Recent Siegel graduate Dawson Reed finished off his high school career in style.
Reed helped the Stars win a XC State Championship last fall at Steeplechase in a new-look Division I Large Schools meet.
Here's what the Murfreesboro native told us about his high school career in the mid-state!
(Want to be featured in our Salute To Seniors series? Email Will Boling (wboling@milesplit.com) and answer the questions below! If you can, attach a picture or two in your email as well. Make sure you have the right to use it, please. This series is open to any and all Tennessee seniors, so don't be shy!)
----------------
What was your most memorable race/competition?
Definitely the state cross country meet. That team title with my best friends is something that I will never forget and I cannot wait to watch them dominate the next two years.
Where did you face your biggest competition?
Nike Cross Regionals. I had never really run the fast time I wanted my senior year of cross and I thought it would be my time to drop something crazy but I got eaten alive by the pack and just suffered.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
Winning the team title at the state cross country meet, times and individual achievements are great and all but holding that team trophy is the best runners' high you could ever have.
If you could do it all over again, what would you change about your athletic career in high school?
Getting into running sooner, I didn't really get into the sport until my sophomore year of track so I was left with a lot of catching up to do with my peers. Also not secluding myself into a hole when I first started training and acting like I could do it all on my own.
(Want all-access to rankings for every division at every distance? Sign up for MileSplit PRO today in order to stay on top of the latest rankings and statistics!)
What were the biggest obstacles you had to overcome?
Falling from cloud 9 after my senior cross country season and hitting rock bottom. I spent my entire track season with an unknown iron deficiency, and I just thought it was a training rut but sometimes you have to swallow your pride and get yourself taken care of.
What will you miss the most?
My teammates, I would do anything for those guys and leading them to become the absolute studs they are today is something I will always look back on and be proud of. I will miss those guys more than anything, but I am excited to see what they will accomplish in the future.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Listen to your coaches and older teammates. Do not be so into yourself that you forget about the support system you have around you. You cannot reach success by yourself (unless you're Ben True, then you get a free pass).
How have your coaches influenced your performances and your life goals overall?
My high school coaches have been some of the most fantastic people to work with. Our head coach at Siegel, Coach Young, kept me grounded and focused on the bigger picture. We had a strength and conditioning coach during the cross country season, Coach Newsome, that was what I believe to be the driving force in our success as a team. He is a "no excuses" coach and was someone you wanted to work hard for. We could not have won that championship without his help.
What are you post high school plans?
I will be continuing running at Lee University and will study marketing there as well.
Any shoutouts?
My guys on the 2018 Siegel team, don't count them out this year, they're gonna be special.
