We Salute Tristan Howard, Eureka HS


Name: Tristan Howard

School: Eureka High School


Q: What does your training look like right now given the current situation?

A: Its honestly hurdling over objects that aren't smart to hurdle over


Q: What are you doing to stay busy other than run right now?

A: Filling as much recruiting forms as possible and emailing college coaches. Working on my high school online classes and classwork for my college courses for Graphic Arts Technology with Flint Hills Technical college.


Q: What was your most memorable race/moment?

A: The most memorable race/races I had was during regionals of my Junior year at Cheney. I didnt qualify for state, it was the 300 hurdles, I ended up getting 8th. I was crazy behind the first 4 that qualfied. I ended up going to state to support my school Eureka & my cousin Danielle Howard. Ended up some of those 4 qualifiers from my regionals at state got 1st, 2nd and 8th. I was going against the best hurdlers in state and that was a good feeling knowing where I was personally.


Q: What was the funniest thing that happened during your running career?

A: My junior year at the league track meet I had my first awful trip in a hurdles race ever in the 110 hurdles finals. I would of got 2nd or 3rd if I didnt trip but knowing I still got 4th while my face was that close to the pavement is amazing to me.


Q: Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?

A: Hardest competition would be Caney Valley Hurdlers and Kelton Buettner from Madison High School

Funnest or most meaningful competition would be the friends I made running hurdles just to have that friendly rivalry, I beat them of course.


Q: What was your greatest accomplishment?

A: My greatest accomplishment in my years of Track is getting Junior High/Middle school Track runners to do hurdles.


Q: If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?

A: I wish I was a little bit taller honestly and I wish my scoliosis didnt kill my back in the middle of a race.


Q: What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

A: The first hurdle, always the most important one in a race either its 300 or 110.


Q: What will you miss the most?

A: My coaches,  team mates, and the friends and life experiences / memories I made along the way.


Q: What advice would you give to younger athletes?

A: If you trip over a hurdle in a race and fall to the ground, get back up and finish the race strong. You'll learn from that and keep a winning attitude.


Q: What kind of an impact has your coach had on you and your team?

A: My hurdles coach Brendan Ptacek taught me if you work hard enough at something consistently enough, YOU WILL become great at it.

The impact my head coach Martin Powell had on my Track career is always eat healthy, because if you ate junk food or drank pop, that would really show when he would make us run about 16 400's in one practice.


Q:What are your college plans?

A: Finish my Associate's Degree in Graphic Arts Technology next year at Flint Hills Technical College and then attend a 4-year University to run Track and pursue a Bachelor's Degree in either, Art, Fine Arts, or Graphic Design.



Q:Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?

A: Shelly Hoyt, Brenden Ptacek, Martin Powell, Gary Frederking. All of the Track Coaches. My family. Also the most motivating team mate I had in Track & Football Zach Hare.


Q:Is there anything else you'd like to add?

A: Dont drink pop during track.


Q: Favorite Meal?

A: Chicken & Waffles.


Q: If you could be any animal what would you choose? and why?

A: Id be a pterodactyl because I thought as a kid they were the best of the dinosaurs because they could fly.


Q: Your favorite superhero?

A:  Quicksilver