An Interview with Aaron Withrow

Aaron Withrow is a Junior at Winfield High School in Winfield, West Virginia. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound junior won the Group AA/A state meet this past cross country season with a time of 16:09.71, breaking the tape 20.48 seconds ahead of his next-closest competitor and leading the Generals to a fifth-place finish as a team. In the post season, Withrow placed 15th at the Nike Southeast Regional championships in Cary, North Carolina. He is a two-time First Team All-State selection in cross country.

Last track season, Withrow led the Generals to their eighth Boys’ Track & Field team championship in class AA. He was a double winner in the 1600m and 3200m, placed 3rd in the 800m and 4 x 800 relay, while earning high point honors with 27 1/2.

His PR’s are: 800m - 1:59.88; 1600m - 4:22.00; 1 Mile (in) - 4:28.20; 3200m - 9:20.61; 5K (xc) - 15:35.00.

Withrow’s parents are Clint and Angie Withrow. He two siblings, older brother Isaac and younger sister Rachael.

Withrow has maintained a 4.238 GPA in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

Below is an interview I did with Aaron Withrow. We discuss his beginnings, successes, and upcoming track season.

Coach McMillion – Aaron, let’s start at the beginning. How did you first get involved in running and what about running did you enjoy the most?

Aaron Withrow – I first started running track when I was in 8^th grade. A lot of my friends ran and wanted me to try it, but I wasn’t really interested. However, the day practice started I decided to run. The thing I enjoyed the most was how track was both a team and individual sport. I like the aspect of knowing if I win or lose, it’s on me and my results aren’t dependent on others. I ran the 800m, relays and high jumped. Following my 8^th grade track season, I made the decision to run cross country for the first time in 9^th grade.

CM - What other activities did you enjoy as a youngster?

AW – As a kid I played pretty much every sport. Basketball was always my favorite and my best sport, but I also played baseball and football.

CM – How many years have you been running?

AW – I have been running for three years.

CM - Is there a general training philosophy which you believe in?

AW – I generally believe in Arthur Lydiard’s training philosophy. It’s basically a balanced combination of aerobic and anaerobic training.

CM – As your own running progressed, how many miles per week did you run each year (grade 8, 9, 10, etc)?

AW – My 8^th grade year of track I ran the 400m and 800m, but I trained with the sprinters. I was probably running less than 5 miles a week. My 9^th grade cross country season, I’d say I was doing about 30-35 a week. My freshman track season I ran 50 for most of the season. The summer before my 10^th grade cross country season I got up to 65 miles a week and ran 50-55 most of the season. The summer before my 11^th grade cross country season, I got up to 75 miles a week and during the season ran 55.

CM - Please tell me a little about Winfield. What do you like most about your high school running experience?

AW – The thing I like the most about my high school running experience is definitely winning the track state title as a team last season. That was a great experience and I’m thankful for the opportunity to have two more chances to win it again.

CM – Who are your coaches in track and cross country?

AW – Coach Shawn Anderson coaches me in both track and cross country, and Todd McMillion coaches me in the off season.

CM – What sport do you like more – Cross Country or Track?

AW – I like track more because the races are shorter.

CM – What is your favorite training workout?

AW – My favorite workout to do in the off season is a 6-mile time trial on the track. During the season, my favorite workout is 12 x 400-meters.

CM - What is your favorite race distance to run?

AW - My favorite distance to run is the 1600-meter run.

CM – During your first year of high school Winfield was in the AAA Classification, but during your sophomore year they were reclassified to AA. What are the Pro’s and Con’s of participating in AA?

AW – I don’t think there are pros or cons to either division. There are fast people in both divisions and several meets run both classifications together. I treat every race the same and I’ll race anybody they put in front of me. Also, I really enjoy going to larger out of state meets to compete against some of the best guys in the nation to see how I stack up.

CM – Last track season you helped lead your team to a state track title by winning the 1600m and 3200m, placing third in the 800m and 4x800 relay, and taking home high point honors. Which award meant the most to you? Why?

AW – The 1600m win meant the most to me since that is my favorite event and it was a very hard-fought race.

CM – What was it like to be a part of winning a West Virginia High School Boys team track title?

AW – That was an incredible experience that I am grateful to have been a part of. It’s nice to win things individually, but it’s always fun to win something as a team and share it with your friends and teammates.

CM – This past cross country season you became only the third male Putnam County runner and first Winfield runner to win an individual State Cross Country Title. What did this victory mean to you and your coaches?

AW – Coach Anderson was extremely happy for me. He saw how hard I had worked and after coming up short the year before was glad to see me bring it home. To me, I felt relieved. It felt nice to have finally won one after getting second as a sophomore.

CM – Can you list some of your accomplishments during the 2017 cross country season?

AW – I was the West Virginia AA-A state champion, and also had a nice win at the Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, North Carolina. After the state meet, I ran at the Hoka One One 3200 Postal Nationals in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and placed 6^th and at the Nike Cross Southeast Regional back in Cary and placed 15^th. I also ended 2017 with the fastest time in West Virginia in the 1600m (4:22), 3200m (9:20), and 5K-XC (15:35).

CM – Now that this 2018 track season is upon us, what have you done to prepare mentally and physically for this track season?

AW – Physically, I’ve been training harder than I ever have before. This winter I’ve also added swimming to my program which I think will help me a lot. Mentally, I’m in a really good place and I can’t wait to get back to racing this season.

CM – Have you set any goals for yourself? If so, what?

AW – This season, I want to run as fast as I possibly can and defend my state titles in the 1600m and 3200m, as well as help my team repeat as state champions.

CM - I imagine that you are getting recruited pretty heavily with some of the times you have posted? Do you plan on running in college?

AW – Yes, I do plan on running in college.

CM – Which colleges are looking at you? Is there any that you are leaning towards or are you still undecided?

AW – I’ve been on a few visits this winter and have several more coming up. I’m still pretty open at this point, but my current top few choices are: Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, and North Carolina State. Right now, I’m really focused on the upcoming season and not really thinking too much about the college situation.

CM – Who would you credit your success to?

AW – I would point to my Savior Jesus Christ. I’m incredibly blessed and owe it all to Him. In addition, my parents have certainly done a lot to support me as well as my coaches.

CM – Can you list some of your community Involvement (community service, volunteer work, youth groups, church activities, charity fundraising, student leadership, school organizations, Special Olympics, tutoring, assisting the elderly, homeless, etc. Anything that demonstrates involvement outside of athletics and outside the classroom.

AW - I have completed two mission trips to inner city Charlotte, North Carolina (worked in food bank, clothing center, helped homeless, built wheelchair ramps for elderly). In addition, I volunteer annually at a regional collection center for Samaritan’s Purse. Also, I am a mentor to incoming freshmen through Link Crew and volunteer at a local nursing home with my church youth group. At school, I am a member of the academic honor societies NHS (National Honor Society) and Beta Club.

CM – Some things colleges look for in a student athlete is their high school grades and standardized test scores. What is your ACT score, GPA and current class rank?

AW - ACT: 34; GPA: 4.238; Class Rank: 1

CM - Thanks for your time Aaron. On behalf of RunWV I want to wish you continued success!

Submitted by Coach Mike McMillion (3/11/18)