Brendon Copley

Colchester HS

2012

 

Best times in a 5K and 3 Mile race?

16:24 NVAC Championships

 

Tell us how your training is going?

Summer training isn't quite where I wish it was,  slowly recuperating from mono but starting to pick up the mileage and ease into it with a lot of x training

 

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

My goals are to stay healthy enough to put in a good showing at states and New Englands as a team and individually.

 

How long have you been running and how did you get started?

Does running around playing when i was 5 count?  I'm not sure but I just feel like I've always been doing it.

 

Will you be competing out of state this season?

Yes. Hopefully twice - once at Manchester, Connecticut. and the other at New Englands in Rhode Island this year.

 

Favorite course to run in Vermont?

Catamount, because it's the first big invitational of the year and is very exciting and a lovely race.

Toughest course in Vermont?

Thetford, by far! There are so many hills.

Favorite Cross Country race so far in your high school career?

States last year

 

Favorite Cross Country memory?

Winning the state championship

When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?

Anything outdoors. Windsurfing, snowboarding, hiking, or mountain biking all are very fun

Favorite quote?

"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."

-Japanese proverb

 

 

Taylor Spillane

Champlain Valley Union HS

2013

 

Best times in a 5K and 3 Mile race?

Missisquoi NVAC Districts Time: 19.01

 

Tell us how your training is going?

Summer training has been a big step for me because this is my first summer actually training for cross country. I feel like I have balanced working hard and having fun!

 

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

I want to continue to improve my times while feeling strong. I also want to be encouraging to my teammates.

 

How long have you been running and how did you get started?

I have always enjoyed running, but for many years it has conflicted with soccer. It was last summer that I really took training for my soccer mile seriously and found that running was a passion.

 

Will you be competing out of state this season?

I am hoping to be able to experience out of state competition to be surrounded by all the great runners.

 

Favorite course to run in Vermont?

Thetford! I love the rolling hills, the woods and the grueling course. It is a perfect fit for me!

Toughest course in Vermont?

I believe Thetford is the hardest course in my state due to the monster hills and the sloooww times.

Favorite Cross Country race so far in your high school career?

The Nike Northeast Regional Race has been, by far, my favorite race. It was amazing to reach all of our goals. I was impressed with the heart my team showed, it pushed me and everyone even harder!

 

Favorite Cross Country memory?

My favorite cross country memory was taking showers and cleaning up after our first run in Oregon in preparation for Nike Nationals. It was funny to walk out after a good hour and a half to see our coaches faces...they were not impressed with our lack of speed during this process!

When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?

I am an avid alpine ski racer. I love snow and the winters!

Favorite quote?

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift." -Steve Prefontaine
 

 

 

Jack Hegman

Mount Mansfield Union HS/Burke Mt. Academy

2012

 

Best times in a 5K and 3 Mile race?

5k time: 16:01 End of season race in Montpelier, VT

 

Tell us how your training is going?

This summer I trained just for Nordic skiing but training involved 1 hour and a half to three hour runs about 2-3 times a week.

 

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

My goals for this upcoming season are to break sixteen and to win the Vermont state title

 

How long have you been running and how did you get started?

Last year was my first year racing cross-country and I joined because I was doing pretty well in track and wanted to see how I would do in XC.

 

Will you be competing out of state this season?

No I will stick to Vermont Races besides New England's.

 

Favorite course to run in Vermont?

Thetford

Toughest course in Vermont?

Thetford

Favorite Cross Country race so far in your high school career?

2010 New Englands at Thetford

 

Favorite Cross Country memory?

My first race at Catamount Family Center in Williston, VT. Hardest but most rewarding race I have ever done.

When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?

SKI

Favorite quote?

Go BIG or go HOME

 

 

Aleksey Jordick

Champlain Valley Union HS

2013

 

Best times in a 5K and 3 Mile race?

My best 5K time is 19:30 at Mississquoi Valley HS.

 

Tell us how your training is going?

My summer training is going very well.  I have been doing a variety of different runs and I have also been going to the gym to improve my overall strength and fitness.

 

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

My goals for this season are mostly team goals that I want to accomplish with my team, such as winning states and winning the local invitationals. As for myself I would like to set a PR of 19 minutes.

 

How long have you been running and how did you get started?

I have been running since I was in 3rd grade.  I became interested because my brother ran in middle school, so I joined Girls on the Run, an organization motivating girls to be healthy and active.

 

Will you be competing out of state this season?

Yes, we will be racing in Manchester, New Hampshire, in the Manchester Invitational. We will also be competing at New Englands in Rhode Island at the end of the season.

 

Favorite course to run in Vermont?

My favorite course to run in my state was the Keenan’s Race in Charlotte, Vermont.

Toughest course in Vermont?

The hardest course to run in Vermont would be Thetford. This course is challenging due to the hilly terrain and the weather changes the dynamics of the race.

Favorite Cross Country race so far in your high school career?

My favorite race that I’ve run in high school would have to be the State Championship Meet from 2010-2011 cross country season. I personally had a strong performance, and I also enjoyed running in a pack with my teammates which led us to win the Vermont State Title.

 

Favorite Cross Country memory?

My overall favorite cross country memory is qualifying for Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon. In order to get there we had to place in the top two in the Northeast Division at Nike Cross Regionals. This was the first time a team from Vermont had made it this far.

When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?

My favorite activity to do when I am not running is being with my friends and spending time with my brother.

Favorite quote?

"It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret." - Jackie Joyner-Kersee

 

Stuart Guertin

Middlebury Union HS

2012

 

 

Markie Palermo

Essex HS

2013

 

 

Ben Bunnell

St. Johnsbury Academy

2012

 

 

Elle Purrier

Richmond Junior/Senior HS

2013

 

 

Patrick Caldwell

Stratton Mountain HS

2012