| 2/12/2009 2:44:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| SEASON OPENER — Pictured above, Agnew at the opening meet of the 2008 season at Watertown High School. — File photo. |
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| FOURTH-PLACE FINISH — Pictured above, Agnew competes at the 2008 WIAA State Meet in Wisconsin Rapids, where he finished fourth with a time of 15:44. — Submitted photo. |
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Catching up with Spencer Agnew
A Q-and-A interview with the Fort Atkinson High School senior distance runner
By Mike Schmidt
Sports Writer
A few weeks before he is set to begin his final track season at Fort Atkinson High School, senior distance runner and future Marquette University student-athlete Spencer Agnew sat down with Daily Union sports assistant Mike Schmidt to discuss a number of different topics. Below is their conversation...
Q: What are some of the goals you have for this, your final track season at Fort Atkinson High School?
A: Stay healthy and prepare for next year. Time-wise, I am going to try to get as close as I can, if not break some of the school records that Ryan (Gasper) set. If I can do that, that'd be awesome. Because he was really good runner.
Q: How does Spencer Agnew prepare for races? Do you have any particular rituals or, you know, preparation methods that help get you in the zone to run your races?
A: The night before a race, right before I'm going to bed, I try to sit there and visualize...about the race, think about how I want it to go, how I want to run the race. And then I always listen to my I-Pod right before, just to get jacked up.
Q: Some runners are more cross country guys that go out for track in the spring, and other guys are track guys who want to stay in shape in the fall. Which (category) would you kind of fall under?
A: In the past I think I've been more of a track guy, where I've excelled more at the mile. But as I grew up in high school, I think I've gotten better at cross country, and as I've ran more miles, I've started to build on the longer distances...which is what I think I'm going to focus on in college.
Q: Thinking back on your career up to this point in high school, what would be the first memory, a positive memory, that pops into your mind?
A: I guess just because it's the most recent, this past year at (WIAA) State (cross country). It was memorable.
Q: What would be the most frustrating or disappointing time, or a period of time where your confidence was shaken?
A: Definitely my sophomore year, when I had a stress fracture... I was really excited and had a lot of confidence. Then my season was over.
Q: A lot is known about you and what you've been able to accomplish in track and on the cross country course. What do you like to do outside of running and school?
A: I like to go on the computer, and this goes with running, I like to check out a website called DyeStat (www.dyestat.com). I really like playing basketball too, I played intramurals, sophomore year was my last year. Other than that, I just like hanging out with friends.
Q: How did your opportunity to go run at Marquette and go to school there kind of come about, and how did that come to fruition?
A: They were the first major letter I received after my senior year of cross country. So I sent my questionnaire back, and then after that I started taking to the coach (Mike Nelson) and e-mailing him and it kind of snowballed. I went to visit, got phone calls and really started to connect with the coach and the program there.
Q: What are some of your goals and your aspirations for your time (at Marquette)?
A: I want to get better as a runner and see how far running can take me? I don't really know what my potential is, so it'd be cool to see how far I can get. I want to help contribute to the team And it'd be really cool, but it's going to be really tough, to become an All-American. I don't know, we'll see what happens.
Q: What do you plan to study (at Marquette)?
A: I'm thinking about going into physician assistant studies.
Q: Why that particular field?
A: I really like science, chemistry and all that stuff. I would've (studied to be a physician), but the schooling is so hard and long that I figured, I'm doing almost the same thing, just that I can do it in five years compared to like 13.
Q: I have to ask a future Marquette guy this: Warriors or Golden Eagles, which is the better name?
A: People are going to hate me, but I'm going to say Golden Eagles.
Q: From your time in high school...who would you say is the funniest or wackiest teammate you've had in your time at Fort Atkinson?
A: (Laughing) Our whole group is weird. The funniest guy is probably Marc Erickson...or Sam Fitzgerald. Those guys are always entertaining.
Q: What is one word that you could use to describe cross country coach Chick Westby?
A: I would say "caring."
Q: What is one word to describe yourself as just an overall person?
A: Determined.
Other facts about Fort Atkinson High School senior track and cross country runner (and future Marquette Golden Eagle) Spencer Agnew:
5-kilometer personal record: 15:44
2-mile (3,200 meters) personal record: 9:32
1-mile personal record: 4:20
Favorite cross country course or courses: Verona High School and The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids (site of the WIAA State Meet).
Least favorite cross country course or courses: Watertown High School.
I-Pod pump-up song: "Heart of a Champion" by Nelly.
Sports heroes: Nick Willis (2008 1,500-meter bronze medalist and New Zealand native); former University of Wisconsin runners Chris Solinsky and Matt Tegenkamp.
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