Jake Hiltner, as a junior at Wadsworth HS placed 10th in the OHSAA Div.1 800m. His time was 1:55.10. In 2010, Jake has the following credentials in the 800m:
March 7 1st OATCCC Indoor State 1:56.50
May 15 1st OHSAA Districts 1:50.63
May 21 1st OHSAA Regionals 1:52.96
May 27 1st OHSAA State 4 x 800 (Anchor) 7:39.72 (New State Record)
May 28 1st OHSAA State Div. 1 1:51.15
June 6 1st Midwest Meet of Champions 1:50.51
June 19 3rd New Balance Nationals 1:50.42
What's next for Jake?
I spoke with him following the New Balance Nationals about the race, his high school career and his upcoming collegiate career.
OHRunners: Congratulations on a great season. You went from 10th in the State in the Div. 1 800m last year in 1:55.10 to a strong 3rd place finish at the New Balance Nationals with a new PR of 1:50.42. In fact, until the New Balance Nationals, you had not been beaten this year in the 800.
At Nationals, you were .45 seconds behind Sean Krinik from Valencia, Ca. Krinik’s winning time was 1:49.57. You ran negative splits of 56.04 and 54.39.
Did you have a race plan?
Jake: Well I didn’t want to go out too fast but I still wanted to be up in the front of the pack. I also didn’t want to lead the race. I just wanted to stay in striking distance until about 200 meters left and then start my kick.
OHRunners: I thought that the race was setting up well for you with your speed. I expected the 1st 400 pace to be a little faster than 55-56. The acceleration down the backstretch and just going into the curve was exactly what I anticipated and I thought that you were in a very good position with 200 to go. It looked at that point like it was still anyone’s race.
Jake: Well with about 300 left is when I got tripped up a little bit, so it took a little while to get back up to my full speed.
OHRunners: Do you think that you may have waited too long to start your sprint? Just after the 200m mark, you seemed surprised when some of the runners passed you and you were suddenly boxed in, but in the frantic sprint to finish, the inside opened up for you. Were you surprised when that happened?
Jake: I was a little surprised when they started to pull away, but I knew I had a lot left, so I wasn’t that worried. I didn’t think I was going to be boxed in for most of the race, so I guess I did pretty well for that happening. Going into the last straight away I was pretty mad that I let myself get boxed in, but then Krinik bounced out to lane two which gave me a straight shot to the finish line.
OHRunners: Well, You ran an excellent race and 3rd place at Nationals is a great accomplishment.
What goals did you set for yourself going into this Season? Did you meet your goals?
Jake: One goal after districts was to break 1:50. That didn’t happen. My two other goals were to win State in the 800 and the 4x800. Both of these goals happened.
OHRunners: Let’s go back a little. When did you start running?
Jake: I think that I first started running in the 4th grade in the Hersey’s Track Meet. I think my time may have been around 5:40. I qualified for state in the mile and won it! So that was the first actual race I had.
OHRunners: You have excellent 400m speed, 48.39 to be exact. When did you decide to try the 800m?
Had you been running the 400 up until then?
Jake: I first decided to focus on the 800 my freshman year. In middle school I was more of a miler, but I switched my focus to the 800 so I could make the 4x8 team. I didn’t make it that year but I made it my goal to make it my sophomore year, and I was the fastest guy on it my sophomore year. I have stuck with it ever since then.
I really just ran the open 400 this year once, and that was at our league meet. My coach wanted me to get the school record and I did.
OHRunners: What do you like about the 800? What do you dislike?
Jake: I like the 800 because I have really good quarter speed and I have good endurance. That’s what makes a great 800 runner. I think the mile is too long for my liking and the 400’s too short, so the 800 to me, is the perfect race!
I don’t really dislike anything about the 800. I have run it so many times that I have grown to love the race.
OHRunners: I noticed that you have run a 4:24.78 in the1600. Do you have any plans for taking your 400 and 800 speed and moving up to the 1600? (Photo by Mark Stonecipher)
Jake: I wasn’t fresh when I ran that 4:24. I had run a 1:54 split in the 4x8 just before that race. My best mile is a 4:16, which I ran a couple of days after state at a get together at Perry's track. They set up their FAT, so it was a legit time. I really surprised myself after that race.
I think my focus will be on the 800 in college, but I definitely think that I will run the 1500 more than the 400, so it will be my second focus behind the 800.
OHRunners: What is a typical week of practice for you in the early season? During the competitive season? Do you do any distance running as a base in the summer? What kind of miles do you do?
Jake: Early in the season we will have 2 long run days. A long run for me is anywhere from 8 to 10 miles. Another day is dedicated to our hill workout, and then a tempo day. Our hill workouts consist of going up and down a hill that counts as one. We do 3 sets of 5, sometimes 4 sets. Those are some of the hardest workouts we do, and because it’s during the winter. A tempo will just be about 40 minutes and have certain periods of time during the run where will pick up the pace.
During the actual season we will usually include a long run on the weekend. We will take it easy on Monday for our meets on Tuesdays. Wednesday we will be on the track doing a hard track workout.
OHRunners: What do your hard track workouts consist of?
Jake: We do a variety of different track workouts. They usually consist of repeat 400s. We would do 2 sets of 5 at about 62 pace, with a 90-minute rest in between. We will also do repeat 500’s and repeat 600’s. Usually do about 5 or 6 of those.
Then we will just do easy 30-minute runs on Thursday and Friday, and then compete on Saturday.
OHRunners: One of your goals was to run the 4x8. Not only did you make that squad but you anchored a Wadsworth team of Jacob Sussman, Aaron Tipton and Russ McCune to a new Ohio State record this year in winning the Div. 1 State championship in a time of 7:39.72. You have been running with these guys for several years. It must have been a big training help for you as well as them to have 4 good 800 runners on the same High School team?
Jake: My teammates have really helped me training wise because a lot of good runners are all by themselves during workouts. That’s not the case for me. It’s definitely a good thing to have good runners like Sussman and Tipton to train with.
OHRunners: What type of work have you done in the off-season?
Jake: I play soccer, so I didn’t get to start training until about November. That’s when I would get my miles in. we would do our hill workouts and our tempos. Its pretty tough doing those workouts in sub zero weather and icy roads, but I really think that is what makes me and my team so tough, physically and mentally. I just play soccer during the summer.
OHRunners: Did you play for Wadsworth HS or private club?
Jake: I play for my high school team and also for a number of private clubs.
OHRunners: Where will you be running next?
Jake: I’m not really sure yet on where I will be attending school in the fall, but it will most likely be Ashland University so I can play soccer and also run track as well.
OHRunners: Are you considering any other schools where a track scholarship would mean an end to your soccer career? I heard through the rumor mill that you were considering the University of Virginia. and UVA. is a hotbed for 800 runners.
Jake: I haven’t really got any other offers for just track yet. I am still just talking to schools. But yes, if the right school comes up with the right offer, then yes, I would end my soccer career. I have been talking to a lot of schools recently, but nothing too serious yet.
OHRunners: Thanks Jake. Congratulations again on a great season and High School career. I know that you will do well at the next level wherever you attend school.