Chris Cherono of Grayson HS was the overall champion at the Area 1 7A XC qualifier and was 6th in the 3200m in the 2019 7A State Track meet.
HS PRS
5k XC- 15:22 @ Coach Wood
3200m- 9:26.34
1600m- 4:19.84
800m- 1:59.50
1) What were some of the highlights of your high school cross country and track careers?
My favorite cross country race was probably making top 10 for the 2018 State meet, but my highlight probably has to be when I won our Area meet that same year without shoes. I was coming through the first mile feeling pretty good when both my shoes got trapped in some bad mud from rainfall the day before. I wasn't going to let it hold me back though and managed to win the Area title with nothing but socks on. For Track & Field, my highlight was my sophomore year getting the opportunity to place in the 1600 at the State meet with a 4:21. It was a great experience and it inspired me to push my training forward and challenge myself more.
2) Did you encounter any struggles or adversity along the way that you had to overcome?
Over the years I've encountered various setbacks. From injuries to mental blocks, it has been tough, but also quite a learning experience. The one that hit deep though was the day my head coach, Mac Bradbury, told us he was heading out to Virginia. Coach Brad was an extremely talented mentor and taught me everything I know about running. He was also family to us. I was only half way through junior year when he left, and it has been a rough road transitioning between coaches but through the experience, I was able to learn more about myself as a runner. Mentally, it is so tough going through these setbacks, but they are useless if you don't learn from them. So in a way, I'm glad things unfolded how they did.
3) Aside from the competition, what was the best thing about being a part of your school's program?
The culture we've developed over the years here at Grayson is inspiring. Our program is a family that looks out for one another and always is striving to succeed together. We have a lot of fun getting better together.
Chris Cherono (328)
4) Are there any coaches or teammates that you've worked with over the past four years that you'd like to thank?
I'd like to thank Coach Bradbury for inspiring and challenging me at the start of my running career. He was an amazing smart guy who always pushed you to that next gear. I'd also like to thank David Gunn, Cameron Ratchford, and Colby Freeman. Those guys really respect the grind and have had a large impact on my running career these past 4 years.
5) What are your plans and goals for the future? Do you intend on continuing with the sport in college or in another capacity?
I intend on continuing Cross Country as well Track & Field at Georgia Tech. They've got some great talent and drive over there and we're looking to add to it. Watch out...
6) What advice would you give to a younger athlete who's hoping to have a successful and enjoyable high school career?
Be patient and trust the process. As long as you stay consistent and believe in your training, those big results will start coming in, I promise.
