The boys cross country team finished the season as the 8th best team in the state of Texas after winning both the district and regional championships. They were led by junior runner, Miles Westbrook, who placed 15th overall out of 150 runners at the Nov. 3 state meet in Round Rock.
Q: Can we know the backstory of your name? Is there a story behind it?
“There’s a little bit of a story, so one of my great grandma’s maiden names was Miles and then also the Denver Broncos (his father’s favorite team) mascot’s name is Miles.”
Q: What do you think about your name being Miles and you being a cross-country runner?
“I think that’s a good coincidence. I think it’s pretty funny, maybe it has something to do with my success. I think it’s pretty cool.”
Q: How long have you been running?
“For about three and a half, four years now.”
Q: With this season coming to a close do you think you have achieved your own personal goals?
“Time wise yes, but I definitely think I can run faster and since we are coming to a close, it’s championship season. So really, all my goals will be done in the next three weeks.”
Q: What is your personal best time for the 5K?
“15 minutes and 34 seconds.” At the Trooper Twilight meet on Aug. 25.
Q: What makes you enjoy running so much, even though most people hate it?
“I think it’s a factor of being pretty good, pretty talented and also, just like going outside having something to do. It does suck a lot of the time, but I also like the numbers thing. So I like to look at improvement and I like the science part. So you learn why you’re getting better and how to get better more efficiently”
Q: Do you think the shoes you wear can affect how you run and your race times?
“I think so, I think they play a pretty decent part depending on what you’re running and on where you’re running and on what surface. And then also it’s kind of a mental thing knowing you have a really good pair of shoes can help our mental process.”
Q: Do you think long distance running is more about mental strength or physical strength?
“Definitely physical strength. I think the mental part comes in after you become as strong as you can. So you definitely have to be fit before the mental part can play a big role. But yeah, once you’re up there with the top, you definitely have to be pretty mentally strong.”
Q: Do you think the type of training you do affects your performance?
“Yeah, I definitely do, I think it has to be more catered towards you, and you got to make sure you’re doing what’s right for you and not just the general training that everyone would do.”
Q: What do you think is the hardest part about running cross country?
“Probably the time, you’re usually out there at least an hour a day, sometimes twice. Mornings, afternoons and waking up before school. That is probably the hardest part.”
Q: Do you feel that you’ve achieved your personal goals for this season and are you happy with how you finished at State?
“I think I got pretty close; I think I got my beginning of the year goals, but midway through I thought I could maybe do a little bit better. I think I could have maybe got top ten but yeah, I’m pretty happy with it.”
Q: So where do you see yourself at this time next year?
“Hopefully winning state and cross and maybe braking 15 minutes.”
