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Tippecanoe Sr. Mitchell Poynter finishing 3rd (16:00.18) in last years D2 OHSAA State
XC Championships just behind Ryan Adams of CVCA.
Tippecanoe Sr. Mitchell Poynter is the #2 Ranked D2 returner with a time of 15:40.00. He was 3rd inthe D2 race in 2014 with a time of 16:00.18. He was 27th in 2013 (16:50.42 and 116th in 2012 (16:45.90). He has a 4:14.22 1,600 to his credit, running 3rd in the D2 boys 1,600 last Spring. He has the speed and had a breakthrough track season. He will be on the podium at State and will challenge for the #1 spot.
Best time in a 5K race and in which meet?
15:40 at the Miami County Championships last year.
Tell us how your summer training is going?
Summer training is going extremely well. I am lucky to be able to train with a talented and motivated group of teammates and coaches. After last years' success as a team, there is a new energy to every run. I took some time off after track, and now I have been back in full swing for two weeks. I am healthy and in the best summer-shape of my career.
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
As a team, I would love to repeat a state championship. Individually, I hope to win a division 2 state championship. I also want to go undefeated for my senior year. My individual goals might be a little lofty, but I believe they are possible.
How long have you been running and how did you get started?
This will be my sixth year running competitively. I knew that I wanted to run cross country after I competed in a youth fun run in 3rd grade. I placed 2nd, and think that was when I fell in love with racing. I also got way too excited every time we had to run the mile in gym class.
Will you be competing anywhere out of state this season?
The varsity boys and girls team will be competing at a meet in Chattanooga, TN in the middle of the season.
What is your favorite course to run in Ohio?
My favorite course is the Alliance Invitational course because its combination of wooded trails and crowd-lined straightaways make it very intense. As a bonus, it's one of the fastest courses we run all year.
What is the toughest course
to run in Ohio?
I can only speak for the courses that I have competed on. For me, the toughest course seems to be our regional race in Troy, Ohio. Runners must go up and down a levy multiple times, which is exhausting.
What meet during the regular season do you put extra emphasize on to compete well at?
I put the most emphasis on the Alliance Invitational because it is an opportunity to run fast against great competition.
What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career?
Hands down my favorite race of my career was the Division 2 State Championships 2014. Despite the freezing temperatures and high wind, my team was able to accomplish something that had never been done before in Tippecanoe High School history. It was incredible to see everyone's hard work pay off with a state championship. The conditions tested my mental toughness to a new extent.
Favorite cross country memory?
My favorite cross country memory is the speech that my teammate Michael Taylor gave to us on the line at state my junior year. He got us fired up and gave us the confidence to race aggressively. It was something you just had to witness to understand the intensity.
When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?
My favorite things to do when I'm not running is watching movies or relaxing with friends. I also love a good book.
Favorite quote?
"Go fast enough to get there, but slow enough to see" -Jimmy Buffett
What shoes do you train in?
I train in the Asic Gel Cumulus 16.
What shoes do you race in?
Last year I raced in the Nike Zoom Victory XC 3.
What's on your Ipod when you go out for runs?
A huge array of music could be playing. Anything from AC/DC to Kanye West to Two Door Cinema Club.
What professional athlete would you most like to meet?
Nick Symmonds
What is something that most people don't know about you?
I used to play the clarinet in Middle School.
