For four years, Conner Wilburn has attended high school with a direct view of the Air Force Academy. This summer, he embarks on the journey. Colorado Track XC file photo.
Conner Wilburn's best marks
800 meters - 2:01.09
1600 meters - 4:24.70 (at altitude)
3200 meters - 9:51.36 (at altitude)
5K cross country - 15:56.7
A lot of high schoolers in the Colorado Springs area are drawn to the Air Force Academy, what was the biggest attraction for the Academy for you?
My biggest attraction to the Academy was the opportunity to do everything at once, and at a high level. What I mean by that is I have always wanted to do different things with my life, but not necessarily related things. I've wanted to be a D1 athlete in college, but also I would like the experience of serving my country. The Academy brings these two lifestyles together with the addition of a premier education.
If things go just the way you'd like them to go, what collegiate event do you picture yourself running?
Mostly shot put...just kidding. I hope I will be running a lot of the 1500m, and right now it looks like I may get my wish. Before this season my future coach, Juli Benson, informed me it's the main event she'd like to put me in. But I still haven't given up my shot put dreams.
What is your planned program of study at the Academy?
I am kind of looking at civil engineering. Right now I just want to take the process one step at a time: get through basic training and then onto my core classes. Everyone takes the same core classes their first two years at the academy, and after your sophomore year you declare a major. My interests could quite possibly change by then, we'll see. They don't offer tiger taming or lightsaber defense courses on the hill, so I'm pretty much open to anything.
You've had a lot of very successful high school teammates. What's the most important thing you learned from any of them?
I think the most important thing I've learned from my recent teammates is resiliency. Never letting the situation get the best of you. In specific I'm thinking of Josh Simkins and Shelby Stableford. My freshman year both of them fell under some bad circumstances the week before the cross country state championship (Josh sprained his ankle crossing the finish line at regionals and Shelby got real sick). Them being the two best athletes on the team, I was pessimistic about both teams' chances of winning. But they weren't fazed and showed up the next week ready to fight, leading the team to a guys and girls title. The way they both plowed through adversity has been the example to model my training and racing after.
Pick a highlight of your high school career to date for us.
Scoring 2 and 3 at state cross country my sophomore year with Joshua George. That race was intense and Powerline Climb almost killed me, but I remember looking at Josh that whole race trying to catch him. I finally did at that rocky end straight and he was right there with me. Finishing never felt so good. More than that, I was blessed to have such a solid racing partner for basically every meet, track and cross. Sorry Josh, but my sprint was always just a tad faster!
What event are you most looking forward to at state next month?
I'm really looking forward to shot put if I can finally qualify by then. If I can't then I'll be excited to run the open 800. I've never run an open one at state before, but every year I've watched it's been a crazy two laps to say the least.
*********
Editor's note: Thinking over this interview, it's clear that the distance coach at The Classical Academy made a tactical error in giving his full and unqualified blessing to senior distance runner Ben Hook to try the high jump last week. Hook's success seems to have had a ripple effect. Suddenly, it seems that field event fever has spread among the TCA distance ranks. Fortunately for that coach, TCA has too many throwers to get into the available varsity shot put slots remaining on their schedule as it is. But, there are always USATF meets in June if Wilburn wants to try the shot put there...
