Salute To Seniors: Thomas Boyden (Skyline)


Want To Be Our Next Senior Salute? Find Out How!


School: Skyline


What was your most memorable race/throw/jump/vault/moment?

    Most memorable race so far is probably a tie between when I broke the 1600 state record or when I broke the Eagle Island Park course record. The 1600 was really special because I got to beat Casey Clinger's record, someone who I looked up to when I was younger, and I've always wanted to be on the record board in order to leave a mark before I leave for college. His time of 4:06 was something that I'd had on my mind for about a year and a half and so it was super satisfying to beat. Bob Firman was also really special because it was a goal I had set in the summer and I was able to go out and perfectly execute the race plan and come out on top. That was also my first really big XC meet that I won.

Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?

    Over my four years, the biggest competition I had was probably Grant Gardner. I made a big jump junior year of track, so we were able to go back and forward in a few big races during the 2019 outdoor track season.


What was your greatest accomplishment?

    My greatest accomplishments for track are probably the two state records when I doubled 4:05 and 8:50 at Snow Canyon. For cross country, the 14:59 5k CR at Firman and 14:39 5k PR for cross country at desert twilight. Also maybe the two FLCC performances.


If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?

   If I could do it all over again, there probably isn't too much I regret or would change because I feel pretty satisfied with the work I've put in and what I've saved for later. However, if I had to choose I would say to do all the little things as best you can, because it does make a big difference and can help with any lingering tightness or pain.

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

    The most difficult obstacle I had to overcome was probably being patient in my training and knowing that once I started to get more mileage under my belt and grow physically, I was bound to break out. My first year and half of running took a while to get going. I wasn't as fast relative to my grade and racing was a lot harder. Then once my sophomore year of track hit I made a huge jump. This was a result of many things like my mileage and workouts, but I also hit a growth spurt. Remaining patient and knowing the success would come was hard but in the end, it paid off. Also learning how to bounce back after a tough race was really hard too.

What will you miss the most?

    The thing I'll miss the most is definitely my coach and teammates.

What advice would you give to younger athletes?

    Stay patient and be consistent. Keep a training log to track your improvements and mileage and always take a lot of caution with any pain or tightness to avoid injury. Avoiding injury is key as your seasons start to add on top of one another and you're able to improve your aerobic base more efficiently.


What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?

    My coach has taught me how to bounce back from a tough race or workouts, while also providing me with a very high level of training and showing me how far I can really push my body. I wouldn't have accomplished the same without him.

What are your college plans?

    I will be running cross country and track in Palo Alto for Stanford University

Who would you like to say thank you to?

    I would like to say thank you to all of my family, friends, teammates, coaches, and anyone who cheered me on throughout high school.