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Aquina's Sr. Jake Caniford finishing his 12th place run in the 2014 D3 OHSAA State Championship.
St. Thomas Aquinas Sr. Jake Caniford ran 12th in last year's D3 Boys Championship. He is however, the #1 ranked returner having run a 14:47 at the Les Eisenhart Invitational. Last winter he was 5th at the Spire High School Showcase in the 3200 with a 9:49.48. He has been to to Jesse Owens Stadium twice with two 4th place finishes in the 3200. He ran 9:32.89 in 2014 and 9:26.63 in 2015. He's #1 in the rankings of the returners and has shown he has good 3200 speed. He will be on the podium in the Fall and may push for the #1 spot.
Best time in a 5K race and in which meet?
My best time in a 5k race is 15:47.00 at the 2014 Les Eisenhart Invitational.
Tell us how your summer training is going?
My summer training is going well so far. I took 10 days off after the State meet from Track season and now I am beginning to build up my mileage again.
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
My goals for the upcoming season is to just enjoy my senior year, run a new personal best time, and hopefully make it to the State meet again both individually and with my team.
How long have you been running and how did you get started?
I have been running since I joined my Elementary school track team in 3rd grade, but never became a distance runner until middle school. However, I wasn't very good at it and got last in most of our meets.
Will you be competing anywhere out of state?
I may compete in the NXN Midwest Regional meet, but it will depend on how the season plays out.
What is your favorite course to run in Ohio?
My favorite course to run in Ohio has to be the Les Eisenhart course. It is a very flat and fast course that usually brings some fast times.
What is the toughest course to run in Ohio?
The toughest course to run in Ohio has to be the Dover course. It is filled with many steep hills and is a huge challenge for runners to try and run a fast time.
What meet during the regular season do you put extra emphasize on to compete well at?
The meet during the regular season that I put extra emphasize on to compete well in is at the Tiffin Carnival. It is a very big meet, filled with great competition, and gives everyone a sneak peek of most of the top contenders in Ohio
What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career?
My favorite cross country race so far has to be the 2014 Stark County Championship. My teammates and I all ran fast times at that meet and we won the D2-D3 Stark County Title. It was also near home, so we were able to see and talk to many of our friends and competitors from other schools in the area.
Favorite cross country memory?
My favorite cross country memory has to be qualifying to the 2014 State meet individually and with the rest of my team after we finished 6th in 2013.
When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?
When I am not running, I love to spend time with my friends or my teammates.
Favorite quote?
"Sometimes by losing a battle, you find a new way to win the war." -Donald Trump.
What shoes do you train in?
My training shoes are Newton Kismets.
What shoes do you race in?
My racing shoes are Saucony Carreras.
What is on your iPod when you go out for runs?
I typically do not listen to music when I run.
What professional athlete would you most like to meet?
I would love to meet Galen Rupp or Mo Farah.
What is something that most people don't know about you?
Something that most people don't know about me is that I was originally a tennis player, but gave it up so I could continue to run.