Road to NBNI Blogs, 2015: Sammy Watson, Week 1
Photo by Doug Austin from the Dartmouth Relays (Sammy, right, won the 300).
Hi, my name is Sammy Watson and I'm a sophomore at Rush Henrietta Senior High School. I started running in elementary school. Around 5th grade, I joined my school’s 5k club and I really began to love distance running. We
practiced every day before school and each day we would add more distance and time to our runs. By the time I ran my first 5k road race, I was excited and well-prepared to run the whole race and have fun. My time was 26:56 and I really enjoyed it.
In 6th grade, which was my first year of middle school, we weren't allowed to play on the school’s sports teams. So I continued running with my mom and we did a couple road races on our own. In 7th grade, I watched my older sister, Ceara, run on her indoor track team. I liked looking at her form and watching all of the races a lot. She had made it to the state championships and I was there to watch her. There I met the track and cross country coach, who is still the coach here, and he and my mom talked about me coming out to run on the outdoor track team.
The first practices were extremely tiring, but I wanted to prove to myself I could run like the big kids and do well. The first meet I ran the 800 in 2:33, which was decent then and I took 3rd – so I was more than content with it. Later that season, I made the state meet on my team’s 4x400m relay and – I don't remember the splits – but I really was just happy to be there.
Moving on to indoor track during 8th grade: At the state qualifying meet in my 600, going into the bell lap in a position to qualify, I overextended my left leg – which pulled a tendon that pulled bone along with it. I had a fracture in my pelvis and was going to be out for at least three months. Even though I was sad that I couldn't run, I knew feeling bad for myself would not heal me. I went to physically therapy weekly and strengthened my hips back up, determined to come back stronger, healthier and more driven than before. Outdoor season came and it was all right; I was an alternate on our 4x400m relay and was still fairly weak in my hips and hamstrings.
Ninth grade was better: Indoors, I made states in the 1000, which was cool. I made the podium, so I was happy. Outdoors, I made it for the 400m and also made the podium. It was nice making it to the championship meets, but I wanted to win, or at least for my name to be known.
Now in my sophomore year, I've made it from being ranked decent in my section to being ranked up in the top 10 on the nation for most of my season. I now am first in the nation for the 1000 and 3rd for the 800. I've gotten a couple interviews and newspaper articles about my successes, which is one of the coolest things. I've traveled a lot to find competition and get better times and just for the experiences – which I've enjoyed a lot. Each time I step on the track, I feel like it's another chance to improve and learn something – like how fast to take it out or how my breathing should flow.
Even though I have two years left in high school, I like racing every race like it could be my last; I want to be happy with it and know I ran my best. I feel like going through the fatigue and cramps in my shoulders, and the aches in my hamstrings for a couple minutes is worth it – for a personal record or just the experience of running against girls just as good as or better than me. I am extremely excited for the rest of my championship season, preparing for states and nationals, where I could possibly be a state or national champ … or close to it. Training has been great and I've been injury free, so I feel good and ready for the next couple of weeks.
