Weavarling (junior-Poolesville HS) has all the momentum in his favor. As this trend is continuing, Chase is becoming one of the premier cross country athletes in the state, not to forget he leads the state already with a 5k time of 15:39.
For those that are unfamiliar with Chase and his improvements, you should take notes because Chase has made a huge leap from his sophomore to his junior year this year. Last year Chase was a good runner, a top ten finisher at states, but not a great runner. This is where the change happened and it wasn’t an eight inch growth spurt. Chase attributes his improvements in large part to his county and regional championships last year where he had big “pr’s” and says that these “pr’s” led to him having a lot more confidence that he could improve more and that he could be the best in the state, something he said is one of his goals.
