Welcome to Track Chats 2012! We continue with middle-distance ace Nick Hartle from Centennial HS in Nevada. Nick has gone 1:50.35 so far this season, and has aspirations far lower than that. Centennial is also quite a fantastic team as they have gone 10:05.84 in the event and are currently US#1. Check out more about him below!
MileSplit - Low 1:50's in the 800 two weeks in a row. How are you feeling with your performances so far this season?
Nick - I'm feeling alright with my running so far this season. I wish I could break 1:50 already, so that's frustrating, but I'm running consistent so I'm happy about that.
MileSplit - What meets are you looking to compete in this year and how fast do you think you can go?
Nick - I am probably going to compete in the Great Southwest Track Classic and also New Balance Nationals. I'm hoping to PR big in both meets.
MileSplit - Your team is also quite talented with a 10:05 DMR. What is the atmosphere of your team like? Any more DMR plans on the season?
Nick - I really want to run another DMR this year! I really love my team. We joke around a ton and everyone is really close. We want to try and run it at NB.
MileSplit - When & how did you get started in track & field?
Nick - I started running in January of 08, after my parents found an ad in the local newspaper for a club track team. I had played baseball for five years, but after I quit they told me I had to continue doing a sport, so I took up track and field and ended up being pretty good at it.
MileSplit - Person/people most influential to your success in track & field?
Nick - My coach, Roy Session, has been my coach since I started running and he's done an amazing job getting me motivated and running fast. I look up to him (he ran 1:44 at U of Oregon) and strive to do all he tells me to.
MileSplit - Your favorite track & field event(s)?
Nick - The 800 is my favorite race because it is the perfectly painful combination of speed and endurance.
MileSplit - Your track & field event coach(es) and what they mean to you?
Nick - Besides Coach Roy, all the other coaches have been awesome in the way that they inspire and motivate not just me, but my entire team as well.
MileSplit - Keys to your successful track & field training program?
Nick - The keys to my success have been the right amount of base and speed training.
MileSplit - Your favorite track & field meet?
Nick - My favorite meet would either be Arcadia or Mt. SAC, just because the competition at those meets is so strong, plus they're relatively close to where I live, so travelling isn't a pain.
MileSplit - Your favorite performance in track & field?
Nick - My favorite performance in a meet would have to be the Nevada state meet last May, when I ran state record times in the 1600 (4:10.23) and 800 (1:49.91).
MileSplit - Track & field athlete(s) you most enjoy competing against?
Nick - I really enjoy competing against anyone that's beaten me in the past, because then I have motivation to run faster.
MileSplit - Your greatest experience in track & field so far?
Nick - The greatest experience I've had in track and field was the 2010 USATF Junior Olympics because that was the meet that I felt really showed me what I could achieve, and that I could be one of the nation's best.
MileSplit - Goals for the 2012 track & field season?
Nick - I hope to give Michael Granville's 800 prep record (1:46.45) a run, but I know that will be extremely difficult. I'd also love to get down near 4:00 in the mile. My team goal is to lead my team to a state title, the first in our school's history.
MileSplit - Long-term goals in track & field?
Nick - I hope to one day run in the Olympics.
The Fun Run
Do you like rock or pop…
Nick - I prefer rock to pop, but I'd be fine with either.
Do you like shorts or jeans…
Nick - I'm definitely a shorts guy.
Do you like Words with Friends or Angry Birds…
Nick - I actually have played both and didn't love either...I guess words with friends.
Do you like Facebook or Instagram...
Nick - Facebook.
Do you like going out or chilling at home...
Nick - I like chilling at home and relaxing.
Do you like sun or snow...
Nick - Sun by far. I hate the snow. Haha.