Q and A with Drew O'Donoghue McDonald
Tomorrow morning, Seattle Prep runner, Senior, Drew O'Donoghue McDonald will be racing in his last high school cross country meet. McDonald will be going after the coveted 3A state championship. After winning the District 2 championship last Thursday with a time of 15:36, Drew has a strong chance to be the 3A champion.
We got a chance to talk to Drew about his season so far and the state meet tomorrow. Check out the interview after the jump!
What do you credit your success this season to?
I credit my sucess to first my coaches, my parents, and my brother. During the summer I was hurt almost the whole time, I only started running like every other day during the last few weeks before the season. My coaches Doc and Ben both kept me postive and reassured I would be back. My parents and brother especially kept me motivated during the summer when I was cross training.
Finally I was very hungry from the track season where I was hurt during state and finished 4th and 6th in the 3200 and 1600, when in the early season I thought I had a shot to compete for the top 3 spots.
How often do you talk to your brother about running? Do you talk to him after all of your races?
Oh yea, me and my brother are very close. He texts me before every race and I text him and we share the results. We also send texts about our harder workouts or some cool stuff that happened in training. We both want each other to succeed.
Note: Drew's brother, Max, runs Cross Country at UW
So your goal is to win state? Who is going to be your main competition?
Yes, I would really like to win state, it would be awesome. Realistically I would be pleased with a top 3 finish, if I run good. My main competition will be Ben Johnston from North Central, Allan Schroeder from Mt. Spokane. The two bellevue runners, Joel ambo and Michael Williams, and kyle boe from Columbia River. Steven Robinson from Blanchet, and Nathan Weitz from Shadle Park as well.
Can you just kind of chronicle your past four years running XC, and tell me of your progression since freshman year to wear you are right now?
Freshmen year I decided to run cross country because my brother was so into it and really good. I wanted to see how I would do. I didn't train that much, maybe 20 miles a week during the summer. I came into the season not knowing how i would do, but I knew breaking 18 meant you were on varsity. I worked hard during the year and ended up running 17:28 and got a varsity letter and was 10th on the team.
I worked hard that summer putting in 30 to 50 miles a week and came into the time trial and moved up to 2nd on the team. Sophomore year, I was No. 3 all year and it was a break out year, I got 4th at metro and top 10 at districts and 28th at state.
My junior year I again bumped my milage up to 45 to 60 miles per week, worked harder and had great workouts. I jumped to number 1 on the team all season. This was sorta my big breakout year state-wide. I won metro and districs and got 7th in state. Also I was 3rd at the WA/OR borderclash and got 12th at the footlocker western regional.
This summer was different as I didn't get to train as much running. Although I cross-trained hard, which has helped me. I came into the year out of shape a little, but have slowly been building fitness each day. Winning metro and districts in faster times than last year has given me confidence that I can comepete for a state title or a footlocker nationals birth.
What's the college situation looking like right now? Do you plan on running at the next level?
Definetly. I hope to continue running. Schools I'm looking at and that have been interested in me are Eastern Washington, UW, Portland, Boise State, and Oklahoma State.
Well, thanks Drew, and good luck at State!
Anytime for SeaTown Sports
