Keeping pace with Pringle

No matter your favorite sport in the years spent at WHS, college athletes are and will always be an unofficial beacon. They are the ones who have made it to varsity and beyond, blazing a trail for new and experienced athletes alike to follow. Justin Pringle, a track and cross country runner from the class of 2015, has done just that. While still at Wenatchee High School, he dashed through his seasons and in cross country, even competed at State level twice, earning himself places of 120th as a junior and 72nd as a senior in the 5K race. He now runs at Central Washington University and after completing the cross country season, he is currently preparing for the upcoming track season.

The Apple Leaf: “Tell us a little about your recent cross country season. Can you describe how you did and what you learned?”

Justin Pringle: “My recent cross country season was definitely interesting. The coaching style was completely different where every mile was mapped out, there was an emphasis on strategy and form where in high school there wasn’t as much of that just because the team at WHS was so much larger and the coaches were spread so thin. The college team just seemed to work together in races where in high school there was more of a lone wolf mentality. I learned how to be a teammate IN the races, not just at practice.”

AL: “What are your goals for the upcoming track season?”

JP: “My goal for track season is to learn the strategy behind my new event, which is the 5k, as compared to the two mile. In college, there is a basic understanding that freshman year is about learning, sophomore year is finalizing strategy, and junior and senior year is about getting faster and better with the mindset of helping the team succeed, which is the main goal. In college, it isn’t about the individual, it’s about the team, so my goal is to help my team succeed.”

AL: “Why did you choose to run at CWU?”

JP: “I chose CWU because of location. I really love my little brother Kaleb, and I wanted to make sure I could come and see him succeed in swimming. A lot of kids want to get as far away from family as possible, but my brother is my motivation and for me, at the end of the day it all comes down to family. Also, CWU has that little guy mentality where there is always something to prove, which I love.”

AL: “Where have you seen differences between high school and college cross country and track?”

JP: “The differences between college and high school are huge. College has such a time commitment. We lift weights twice a week, run seven days a week, run 60 miles a week, there’s just a mentality that working hard is the only option. That mentality does start in high school and the coaches at WHS have done a great job getting me ready, it’s just in high school there were chances (if you took them) to slack off. In college there is no option.”

AL: “What are the biggest accomplishments and challenges you’ve experienced as a college distance runner?”

JP: “The biggest accomplishments I’ve had are actually not even really in running. It’s being able to be a part of a group of guys who really want to be there and get to the grind and improve each other. The biggest challenges have been injuries, which happens if you overwork. I’ve had a few already and they get frustrating, but my friends and teammates have been really supportive!”

AL: “What are your long-term goals, whether relating to running or otherwise?”

JP: “My long-term goals are to keep improving at running but also to keep up the integrity and honesty that I was taught from a young age by my parents. In college, it’s so easy to forget why you are there. It’s easy to get caught up in the sports and social life, but at the end of the day I’m here to learn and get a degree. I just focus on that and everything else seems to fall in place, so my goal is to keep that up.”