Karrington Winters
School Information
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School: |
New Albany, New Albany, OH |
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HS Class: |
2015 |
Personal Bests
- 100 Meter Dash 12.78
- 200 Meter Dash 25.08
- 400 Meter Dash 53.89
- 5,000 Meter Run 21:01.20
- 60 Meter Dash 8.07
New Albany's Sophomore Karrington Winters is the defending D1 State Champion in the 400m (53.95). As an 8th grader she tripled at the Middle School State Meet, winning the 100m (12.14), the 200m (24.87) and the 400m (58.90), bettering records set by Destinee Gause in the 100 and Kaila Barber in the 200. Gause is the only other girl to win the same triple in 2008. Karrigton's coach thinks that her best event just may be the 800. In 2010, she won the Natioal AAU Junior Olympics Girls, Sub-Youth, 800 Meter Run setting a new national record of 2:11.30. Whichever event or events she decides to run, she is poised as a Sophomore to become one of Ohio's best ever girl's track and field athletes.
OHRunners: Karrington, before we talk about your D1 400m win last Spring, I would like to go back and ask a few questions about your 2011 Middle School State performances. As an 8th grader, you tripled at the Middle School State meet. You won the 100m, the 200m and the 400m. Not only did you win, but in the 100 and the 200 you established new meet records. In the 100, you ran 12.14 besting Reynoldsburg’s Destinee Gause’s 2008 record of 12.17. In the 200, you ran 24.87, besting Midpark's Kaila Barber’s 2007 record of 25.08. As you look back at that meet, how do you view your accomplishments?
Karrington: I look back and truly feel it was a great accomplishment. I really feel blessed that I was able to accomplish that; to think that I bested a record by probably the most decorated High School sprinter ever in the State of Ohio (Destinee Gause), it is a great accomplishment.
OHRunners: When did you first start running? What did you run?
Karrington: I started running the summer after my 6th grade school year (2009). I started running the 100 and 200 as I, nor my coaches really knew what I could do. Late in the season my coaches realized during a practice that I may be pretty good at the 400, as well. So they put me in it and I went on to win the bronze at the AAU Jr. Olympics National Meet in Iowa.
OHRunners: You have excellent speed in the 100 and the 200, but taking that speed and moving up to the 400 resulted in a D1 State title as a Freshman in 2012 in a winning time of 53.95. Was your move to the 400 a coaching decision or was it something that you wanted to do?
Karrington: I have actually been blessed in a few events. I set a then national record in the 800 meters at the AAU National Junior Olympic meet in 2010. I’ve moved around a bit at times between the 100, 200, 400 and 800. Along with winning the 800 at the National level, I won the 400 at the National meet in 2010 and 2011; with that being said, yes, it was a coaching decision based on the fact that I suffered an injury during Cross Country in the fall. My coach wanted me to take it really easy in indoor and onto the track outdoor. He felt it would be best for me to work on what may be my easiest/least grueling event my Freshman year and it worked out well.
OHRunners: What was your injury in XC?
Karrington: During the cross country season my freshman year, my left foot was bothering me. My mother and I went to the doctor after the Regional meet and we found out that I had a stress fracture.
OHRunners: Having been on the National stage at the AAU Junior Olympics, as a Freshman las year, describe your thoughts as you went into Jess Owens stadium ? What were your expectations?
Karrington: I was so nervous, excited, and in awe of all the great athletes. I really just wanted to enjoy myself and do the best I could. Obviously, I really did want to win, but with it being my first State meet, I didn’t really know what to expect.
OHRunners: Can you compare your experience as a Freshman at State with those of the AAU Junior Olympics? Do you fell that running at the AAU level helped to prepare you for running at the State level?
Karrington: At the AAU Junior Olympics, there were a lot more people than at States and I believe that it helped me handle the crowd at States much better. I was more nervous/anxious for State because of the age differences between me and my opponents. At the AAU meets, I raced against and only against girls my age.
OHRunners: Can you describe for us your thoughts as you were getting into the starting blocks in the prelims of the 400? In the finals?
Karrington: In the prelims, I thought about keeping my composure and form to get through to the finals. In the finals, I kept myself from getting too worked up, I tried to free my mind as much as possible. Pretty much the only thing I was thinking about was what my coach told me to do. In all my races, when I hear the gun go off my mind then starts racing.
OHRunners: What did your coach tell you to do?
Karrington: My coach told me to get out fast, break the stagger, coast and then bring it home..all while maintaining excellent form.
OHRunners: How do you break down the 400? Do you visualize your races from start to finish?
Karrington: During my race, I try to emulate Sonya Richards Ross. Depending on the field, I try to sprint the first 100 and then back down and stride the next 50 and then I bring it home in the final 250 with everything I have. While giving everything I have, I try my best not to get sloppy, keep my stride long and concentrate on holing my form. Yes, I do visualize my races. Sometimes, how I envision a race is how it turns out and sometimes it's not.
OHRunners: How much pace work do you do in terms of hitting specific times during a 400, or is it more of an experience/how you feel during the three segments of the race you have described?
Karrington: Earlier meets in the season, I work on starting strong and finishing strong. As I get closer to State and National meets, I start focusing on hitting certain times in those the segments of the 400m.
OHRunners: Describe your State championship run for us from the start to the finish? As you entered the strait away coming off the turn, you had the lead. How did you feel at that point?
Karrington: All my thoughts were on catching Brianna quickly. (Brianna Neitzel, Brunswick 2nd 55.11, Champion 2011 54.7). With her being the State champ in 2011, my mind and sights went straight to her when the gun went off. Once I took the lead, I started to really think that the race was mine and that I simply needed to hold it together, trusting my training, my coaching and my abilities. Winning it was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.
OHRunners: In regards to the 400m, it is quite an accomplishment and an honor to win the D1 title, let alone as a freshman. As you look forward to defend, what are your thoughts in regards to Jessica Beard of Euclid’s OHSAA D1, State Meet and Owens Stadium record of 51.63?
Karrington: I have to be honest and say that I would love to break that record by my senior year, but more importantly, I want to compete in other events and most importantly in a relay or two with teammates; hopefully putting us in contention for an overall team state title.
OHRunners: Your coach, Otis Winston, and I quote from an article in ThisWeek Community News, dated June 13, 2012 said "Karrington took (her state title) in stride because she's used to success. I always tell the girls, 'Act like you've been there before.' I don't want them to overreact and I don't want them to under react. As coaches, we're just trying to put people in a position where they can be successful. The thing is, Karrington's best event is probably the 800." The 800 is becoming a speed race. You have proven that you have the speed for the 100 and the 200 and the endurance of the 400. You have an AAU National title in the 800. Will we see you run an 800 this year?
Karrington: We’ll see. We will see where we are as a team and how the season goes. Depending on where our relays are, it may or may not be possible. I’m really excited for whatever the season brings. If the 800 is possible this year, then I will give it everything I have.
OHRunners: Last year, you were 3rd indoors at the OATCCC indoor championships in the 400 with a time of 57.03. Junior, Megan Osborne of Chillicothe was second in 56.60. She was 3rd outdoors in 56.38, but had also gone through the qualifying heats for the 100 and the 200, finishing 2nd in the 100 before the 400, and running 5th in the 200. One, are you planning to run the 400 indoors again and how do you view a fresh Megan as a competitor?
Karrington: I do plan on running the 400 at the State Indoor Meet. Last year my Coach really had a great plan for me understanding that I pretty much had been competing all year round for a couple years between Soccer, Cross Country, Basketball, Track in the spring and the AAU summer track season. With my Cross Country injury, he felt that I was right where I needed to be at the Indoor State Meet. He had a great plan for me that worked out great as the end goal was the Outdoor State Championship Meet. Megan is one of the best sprinters in the Nation, let alone in Ohio. It’s an honor to be mentioned in the same breath, I grew to like her from the time we met and I look forward to competing with her.
OHRunners: Karrington. Thank you so much for your time. We are looking forward to watching you run this season and in the next few to come.
