Athlete of the Month: Wyatt Claiborne

Posted 10/25/21

Over time, Wyatt Claiborne has come to recognize his strengths.There are sports he just enjoys playing, and there are those that both excels at and enjoys. This has been the approach the Warrenton …

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Athlete of the Month: Wyatt Claiborne

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Over time, Wyatt Claiborne has come to recognize his strengths.
There are sports he just enjoys playing, and there are those that both excels at and enjoys. This has been the approach the Warrenton sophomore has taken during his athletic career, as he slowly eliminates other sports to focus his attention on being a standout in distance running.

Claiborne has emerged early in his career as a runner for the Warrenton cross country team, winning two races this season at Forest Park and on the home course. Having eclipsed a personal-best time of 17:10 for 3.1 miles earlier in the year during a race on the state course, he is determined to return there for the MSHSAA Championships next month.

Claiborne’s journey to harrier success has been a process of elimination. He previously played baseball through seventh grade and basketball until entering high school. At one time he was involved in taekwondo, working his way up to black belt status.

But Claiborne realized his true talent was in running, which he began at a very young age. Now he paces the Warrior cross country team, while also running 800- and 1600-meter races for the track team. He is also interested in adding the 1,600-meter relay.

His shift into competitive running took a turn when he transferred to Warren County R-III from St. Charles during the summer of 2018.

Outside of running, Claiborne participates in the concert band, playing the saxophone. He also prides himself on academic achievement.

Q: How did you get into running?
“I’ve always been fast and liked running. In elementary school we had this thing called Read, Write and Run, so I’d run after school. I did that in second and third grade and that got me into running a bit more. At my old school we had cross country for sixth through eighth grade. Once we moved to Warrenton in seventh grade, I started getting more serious about it.”

Q: What distances do you prefer?
“I like running the 800 more than the 3.1 miles, because you don’t feel pain for nearly as long. I didn’t get the endurance until I started doing cross country. I really like the 800 and the mile. I’m not as much of a cross country person, but this year I’ve really started to develop my endurance.”

Q: How has the season gone so far?
“This cross country season has been great, because I didn’t expect to win any races, but I’ve already won two. I’m kind of where I wanted to be at for my time. We still have three meets left, so I could still improve, but my personal record is 17:10 and that’s pretty close to where I wanted to be.”

Q: What is your proudest accomplishment?
“What I’m most proud of is taking 1:24 off my time from last year. That is really good. Having a personal record of 17:10 is not that great of a time, but cutting off that much from a year ago was a big improvement.”

Q: What made you decide to stop playing baseball?
“Baseball was my favorite sport for a really long time. I wanted to play this past summer, but the summer before I had sprained my ankle. I also just have more natural talent in running and I like it.”

Q: What has been your favorite memory since moving to Warrenton?
“It was a pretty good move, so I’ve made a lot of memories, but I’d say winning our home meet.”

Q: What do you like to learn about?
“I like geography. I like to memorize where the countries are and learn about their cultures.”

Q: Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
“My dad, always motivating me to get into sports. My parents in general, with them really wanting me to work hard.”

Q: What are three words to describe you?
“Determined and hard working, but I’m also a procrastinator and awkward.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
“I like the beach, so I guess Hawaii.”

Athlete of the Month

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