Hudson's Gavin Gaynor - Will he be the Fastest Guy in Town?

Gavin Gaynor   Hudson 2016

Personal Records

• 800m (in) - 1:56.04
• 800m - 1:53.11
• 1600m (in) - 4:09.14
• 1600m - 4:12.16
• 1 Mile (in) - 4:10.02
• 3200m (in) - 9:32.55
• 3200m - 8:50.59
• 5K (xc) - 15:09.90

Hudson's Gavin Gaynor is poised to become one of the best ever 1,600 runners in Ohio History.  He was 2nd in XC in 2015, is a 2-time OATCCC Indoor 1,600m champion and the defending D1 outdoor 1,600m champion.  As we head to Regionals, he is the Nordonia District champion with a time of 4:12.16 and is the fastest seed in the Austintown Regional.  He is focused on the 1,600 and has the discipline, the speed and the experience to not only defend his D1 1,600 title, but as he says to become the "fastest guy in town."  He'll have to run under a 4:07.12 to get that honor. 

OH MileSplit:  Gavin, thank you for your time.   You have come a long way in the last four years in both Cross and T&F.

Cross

2012 Saratoga Springs, NY  State team champion.  29th 16:14.2

2013 46^th in 16:24.03

2014 17^th in 15:54.40

2015 2^nd in 15:13.80 

Last fall in the regular season you only lost twice in Cross.  At Boardman you were 3^rd at Boardman an 2^nd at State. 

3,200m

Last spring in the 3,200 you ran a 9:07.01 in a 2^nd place finish to Andrew Jordan at the Eastern Relays and again this year you ran second to Jordan in the 3,200 with a 8:50.59.  An Ohio #2 and US #2 at the time and an OH #3 All-Time.

1,600m

You were 15^th in 2014.  4:23.22.  Last year you were 1^st in 4:12.16.  6^th at NBNO in 4:13.28.  Indoors in 2016 you defended your 2015 OATCCC Indoor State Championship improving your winning time by almost 7 seconds.  4:16.84 -4:09.14. And, you were 2nd in the NBNI Mile in 4:10.02.  You actually won the seeded race, but Reed Brown of Southlake Carroll ran a 4:09.95 in the 1st heat.

NBNI Finish of boy's Seeded Mile  (photo Kyle Brazeil)

This outdoor season you are ranked  #2 in the 800 (1:53.11), #3 in the 1,600 (4:13.54) and #2 in the 3,200 (8:50.59).  An impressive resume as you get ready to close out your high school career and head to Princeton.

As you look back upon your high school career, what is your most memorable experience?

Gavin:  My most memorable experience was my freshman year cross country season. At the beginning of the year it looked like we would have a shot at winning the New York cross country state title. We ended up beating the favored team by one point and I will never forget the moment when we found out we won. Two weeks later we qualified for NXN, the Nike cross country national championship where we finished twelfth as a team in the muddiest race I've ever seen.

OH MileSplit:  When did you first start running?  Have you always run mid-distance and distanc

Gavin:  I first began running in seventh grade when I joined my middle school's cross country team.  I have always been a distance runner and picked up some of the mid-distance events as my turnover and footspeed improved.

OH MileSplit:  Let's talk about the Eastern 3,200.  What were your expectations going into the race?  What was your race strategy?  When Jordan took the lead at about 300m what were your thoughts.  In watching the race, you were closing hard at the finish?  If you would have gone with Jordan early, do you think the race may have had a different outcome?

     Watch the Eastern 3,200

Gavin:  Based on workouts in the weeks before the race I thought I could run somewhere around 8:50, but I was a little cautious since my previous PR was 9:07. As a result, my strategy was to go out somewhere between 4:25 and 4:28 for the first 1,600 meters and then go from there. I expected Andrew to be aggressive, but I was not confident enough to run 65 second laps from the beginning.  I did end up closing hard- my last lap was right around 60 seconds.  I am happy with how I ran and do not know if the finish order would have changed had I gone with Andrew earlier in the race.  However, I think both of us would have run faster if I had. 

OH MileSplit:  As we head into Regionals, what type of workouts are you doing?  What is your focus

Gavin:  Most of the preparation for the post-season is already finished; it is now about sharpening and resting.  My focal points are helping my 4 x 800m relay team qualify for the state championship, defending my 1,600m title, and running really fast times.

 OH MileSplit:  How would you describe yourself as a runner?

Gavin:  I would describe myself as hard-working runner dedicated to the sport I love.

OH MileSplit:  What is your motivation today?  What are your expectations?  Can you describe how your motivation and your expectations have changed each year in high school?

Gavin:  My overall training focus has always been more long-term to keep improving and preparing myself to meet my college aspirations. In the short-term, I set specific goals for myself each season. As a freshman, my goals were to win the New York State team cross country team title, qualify for NXN, and make our varsity 4 x 800 relay- so I could run at Penn Relays. Moving to Ohio at the beginning of my sophomore year caused me to lose a bit of my focus. The past two years my focus has been on winning state championships and running fast times.

OH MileSplit:  Let's talk some about XC before we get into track questions.

In XC, as a freshman you ran in NY for Saratoga Springs and were 29th in the NY State Championsips in a time of 16:14. Tell us a little about your freshman year in NY

Gavin:  My freshman year, I ran for Saratoga Springs, New York. That year, I was a scoring member of the team that won the New York State Cross Country team championship and qualified for NXN (the Nike Cross Country National Championships). During the indoor season, I finished fourth in the New Balance Indoor National Championships Freshman Mile. The following outdoor season, I ran on our varsity 4 x 800 relay at Penn Relays and won the Freshman 2 Mile at the New Balance Outdoor National Championships.

OH MileSplit:  In Ohio, you were 46th in 2013 (16:24.03), 17th in 2014 (15:54.40) 2nd in 2015 (15:13.80). 

Gavin:  At the beginning of the cross country season, my goals were to win the state title and break the course record. I knew that if I could stay with Andrew, I would have a shot at winning. However, he ran an incredible race that day and I was not prepared to stay with him. After Andrew broke away, my only thoughts were to win the race that I was in- for second place.

OH MileSplit:  Compare XC to Track?  Do you prefer to be on the track and in the shorter 1,600 and 3,200 over the 5K

Gavin:  I enjoy both cross country and track. While I have had more success and I like the pure speed of the track, I also like how cross country is more team oriented.

OH MileSplit:  You are a two time defending OATCCC Indoor D1 1,600 champion, as well as the OHSAA defending D1 champion.  You have run a 4:09.14 and 4:12.16 outdoors.  With the OHSAA State meet just two weeks out, how important is it for you to defend you 1,600 Championship?   The State Meet and State record are held by Bob Kennedy of Westerville North.  Kennedy ran 4:05.13.  The stadium record was set last year by CVCA's Ryan Adams in a time of 4:07.12.  These are within reach?  What will it take and what would it mean to you to get those records?

State D1 1,600 Finish  (photo Chris Greene)

Gavin:  Defending my state title is my number one goal this year. I believe the state record could possibly be broken, but it will take a great race to do it. It is a long way to go from 4:09 to 4:05. Since the end of cross country, the 1,600 record has been on my mind and I find it amazing to be thinking about breaking a record set by Bob Kennedy. Ryan is from Hudson and it would be nice to be the fastest guy in town, but that will take a great race as well. 

OH MileSplit:  We will know by the end of the week if Andrew Jordan is going to double in the 1,600 and the 3,200.  If Jordan decides to go in the 1,600, how would this change your race strategy?

Gavin:  There are many talented competitors in 1,600m this year.  However, if Andrew decides to run the 1,600m at states, it will be a fantastic race since he probably would have similar goals.

OH MileSplit:  What are your plans for the Post-Season.  

Gavin:  I am hoping to get in some really competitive races and run fast times, but I have not finalized my schedule yet.

OH MileSplit:  One last question.  You certainly have proved yourself as one of Ohio's Elite 1,600 and 3,200m runners.  To be a 2-time State D1 1,600m champion speaks for itself.  Kennedy's record would cement your place in the 1,600m.  Your High School career however, is not quite finished.  How would you describe your high school career thus far?  How would you like history to remember you?

Gavin:  Thus far, I would say my high school career has been a roller coaster ride from feeling on top of the world freshman year to a disappointing sophomore year and then back up again for the past two years. I would like to be remembered as a runner who always gave his best effort on each day, was a good teammate, and treated the competition with respect.

Thanks Gavin.  We will be looking forward to watching you chase Kennedy's record in the 1,600 at State.  It's been a pleasure to have had the opportunities to talk with you over the last several years and I'm looking forward to another interview at State.  Best wishes as you head to Princeton.