She has been knocking on the door of a US top 25 national ranking in the early stages of this cross country season. No need to rush as Davis (UT) High School sophomore Audrey Argyle still has lot of high school left to move up in that group as one of the sport's future stars nationally. The #1 runner for the US #15 ranked Davis girls, Argyle was an immediate impactful freshmen last year as part of a team that finished 3rd at NXN.
The 2013 Utah state runner-up in cross country and also running a 10:49 3200 in the spring as a 9th grader, Argyle has continued to take her running to the next level this fall. Her season opening race produced a strong runner-up finish against two Foot Locker finalists in Lucy Biles and Marlee Mitchell along with nationally ranked Alyssa Snyder at the Highland Invitational. In her last race, Argyle clocked a swift new personal best 5K time of 17:54 from a victory at the Utah State Aggie Invitational. Check out our interview below with Argyle as part of the Future Stars series presented by Hoka One One.
Interview with Davis (UT) High School sophomore Aubrey Argyle
How did you first get started running?
My soccer coach recommended it for cross training and then I first started in Junior High - 7th grade and actually at my first meet, I ran the mile for fun and gradually started to like distance.
What do you remember most from your very first high school cross country race?
I actually missed the first meet - Highland Invitational (last year) because of family.. but my first actual race was the Murray Invitational, I was really nervous to race against high school runners but I gained confidence knowing that I was coached by the best and ran with some of the best runners around. I ended up being the first DHS runner and finished 5th overall. Looking back I had no idea who I was racing against, but now I realize how talented and incredible those girls are/were.
The Davis girls had a great group of seniors last year lead the team to 3rd place finish at NXN. What valuable things did you learn from that group of seniors?
I don't even know what to say! They have taught me everything I know and shaped me into the runner I am today! They worked hard in every single workout and every single race and it really inspired me to give 110% in running. I admire them SO SO much and my cross country / track experience was so incredible with them in it. I had many races where I felt discouraged with my performance but they were always there to comfort me and were so understanding. They treated me like a kid-sister. My older brother graduated with them and I actually cried more when they walked than when my own brother did! It's awesome to see them all running at the next level.
Obviously in order for the Davis girls to continue to reload like the team has done the past few years despite graduation is due to training year around and the summer months. How committed are you and your teammates to start working towards the next cross country season after the last ends?
After cross country ends we take about a two week break - that always feels like a month of torture - but we transition right into indoor track and then to outdoor. Once track has ended we have about another two weeks - again, torture - and then the summer starts and that means cross country begins. We run 6 days a week, bright and early. We have an end of summer goal that we have to reach so that inspires us to up our mileage and quicken our pace. Our top girl runner ran 607 miles! As far as recruiting - we spread the word throughout the school year and put up some flyers, but the program is so great and so fun that people WANT to be a part of it. We spend so much time together that we bond so much! Davis High cross country is like one big family! I'm definitely honored to be coached by such incredible coaches and to even be on this team.
What would you consider as your best race performance from your freshmen year and why?
State. No question about it. I look back at that race daily. The crowds of cheering fans were incredible and just the competition was amazing. It was a definite life changer. Leading up to that race.. I was anxious months in advance for this race. Running with Lucy Biles in previous races was actually really intimidating - especially knowing that I would be running against her at state (and in the future). I felt a lot of pressure to perform well. Talley wrote me and the other seniors a letter to calm us down before the race. It changed my attitude and I grew more confident with it. I knew that I was so lucky to be running along side 6 other amazing teammates and even running at that level was a privilege and I should enjoy the moment. I loved everything about that race - the competition, the cheering fans, the races leading up to it, the stadium finish, how well my team did and how well I did. One of my dad's friends watched the race and he cried haha (it was his first XC meet).
While running at altitude usually makes it tough to run as fast as times as capable of often in Utah. That was not the case last week at the Aggie Invite including yourself running a big 5K PR of 17:48. How much of a confidence boost was that race and being to see that fast 5K time attached to your name?
It has been a while since I've led that far in front - but it was kind of a nice feeling. Talley told me and the team to go out patient and conservative. It was just one of those races where you feel inspired to go for it - even before the first mile hits. Talley kept updating me on how far ahead I was of the next runner and the gap just kept growing. I honestly have never felt SO good during a race. I smiled frequently too. I'm happy that the 2nd place runner happened to be my own teammate and she had an amazing race as well.
Your first race of the season essentially had the best of the best in Utah at the Highland Invite with Lucy Biles, Alyssa Snyder, and Marlee Mitchell. How did you feel about your runner-up finish there and being competitive with all national class runners as you look ahead to your championship and post-season individuals?
I felt pretty good to have placed second behind Alyssa Snyder. All three are incredible runners and it's amazing that I'm in the mix with such high ranked runners. I hope to get stronger in each and every race and gain more knowledge/experience with running that I can use for state, NXR and NXN. I'm excited for what the future holds. I just love running and if I can keep competing and improving than that's a bonus. Last year, watching Sarah Feeny, she really inspired me. She was so humble and nice to everyone, and she was such an incredible runner. She seemed to always be improving and always be so determined to break her own records.
Your team might have the best official team twitter account in the country with awesome team photos and updates regularly. How cool is it to have coaches that seem to embrace social media and help promote and get the team excited about the sport?
Oh yes, for sure. It is very cool to have coaches who are so involved in social media. It's funny because most of the team looks forward for the pictures to be posted - because it's usually posted on another running account as well. The coach who is known for it is Brad Anderson. He has such cool pictures that he captures at exactly the right moments. He doesn't go anywhere without a camera. You have to be careful in what you wear though.
What are areas that you would like to work on or improve the most in as a runner over the next 3 years of high school?
I would like to work more on the middle mile, calming my nerves - especially before bigger races, and being mentally stronger. This is only my second year of cross country so I definitely still have a lot more to learn, but I have a different attitude this year and I feel like a completely different runner than I was last year. There are some races that I would've done differently last cross country season, but I'm excited for this season and for all the experiences I will make.
What are goals as well as times that you would like to achieve in your sophomore year of XC and track?
I would love to have the privilege to run at NXN with my team. I have "NXN '14" written all over my room, bathroom, shoes, locker, and I actually have a countdown on my phone (87 days left). I would also like to close the gap with Lucy at state. I want to be a contender. Another goal is to be first team at NXR. Last year, I was second team.
For track, I would like to get sub 10:35 in the 2 mile and sub 5 in the mile. I'm also hoping to lower my 800 time because that will help in my mile/2 mile and xc. Some xc times I'm hoping to get my 5k time down to about 17:30 or lower - depending on the course. I would also like to place top 25 at NXN. Last year I finished lower than what I should have. I fell within the first 200 meters so that delayed my time. I spent the whole race trying to move up and be where I should be. I ended up finishing 2nd for the team and came out of the race with some gnarly frost bite on my fingers - from the fall.
