Ben Ewert is a senior at Beavercreek High School. His 2nd place 1600m finish at the 2016 D1 OATCCC Indoor Championships makes him the top returner indoors in 2017. Ben has committed to run at Louisville University.
MileSplit Ohio: Ben, thank you for this opportunity to interview one of the finest runners in Ohio. Your 18th place finish at the D1 2016 OHSAA Cross Country State Meet and your 2nd place finish at the D1 2016 OATCCC Indoor Championships have highlighted both your strength and speed as a high school runner. Furthermore, you won the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in the 2k steeplechase. After succeeding in a variety of events, where will your focus be in the upcoming track season?
Ben Ewert: I just want to start by thanking you for the opportunity to do this interview with you. This upcoming track season I will be focusing my efforts on the mile, the 2k steeple, and helping my team in the 4x800m relay.
As you look ahead to collegiate running, how do you feel about the increase to 8k and 10k races for cross country? Do you plan to race in the 3k steeplechase in track?
I look forward to racing in the 8k and 10k distances, but I am a little nervous about it, especially with cross country not being my favorite. I will definitely run the 3k steeple in college, and I am excited to move up to that distance from the 2k.
How has your training progressed after the 2016 cross country season? Do you work on speed during the winter? And, if so, what are your go-to workouts?
My training dipped right after cross country because I took a week off. So far during the winter, I have mostly been focusing on slowly building up my mileage so that I will have a good base to work off, especially with the increase in distance in the Fall. There has been some light speed work, but mostly threshold workouts and step-down runs so far.
Describe your season opening 4:28.26 mile at Findlay High School. What are your goals for this indoor track season?
My first mile of the season was very interesting to say the least. I lost my right spike within 50m of the start of the race when someone stepped on my heel. This definitely held me back a little during the race because I did not want to hurt my foot. I was very happy with the race as a whole and felt like it was a strong performance to start off the year. My goals for this indoor track season are to make it to indoor state and New Balance Nationals in the mile, and to perform my best at both.
What races are you most looking forward to in the 2017 indoor track season?
I am really looking forward to racing the mile at the MileSplit Scholastic Showcase at Spire because it always has great competition and I love the facility. I am also looking forward to indoor state, but I feel like everyone looks forward to that meet.
Why did you choose Louisville University?
I chose Louisville University because they have an excellent engineering program and athletic facilities. I also really liked the coaching staff, coaching style, and their team dynamic. They have produced several very talented steeple chasers over the years and know what it takes to coach one. The university is fairly close to home, so I can come home on the weekends when I get a chance.
Walk us through your 2016 OATCCC Indoor Championships 1600m race. What will you improve in your races this season?
I remember that I worked my way up from the back of the pack throughout the race, and I was able to grab second place with my kick on the final lap. I want to work on taking my time in those big races and not go right to the front. I want to focus on just moving up through the pack and getting in a good position so that I can use my kick effectively.
After you graduate, how
would you like Beavercreek High School and the Ohio high school running
community to remember you?
I want to be remembered for being able to perform well in cross country, but to have really excelled in track. Mainly, though, I would just like to be remembered as the kid from Beavercreek who could lay down a mean steeplechase and then go out and out kick someone in a mile.
What is your favorite running memory? What is the most important lesson running has taught you?
My favorite running memory has to be all the long runs over the many high school seasons. Those runs always have great conversations and laughs. I've made a lot friends on those runs, and I still look forward to going on them today. The most important lesson running has taught me is that hard work pays off! "Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard."
Who are some people you can thank for your running success and why?
I definitely want to thank my mom and dad for getting into running in the first place with Summer track. My dad is basically a second coach who I can bounce ideas off, and my mom, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, has helped with many running pains. I also must thank Coach Russ and Coach Weckesser for pushing me throughout cross country and track. My biggest thank you would have to go to Vince Peters. He is well known in the race walk community, but is an excellent running coach. I have him to thank for getting me started in the steeplechase and for really helping me develop in all aspects of my running.
Thank you, MileSplit Ohio wishes you the best of luck in your upcoming seasons and training!
