Rothwell sets standard; runs to state
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Hillsboro's Collin Rothwell is ending his senior cross-country season with his final race being on the biggest stage for any high school runner. After his 10th-place performance last week in the SE District Regional Championships, the Hillsboro runner now will run in the OHSAA Division II State Championships this Saturday.
Rothwell has seen success all season long, including a first-place finish at the Xenia Christian Meet and a second-place finish at the Highland County Meet. In his regional run, his 10th-place finish came with a time of 17:21.51. His average mile was 5:35.3.
"When I first crossed, I was thinking 'I can't believe I just did this,'" Rothwell said. "It was an amazing feeling to just cross that finish line and be like 'I worked six years to be in the spot that I'm at, and I'm finally here.
"It feels really good, it really does. It's hard to explain because it's that good of a feeling … you just can't put it into words."
Hillsboro boys cross-country coach Tanya Hendrix spoke well of her senior runner as she has coached him his entire high school career.
"Collin drives the team to push harder and to dig deeper," she said. "He sets an example as far as here's the standard and this is what you should try to be.
"Since his freshman year, Collin has grown quite a bit by the way he presents himself at a practice. This year I've seen a huge change, which is why he has been able to continue on and qualify for state."
In past years, Rothwell said he tried a variety of sports. Then he discovered cross-country, and it is easy to say the day he signed up to try a different sport, his life changed as well.
"When I was little, I tried every sport growing up. Then I heard something about cross-country sign-ups, but I really didn't know what it was. I thought it sounded fun … after I signed up and I figured out what it was, I said 'this is not fun,' but I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did."
What does Rothwell enjoy about the sport the most?
"It's an individual sport and a team sport, which is something I like," he said. "If the team doesn't do as well as we'd like to do, I still have a chance to fall back on me. I can be like 'I beat this many kids and this is my time.' I can be 'this is good.'"
Coach Hendrix talked about how much he's improved not only this season, but in past seasons as well, as Rothwell has raced away from the pack at Hillsboro, becoming the leader of the team.
"He's been a really good leader," Hendrix said. "He's pushed members of the team more than I've ever seen him push his teammates. He's really stepped up and earned where he is.
"He's improved quite a bit. Performance-wise, his gains from his freshman to sophomore year were exceptional. This year, he's improved even more … he's gotten into the 16s. He was running in the low 17s the past two years, and his improvement can be seen."
Though Rothwell has emerged as the leader of the Tribe, it didn't come without working at his craft the past few years, and it wasn't easy, either.
"Grueling," Rothwell said in describing the sport. "It's been an interesting journey to stay dedicated to the running, to say the least.
"I do this to win. I love to win and to beat people. That is the part I enjoy the most because I know the time and effort I've put into it is paying off."
Cross-country differs from most sports because there are no breaks. The only break comes if you stop, which means there will be no win … or the other way to get a break and a drink of water comes when you cross the finish line.
When asked why he goes through all the work and effort to run the long distances in not only the events, but during the week in practices, Rothwell spoke about what he thinks about during a race.
"Why am I doing this?" Rothwell said kiddingly. "No, what I think about is 'What do I need to do to win? What pace do I need to run? Who do I need to stay with? Who is going out too fast, and I hope I'm not that kid.’
"As for practices, it all just depends. It can vary … some people can run 60 miles (a week). Me, I don't run near as much as them. I probably put in 40 miles a week during the season."
This season hasn't been all great for the senior. With the heat in August and September crept doubt in the senior's mind as he hadn't won a race in over two seasons. All of that changed when he finished in first place at the Xenia Christian Meet. It was safe to safe after that win, the rest was history.
"When I won that race, I said to myself 'it's about time, it's coming back to me,'" he said. "After that I knew I was able to do this, and I told myself I was going to be able to make it to state now.
"This had absolutely been my biggest goal. There were moments I was like 'I have no shot,' and there were other moments where I was like 'I'm a contender at this. I can make it there.'"
In four years of high school, his biggest moment (besides reaching state) goes back when he had his doubts. His favorite moment goes back to the Xenia meet and what it meant to him.
"My favorite moments when I was a freshman is when I won Highland County," Rothwell said. "Then to go sophomore and junior years without a win, and to win my senior year at Xenia Christian, it just made me feel even better about myself."
What will he be thinking about this Saturday before the race? It comes back to being competitive and believing in his abilities.
"What can I do to break 17? Who can I run with to break 17?" he said. "That's all I'll be thinking about. If I can do that … I'll do well."
Rothwell had a few final thoughts about this entire week.
"I want to wish the two Fairfield runners the best of luck as well," he said. "I want to thank my teammates for running with me this week. They've taken time out of their busy schedules to help me this week, and it means a lot to me. I want to keep my mind right and stay positive about this race."
Coach Hendrix said this is the best way for Rothwell to end his high school career.
"I think this is a great finish to his four years in high school and even his middle school years," she said. "This is a nice exclamation point to his cross-country career."[[In-content Ad]]
Rothwell has seen success all season long, including a first-place finish at the Xenia Christian Meet and a second-place finish at the Highland County Meet. In his regional run, his 10th-place finish came with a time of 17:21.51. His average mile was 5:35.3.
"When I first crossed, I was thinking 'I can't believe I just did this,'" Rothwell said. "It was an amazing feeling to just cross that finish line and be like 'I worked six years to be in the spot that I'm at, and I'm finally here.
"It feels really good, it really does. It's hard to explain because it's that good of a feeling … you just can't put it into words."
Hillsboro boys cross-country coach Tanya Hendrix spoke well of her senior runner as she has coached him his entire high school career.
"Collin drives the team to push harder and to dig deeper," she said. "He sets an example as far as here's the standard and this is what you should try to be.
"Since his freshman year, Collin has grown quite a bit by the way he presents himself at a practice. This year I've seen a huge change, which is why he has been able to continue on and qualify for state."
In past years, Rothwell said he tried a variety of sports. Then he discovered cross-country, and it is easy to say the day he signed up to try a different sport, his life changed as well.
"When I was little, I tried every sport growing up. Then I heard something about cross-country sign-ups, but I really didn't know what it was. I thought it sounded fun … after I signed up and I figured out what it was, I said 'this is not fun,' but I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did."
What does Rothwell enjoy about the sport the most?
"It's an individual sport and a team sport, which is something I like," he said. "If the team doesn't do as well as we'd like to do, I still have a chance to fall back on me. I can be like 'I beat this many kids and this is my time.' I can be 'this is good.'"
Coach Hendrix talked about how much he's improved not only this season, but in past seasons as well, as Rothwell has raced away from the pack at Hillsboro, becoming the leader of the team.
"He's been a really good leader," Hendrix said. "He's pushed members of the team more than I've ever seen him push his teammates. He's really stepped up and earned where he is.
"He's improved quite a bit. Performance-wise, his gains from his freshman to sophomore year were exceptional. This year, he's improved even more … he's gotten into the 16s. He was running in the low 17s the past two years, and his improvement can be seen."
Though Rothwell has emerged as the leader of the Tribe, it didn't come without working at his craft the past few years, and it wasn't easy, either.
"Grueling," Rothwell said in describing the sport. "It's been an interesting journey to stay dedicated to the running, to say the least.
"I do this to win. I love to win and to beat people. That is the part I enjoy the most because I know the time and effort I've put into it is paying off."
Cross-country differs from most sports because there are no breaks. The only break comes if you stop, which means there will be no win … or the other way to get a break and a drink of water comes when you cross the finish line.
When asked why he goes through all the work and effort to run the long distances in not only the events, but during the week in practices, Rothwell spoke about what he thinks about during a race.
"Why am I doing this?" Rothwell said kiddingly. "No, what I think about is 'What do I need to do to win? What pace do I need to run? Who do I need to stay with? Who is going out too fast, and I hope I'm not that kid.’
"As for practices, it all just depends. It can vary … some people can run 60 miles (a week). Me, I don't run near as much as them. I probably put in 40 miles a week during the season."
This season hasn't been all great for the senior. With the heat in August and September crept doubt in the senior's mind as he hadn't won a race in over two seasons. All of that changed when he finished in first place at the Xenia Christian Meet. It was safe to safe after that win, the rest was history.
"When I won that race, I said to myself 'it's about time, it's coming back to me,'" he said. "After that I knew I was able to do this, and I told myself I was going to be able to make it to state now.
"This had absolutely been my biggest goal. There were moments I was like 'I have no shot,' and there were other moments where I was like 'I'm a contender at this. I can make it there.'"
In four years of high school, his biggest moment (besides reaching state) goes back when he had his doubts. His favorite moment goes back to the Xenia meet and what it meant to him.
"My favorite moments when I was a freshman is when I won Highland County," Rothwell said. "Then to go sophomore and junior years without a win, and to win my senior year at Xenia Christian, it just made me feel even better about myself."
What will he be thinking about this Saturday before the race? It comes back to being competitive and believing in his abilities.
"What can I do to break 17? Who can I run with to break 17?" he said. "That's all I'll be thinking about. If I can do that … I'll do well."
Rothwell had a few final thoughts about this entire week.
"I want to wish the two Fairfield runners the best of luck as well," he said. "I want to thank my teammates for running with me this week. They've taken time out of their busy schedules to help me this week, and it means a lot to me. I want to keep my mind right and stay positive about this race."
Coach Hendrix said this is the best way for Rothwell to end his high school career.
"I think this is a great finish to his four years in high school and even his middle school years," she said. "This is a nice exclamation point to his cross-country career."[[In-content Ad]]