Making History With Jacob Lewis

(Jacob won the O'Connor/Ken Denson Invitational for the 2nd year in row on Saturday.-photo by John Hays)

Name: Jacob Lewis
School: Boulder Creek
Year: Senior
Jacob Lewis is currently ranked 6th among Division 1 boys for 5 kilometers and holds the Boulder Creek school record. Last November, he placed 10th among Division I boys at the AIA cross-country State Championships. Then in April, Jacob ran PRs of 1.57.15 for 800m and 4:22.09 for 1600m and is now tied as a top Arizona returner for 1600 meters. This cross-country season, Lewis ran 15:26.7 at Doug Conley to break his school's 5K record. A week later, at the Desert Twilight Festival he won the Boys' Championships race in 15:20 to break it again. He'll contend for the Division I Individual Boys title at Cave Creek Golf course on the first weekend of November.
Where are you from and when did you begin running?
I am from Scottsdale Arizona but moved to Anthem early on in my life and I began running during 7th grade.
What is your favorite workout?
It has to be hills because it is different, unique and more challenging than most workouts.
What's your favorite cross-country memory?
My favorite memory during Cross Country has got to be running and winning the Championship race during Twilight. It is the biggest meet of the year in Arizona and winning it was just simply amazing and something I would not forget.

How do you describe your Coach and how they've influenced you?
Coach Clarke and Coach Williams both, over the years, have given me the chance to grow at my own pace. Both coaches are very motivated to help me be the best I could be both on the field and off. Both Coaches are very passionate in what they do and they care about every single runner on our team.
What advice do you give to the younger Boulder Creek runners?
Work hard at practice because you won't get faster if you don't. BELIEVE in YOURSELF always know that you can achieve your goals.
Do you like to listen to music before meets? If so, what's on your playlist?
Yes, I listen to heavy metal which is probably strange to most but the bands I listen to are Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, Powerwolf, and Metallica.
What do you like to eat after a race?
I like to go to In-N-Out after each meet.
You've broken your school record for 5K twice. What kind of confidence does that give you for the remainder of your high school career?
It gives me the confidence that I know that I have a chance to compete and win state. It gives me a lot of confidence going into Track Season as well.
(Below: Jacob set a Boulder Creek school record of 15:20 at Desert Twilight.-photo by John Hays)
If you could go on a long run with any professional runner who would it be and why?
Galen Rupp, because he runs multiple distances like I do and I feel like he would be a cool guy to hang out with and run with.
What's something unique about you outside of running?
I am interested in Military History and I read all about the military, especially WWII.
Do you intend to run any post-season meets? If so, which one(s)?
I've been to NXN the past three years but this year I want to attend the Footlocker Regional because it is a new race I have yet to do and because I have never raced outside of Arizona before.