Kyler True will be shooting for his third consecutive class 2A cross country championship this season, which would make him just the eighth Kansas male athlete to win three cross country titles. The Olpe senior has also won seven championships on the track, and this past summer clocked 1:49.87 for 800 meters at the Army Midwest Classic near Chicago.
KS MileSplit: You had a great track and field season, but running 1:49.87 was just rockin'. Tell us about that race, including your strategy and how the race evolved for you.
Kyler True: I knew heading into the race there were a few guys that had run under 1:52. My goal was to come in and get a nice PR and I thought I was in the right race to get it. The pace setter did a great job and took us through the 400 in about 52-53 seconds. My plan was to be within 10 meters of the leaders at the 600 and I was. From there I wasn't really worried about time as much as just racing and finishing strong. With about 50 meters I saw the clock and could tell sub-1:50 was a possibility. I just gave it what I had and finished hard.
What has your summer been like? Did you take some time off, get away from running for a while?
Summer has gone by really quick. It's been fun with lots of training for the upcoming cross country season. I took a few days off after my last race in Chicago. Just relaxed and enjoyed time off.
Deservedly so, you've received a lot of notoriety for your success on the track, but you're also a tough cross country runner. What is your mindset toward each of those sports? Do you enjoy one more than the other?
I feel like I am a better track runner. I enjoy it more, but I like both sports and both seasons are important if you want to be a good runner. I think of cross country as a way to get stronger for the track season. It is also a way to mentally prepare for tough races, so when track comes around and you're only running a mile or an 800, you're ready. The two sports are definitely different in the way you run. Cross country is a grind it out race of who is the toughest. In track I feel like I can rely on my speed and making smart moves during races.
What colleges are you considering currently and when do you hope to make a decision?
Right now I'm just trying to hear from different coaches and consider my options carefully. Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Penn State, and Iowa State are a few that I think are really interesting right now. I want to be able to take some visits to see the college and meet some of the athletes. I definitely want to sign in November so it's out of the way for indoor and outdoor track. So hopefully by then I'll have a pretty good idea.