As the 2013 Track and Field season gets underway, we will be highlighting some of the top athletes in each event.
Journal Questions:
Name: Bernie Montoya
High School: Cibola High School
Year of Graduation: 2013
Track and Field PR's:
800: 1:52.49
Mile: 4:01.32
3200: 8:49.29
When did you first get involved with track and field? How long have you been running:
This is my 4th year running. I started out playing football freshman year then I switched over to run with the cross country team. From there I just worked to improve everyday in running and it's taken me to a lot great places!
What is a typical training week like for you?
Usually my week just consist of good solid mileage and a couple of track workouts. I will also mix it up with with some strength training but I'm usually off the weights, so I replace them with push-ups and pull-ups and core work. Then just make sure I'm recovered for the next day and just eat good food.
What are your goals for the upcoming track season?
Really this season I just want to have fun and enjoy my last year in highschool track. I know if I'm patient through out this season great times will come. Last year I never really had set goal times, I just believed in my training and my coaches guidance and in the end of the season I just shocked myself with the huge PRs. So this year I will have the same mentality and just be competitive in every race I'm in!
How do you prepare yourself mentally for a race? Do you have any superstitions?
Before any race I do get pretty nervous I find it more of a blessing than a curse personally I believe "if your nervous your ready" but I just try to relax while listening to music and just have a mentality of an underdog. If I have any superstitions I would say don't be too over confident about something cause in the end it can back fire on you.
What does your season look like and will you be competing in any out of state track meets during the season or post high school season?
I will be competing at Chandler and out of state I will be at Arcadia and Mt Sac relays. For the post season I really want to go back to the Adidas Dream Mile in NYC and maybe even do New Balance outdoor nationals
What message would you tell younger runners who aspire to be at the top?
Have fun with running and be patient for the performances they will come in time. Just be consistent and believe in your training it's the joy of the sport that will motivate runners to keep improving.
If you had to attribute your success to one thing, what would it be?
My mother, she is a very hard working and determined women who taught me to appreciate all the awards that we have been blessed with and to be humble. Her characteristics are represented in my training and my performances
Do you have role models or mentors in track and field?
My mentor would have to be my coach Kris Norton. He has guided me to run well on the track and to be a better person off the track. He's more like a father figure to me and I have been grateful to share this incredible highschool journey with my coach. If I have any role models on the track it would either be Mathew Centrowitz or Bernard Lagat
How many events do you compete in and which event is your favorite?
I compete in four events, 800,1600,3200 and 4x800 if I have to pick my favorite event it would be the 3200
What are 3 things we don't know about you?
I love to travel
Im pretty adventurous
I'm really close to my family.
Quick 7:
Favorite Pre-race Meal?
Bananas and Pasta
Favorite TV show or movie?
Rocky IV
Favorite Meet?
Arcadia
Celebrity Crush?
Katherine Webb
Perfect temperature to compete in?
73 degrees overcast and no wind
Favorite song?
It's Time by Imagine Dragons
Favorite quote/or saying?
“It ain't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward"
~ Rocky Balboa
