Philip MacQuitty, Palo Alto CA, established the early-season US#1 mark in the 800 meter run with a time of 1:52.40. Philip set his school record in the 800 with that run. Next up on the chopping block, the 1600 and 3200 school records. Read on for further details...
MileSplit.us: We have a 1:58.51 as your 800 meter best from last Spring. Is that accurate? If so, are you surprised with your early season success and 6-second drop?
Philip MacQuitty: I ran a 1:55.99 in a dual meet in the middle of the year last track season. I was very surprised at my time because I haven't really been doing too much 800 training at all.
MileSplit.us: Where did you get your start in T&F? When did you first start seeing success on the track?
Philip MacQuitty: I started seriously competing in middle school. In 7th and 8th grade I ran Junior Olympics in both track and field and cross country.
MileSplit.us: You have great range on the track, from 800 to 3200. What do you hope to accomplish by the end of the spring? Times?
Philip MacQuitty: Well, I want to break 3 Palo Alto records in the 800, mile and 2 mile. I just broke the 800 record which was 1:54.1. The mile record is 4:15 and 8:58 for the 2 mile. I think if I get all these records it would be a great end to my high school career. Maybe go under 4:10 for the mile.
MileSplit.us: What strategies do you employ in your races? Take it out hard, kick at the end, etc?
Philip MacQuitty: It's hard to hold a general rule for what your going to do in a race when each race is different. I would say my most common strategy is to sit and try to hold onto the pace and stay within striking of the leaders because I usually have a pretty good kick at the end of races.
MileSplit.us: What meets are you headed to this Spring?
Philip MacQuitty: I will be competing at the Stanford Invite, at which I will be running the 1200 leg on my DMR team on Friday and the mile on Saturday. Also, I will being doing the mile at Arcadia. Those are the only two big invites I will being doing this season. Then, the rest of the season is qualifying for states and hopefully Nationals.
MileSplit.us: What role models do you have on the track? What role models do you have off the track?
Philip MacQuitty: I like Robby Andrews from Virginia especially after he outkicked (Andrew) Wheating (Oregon) in the 800 at Indoor Nationals. My role model off the track is my dad.
MileSplit.us: When you aren't busy training and racing, what are other things that you enjoy doing?
Philip MacQuitty: I love hanging out with friends, playing on the X-Box, and playing other pick-up sports. Especially dunk ball with my friends. (Dunk ball is on 8 foot hoops at elementary schools).
MileSplit.us: From our database it looks like you are senior. Are you running competitively post-high school, have you settled on a college?
Philip MacQuitty: I have settled on a college, I'm bound for UCLA. GO BRUINS!
MileSplit.us: What is the most exciting thing about competitive racing?
Philip MacQuitty: The most exciting about competing is definitely the last part of a race. It's where you have the sensation that your going fast and that's where I feel the most adrenalin running through me.
MileSplit.us: Do you have any type of routine that you go through prior to racing?
Philip MacQuitty: Yes, I usually warm up 15 minutes (jogging) and then I will do some dynamic stretching and strides to get the legs warm.
MileSplit.us: What is one of your favorite workouts? What was the best you ever did at this workout?
Philip MacQuitty: A good work out that I like personally is this speed workout my team does. 400s at 62 (4-6 reps) then some 200 at 27 (4-6reps). Best workout of all time is probably a 5 mile tempo in 26:39. Nice controlled pace.