Athlete Sit-Down: Jesse Hersha

We got a chance to talk to Concord junior, Jesse Hersha, after his second straight cross country title.

 

Personal Records:

1600 Meter Run - 4:36.65

3200 Meter Run - 9:36.49

400 Meter Dash - 56.34

5000 Meter Run - 15:31.00

800 Meter Run - 2:12.25

 

Michigan MileSplit: How does it feel coming into the cross country season knowing that you have a state title to defend? Ever feel like you have a target on your back?

Jesse Hersha: It feels great, but I know it won't be as memorable if I don't close out my senior year. I know what it takes to get there and I just have to put in the work. Even though the gap between me and second place at the state meet has been increasing, I'd like to think I still have a target on my back. The summer before my sophomore year I was nowhere near the same conversation as Sean Kelly or David Zinger, 2nd and 3rd at the state meet the previous year, but I worked hard and improved a lot throughout the season and it led to a title. It was my specific goal that I made during that offseason to beat Sean and I'm sure he would've laughed if he heard my goal when I made it. You never know who can come in with that mentality and give me a run for my money

MI MileSplit: How do you like running at MIS for the state meet? Any course you'd rather see the meet run at?

JH: I love it, it's a great and relatively fast course. It's only real downside is that it isn't a great spectator course but I think it would be way too crowded if it wasn't a big circle like it is now. I couldn't even imagine it anywhere else honestly. There's nothing quite like the finish at MIS, or the start. It's a great experience for everyone who goes there, spectators and competitors alike. Hot dogs are a little expensive though.

MI MileSplit: As I watched you race at the state meet, it made me wish I could see you run against some of the other divisions. Do you ever wish you had the chance to race some of the "bigger" schools?

JH: I'd love to run against the bigger schools, and I've gotten a few opportunities. This year I ran the elite race at the spartan invitational and finished third with a PR. It was so much different to have someone, or even two people, pushing me the last mile. Racing people like that is my absolute favorite part about running. I also ran at foot locker but didn't do so well, and have been very competitive indoors against some stiff competition from bigger schools. I want to move up to a higher division individually in a few races next year in cross country; my only concern with that is that I want my team to be able to contend for a trophy at invites as well.

MI MileSplit: What are some of your goals for this indoor season? What about outdoor?

JH: My cross country times outshine my track times a lot, so I know I'm capable of doing a lot more than I have. Some time goals that I've set are 9:20 in the 3200 and 4:20 in the 1600. I want to focus on the 1600 outdoors because I know Josh Wojan is an outstanding miler and I'm really itching to have a battle with him at the state meet, but I know I have some work to do since I'm not really experienced in the 1600. We have a strong team this year and my #1 goal is to get our first conference championship in school history and second state title. 

MI MileSplit: How/when did you get involved running cross country/track?

JH: Growing up I was a basketball player; this is actually my first year doing indoor track instead of basketball. My sister who is eight years older than me ran cross country and I was a little curious. I didn't have anything else to do in the fall so I knew when I was old enough I'd try it at least. I was naturally good as a sixth grader but didn't get much better the next two years. I wasn't planning to run my freshman year until David Jordon, the best motivator I've ever met, came to my doorstep and convinced me to come out for cross. My first high school 5k was a 19:45, I had no clue I'd be pushing 15:30 now.

MI MileSplit: What is it like being part of a cross country tradition like Concord has?

JH: The tradition at Concord isn't really something I grasped until my sophomore year. I knew about the 2009 championship team of Kyle Stacks, Spencer Nousain, Joseph Brubaker, Ian Miller, and Kyle Grimes. Some of those names might mean nothing to you but that whole team was a huge inspiration for us when we won the title my freshman year. When you look way back into the 70s and 80s it's amazing how many state championship teams we've had. Both of my cross country coaches were a part of some of those teams and their experience goes a long way when coaching us. In an era where kids transferring to other schools is becoming a little more eminent, I am very proud to be from Concord and wouldn't want to run for any other high school.

 

Quick Q's

MI MileSplit: Favorite gear to run in?

JH: I like saucony and new balance trainers and Nike and saucony spikes. As far as clothing goes I don't really have a preference. I refuse to wear long socks in a race, I made that mistake my freshman and sophomore years.

MI MileSplit: Winter or summer?

JH: Definitely summer, it's so much more relaxing to be able to go outside and be comfortable. Winter running is not any fun to me either. 

MI MileSplit: Favorite place for breakfast?

JH: I don't live near any cities so I don't have a lot of choices, but there are a few local places in spring arbor that are really good. I always get pancakes and I like my eggs hard.

MI MileSplit: Movie you just saw or want to see? 

JH: I really enjoyed the new Hobbit movie, I was interested in The Lord of the Rings when I was younger but didn't really get much of the plot.