Fairfield sophomore duo races to state
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Running from the heat of summer to the cooler weather in the fall in November, the Fairfield sophomore duo of Michael Mangus and Blake Hildebrant have run on and past many different landscapes at many different venues this cross-country season, but no finish line was sweeter than their most recent one crossed.
When they each crossed the finish line at Pickerington North High School, both runners knew they were headed to the Division III State Championships in Hebron this Saturday at the National Trail Raceway Park, as this is a new course for this year. In previous years, the race was held at Scioto Downs.
All the miles run this summer and fall season paid off for both Mangus and Hildebrant with Mangus crossing the line in seventh place (17:21.31) and Hildebrant (17:37.42) crossing in 14th place, both enough to each earn their first trip to the state meet.
Mangus won numerous events this season, including the Southern Hills League championship and the Highland County meet at Fairfield.
"It was satisfying that we were able to put in all the work that we did this season to use," Mangus said. "We put in miles this summer … around 40 a week.
"I was just relieved when I crossed the finish line because I didn't make last year."
Assistant coach Bill Mangus, who is also Michael's father, talked about how last year's race in the regionals helped prepare them this season.
"Last year was a good learning experience for them," he said. "We worked the last year with this (state) in mind. All the work they put in was centered around this race, and the kids came through."
For Hildebrant, it was even more fulfilling as he not only ran cross-country this fall, but was a member of the varsity soccer team.
"It was an awesome accomplishment. I had a pretty good idea that I made it, and it was just a great feeling of accomplishment," Hildebrant said. "Playing two sports, it made it more difficult … it feels great.
"It's difficult balancing both sports with two practices a night. I juggle them pretty good."
Hildebrant talked about a typical day during the fall.
"Typically I'll have a cross-country practice after school where I'll put in five to seven miles. After that, I'll go over to soccer practice for two hours," Hildebrant said.
"Both are two pretty different sports, so I wouldn't say they each help one another … I just balance them pretty well."
"Practice" was one word both runners mentioned for a reason of reaching the state meet.
"Once we are all here, we stretch for a little bit, then we run five to seven miles five times a week," Mangus said. "That's about it."
Each then described cross-country in their own way.
"It's tough," Hildebrant said. "You have to have the will to run."
"It's a lot harder than what people think," Mangus said. "It's more than just going out and running for 15 minutes."
Coach Mangus describes the sport as "tolerating pain."
"It's about who can tolerate the most pain. Who can endure the most pain. There is always something in your mind that always tells you that you are going to quit, but it's about overcoming that and not quitting. The successful ones find a way to overcome and fight through it."
Why do they do that?
"Because you have to work at it. You can't get beat by anybody who steps out here," Mangus said. "You have to work hard to succeed."
Fairfield head coach Raymond Friend talked about what it takes to run cross-country.
"You can't come out here with just talent and think you are going to beat other teams and other people," he said. "It just doesn't happen. Yes, natural ability does help out a lot in cross-country, but if you don't come out here and put the work into it … there's other people who will put the work, and those people will beat you easily.
"The best thing about these guys is at the beginning of the season, they set a goal. They are 15 years old, and they are learning what it takes in life. They are setting goals, and they are reaching those goals. It's not because they are lucky, it's not because they have talents, it's because they put a ton of work into it."
Each sophomore has their favorite quirks about the sport … and courses.
"My favorite course is probably Ripley because I just seem to run well there," Mangus said. "I also like running by the river (as Ripley is located near the Ohio River)."
"The greatest thing about (cross-country) is you can't hide," Hildebrant said. "If you didn't put in the work, you aren't going to do that well. You can tell who puts in the work."
Coach Mangus said both he and Coach Friend aren't surprised by the results this season.
"We're not surprised to see these kids in this position. Since elementary school, I've seen them work, and I'm not surprised at all," coach Mangus said. "From my perspective, as a father and coach, it was 31 years ago that I did what they are doing. So to watch the wheel completely revolve and watch them go through this, it is neat."
With this being their sophomore year, this could be just the first trip to the state meet for the runners, and they know they will have to continue to work harder to keep up with their pace this season.
"It's nice because we know we'll be that much more experienced as our junior and senior seasons come around," Mangus said.
"It puts a challenge on you because so many kids have one good year as a sophomore or junior and never accomplish it again," Hildebrant said. "It gives you something to keep working for and go out and get it again."
"Satisfaction" is a word Coach Friend doesn't want in the vocabulary of his runners.
"As a coach, my hope is they aren't satisfied in just making state," Friend said. "Since they have two more years left, what is the limit? As a sophomore reaching state, what can their junior and senior year hold?"
In their journey to making the state championship, both runners have similar stories in their route to the meet.
"I started in sixth grade," Mangus said. "About the end of soccer season in sixth grade, I just went out and ran a mile. Then I ran two miles and more after that."
"My brother ran cross-country, and when I was in sixth grade I just ran, then I decided I wanted to run cross-country," Hildebrant said.
Coach Mangus described the sport as a "natural athletic event."
"There is no better natural athletic event than cross-country," he said. "There is really no referee call, no timeouts … it's just your will against another athletes' will."
With the state championships this Saturday, there is much to be looked forward to by both athletes.
"I go watch them every year," Mangus said. "They are a fun and exciting thing to go to, and it will be even cooler to actually be racing in it, instead of watching."
"I've never been to one, so it will be a great experience," Hildebrant said. "I've heard about how big it is, so it will be fun to be a part of."
Coach Friend ended by speaking of their character.
"I'm proud of being a coach to two fine young men," he said. "These kids are eligible to be academic All-Ohio and should receive that award with their high GPAs. Their effort in school and out here is just tremendous."[[In-content Ad]]
When they each crossed the finish line at Pickerington North High School, both runners knew they were headed to the Division III State Championships in Hebron this Saturday at the National Trail Raceway Park, as this is a new course for this year. In previous years, the race was held at Scioto Downs.
All the miles run this summer and fall season paid off for both Mangus and Hildebrant with Mangus crossing the line in seventh place (17:21.31) and Hildebrant (17:37.42) crossing in 14th place, both enough to each earn their first trip to the state meet.
Mangus won numerous events this season, including the Southern Hills League championship and the Highland County meet at Fairfield.
"It was satisfying that we were able to put in all the work that we did this season to use," Mangus said. "We put in miles this summer … around 40 a week.
"I was just relieved when I crossed the finish line because I didn't make last year."
Assistant coach Bill Mangus, who is also Michael's father, talked about how last year's race in the regionals helped prepare them this season.
"Last year was a good learning experience for them," he said. "We worked the last year with this (state) in mind. All the work they put in was centered around this race, and the kids came through."
For Hildebrant, it was even more fulfilling as he not only ran cross-country this fall, but was a member of the varsity soccer team.
"It was an awesome accomplishment. I had a pretty good idea that I made it, and it was just a great feeling of accomplishment," Hildebrant said. "Playing two sports, it made it more difficult … it feels great.
"It's difficult balancing both sports with two practices a night. I juggle them pretty good."
Hildebrant talked about a typical day during the fall.
"Typically I'll have a cross-country practice after school where I'll put in five to seven miles. After that, I'll go over to soccer practice for two hours," Hildebrant said.
"Both are two pretty different sports, so I wouldn't say they each help one another … I just balance them pretty well."
"Practice" was one word both runners mentioned for a reason of reaching the state meet.
"Once we are all here, we stretch for a little bit, then we run five to seven miles five times a week," Mangus said. "That's about it."
Each then described cross-country in their own way.
"It's tough," Hildebrant said. "You have to have the will to run."
"It's a lot harder than what people think," Mangus said. "It's more than just going out and running for 15 minutes."
Coach Mangus describes the sport as "tolerating pain."
"It's about who can tolerate the most pain. Who can endure the most pain. There is always something in your mind that always tells you that you are going to quit, but it's about overcoming that and not quitting. The successful ones find a way to overcome and fight through it."
Why do they do that?
"Because you have to work at it. You can't get beat by anybody who steps out here," Mangus said. "You have to work hard to succeed."
Fairfield head coach Raymond Friend talked about what it takes to run cross-country.
"You can't come out here with just talent and think you are going to beat other teams and other people," he said. "It just doesn't happen. Yes, natural ability does help out a lot in cross-country, but if you don't come out here and put the work into it … there's other people who will put the work, and those people will beat you easily.
"The best thing about these guys is at the beginning of the season, they set a goal. They are 15 years old, and they are learning what it takes in life. They are setting goals, and they are reaching those goals. It's not because they are lucky, it's not because they have talents, it's because they put a ton of work into it."
Each sophomore has their favorite quirks about the sport … and courses.
"My favorite course is probably Ripley because I just seem to run well there," Mangus said. "I also like running by the river (as Ripley is located near the Ohio River)."
"The greatest thing about (cross-country) is you can't hide," Hildebrant said. "If you didn't put in the work, you aren't going to do that well. You can tell who puts in the work."
Coach Mangus said both he and Coach Friend aren't surprised by the results this season.
"We're not surprised to see these kids in this position. Since elementary school, I've seen them work, and I'm not surprised at all," coach Mangus said. "From my perspective, as a father and coach, it was 31 years ago that I did what they are doing. So to watch the wheel completely revolve and watch them go through this, it is neat."
With this being their sophomore year, this could be just the first trip to the state meet for the runners, and they know they will have to continue to work harder to keep up with their pace this season.
"It's nice because we know we'll be that much more experienced as our junior and senior seasons come around," Mangus said.
"It puts a challenge on you because so many kids have one good year as a sophomore or junior and never accomplish it again," Hildebrant said. "It gives you something to keep working for and go out and get it again."
"Satisfaction" is a word Coach Friend doesn't want in the vocabulary of his runners.
"As a coach, my hope is they aren't satisfied in just making state," Friend said. "Since they have two more years left, what is the limit? As a sophomore reaching state, what can their junior and senior year hold?"
In their journey to making the state championship, both runners have similar stories in their route to the meet.
"I started in sixth grade," Mangus said. "About the end of soccer season in sixth grade, I just went out and ran a mile. Then I ran two miles and more after that."
"My brother ran cross-country, and when I was in sixth grade I just ran, then I decided I wanted to run cross-country," Hildebrant said.
Coach Mangus described the sport as a "natural athletic event."
"There is no better natural athletic event than cross-country," he said. "There is really no referee call, no timeouts … it's just your will against another athletes' will."
With the state championships this Saturday, there is much to be looked forward to by both athletes.
"I go watch them every year," Mangus said. "They are a fun and exciting thing to go to, and it will be even cooler to actually be racing in it, instead of watching."
"I've never been to one, so it will be a great experience," Hildebrant said. "I've heard about how big it is, so it will be fun to be a part of."
Coach Friend ended by speaking of their character.
"I'm proud of being a coach to two fine young men," he said. "These kids are eligible to be academic All-Ohio and should receive that award with their high GPAs. Their effort in school and out here is just tremendous."[[In-content Ad]]