Willie Ahearn ran 4:18 in the mile last week at the Hispanic Games, placing second in a very competitive field. Ahearn's performance continued his success that he has seen for the past few years. One of the senior leaders on the NTN fifth place Danbury (CT) squad, Ahearn took some time to answer a few questions and give us an outlook on his final prep track season.
A Danbury Star Shines: Interview with Willie Ahearn
MileSplit (MS): Willie, congrats on a great start to your track season. You recently finished second at the Hispanic Games in the mile with a great time of 4:18. How did that race go for you and where do you go from there?
Willie Ahearn (WA): The race went well. My coach and I thought it would be a prime opportunity to qualify for Millrose and therefore we decided to go after it. I knew Kyle [Merber] would be in the race and I felt I had a fair shot at winning and taking that automatic bid, but when the gun went off I had a hard time getting into that quick rhythm that would hopefully take the sting out of his kick. Unfortunately, going through the half in 2:11 was not what I had intended and felt as if I had put myself in a rough position.
When he started to move at about 300, it was hard to watch. Personally, it takes a bit longer to build momentum to get into my kick, and when he went I took too long to react. By the time I was around the home stretch he had significantly gapped me and I was left to fight for second. That might have been the hardest race to get over. I kept replaying that moment when I saw him pass and it took a couple days to get over. Now, I use it as motivation and will never put myself in that position again.
From here, I race the Yale Invitational DMR and then either the New Balance or Yale Mile. I have the ability and training under my belt to run sub-4:14, so it is only a matter of time. Then if those go well, hopefully I'll be under the watchful eyes of thousands of runners at the Millrose Games. That is my number one goal right now and I am doing whatever possible to get myself there.
MS: Being a part of such a strong Danbury distance squad, you obviously have high goals for the 2008 outdoor track season. Could you share with us some of your own goals and some of the team goals?
WA: My number one goal is to remain healthy throughout indoor and outdoor. If I can do that, and I can follow my training with as little interruptions as possible, I think I will be in a very good position to run very fast times in distances from 800m to 5000m. Some of the team goals involve winning a National Championship and taking down that 4xMile National Record. Also, we hope to take some stabs at others such as the 4x800m relay and the DMR National Records. Granted it will take a group of four determined young men having great races on the same day to challenge those records, but stranger things have happened. Those records are getting a bit old anyway. We want the record book to read 2008 instead of 2001 (DMR) and 2002 (4x800m).
MS: It seems that Danbury has become quite the distance running powerhouse the past few years. What do you attribute that too?
WA: Commitment. Not only the commitment of the athletes, but the coaches. We have an amazing coaching staff that is there day in and day out, working hard to get us, athletes, to another level. I feel horrible for our head coach's family. He has two newborn babies and a wife, and I feel he gives us more attention than he does to the people at home. Luckily they understand his passion for the sport and allow him to be there for us.
MS: Your squad had one heck of a cross country season. Your team placed fifth overall at Nike Team Nationals and won some fairly big invitationals. Looking back, how do you see your senior cross country season going and what was your favorite moment?
WA: My favorite moment was the New England Championships up in Cumberland, Maine. It was a bitter cold morning and we all toed the line ready to attack. That is exactly what we did. We put five in the top 22, seven in the top 50 and demolished the rest of our region. I remember walking back to the tent together, freezing our butts off, but feeling that what we had just done was worth all the pain and struggle we endured throughout the season with injuries and out setbacks. I was so proud of the guys for running as one unit instead of seven individuals, and that was definitely the peak moment of my season.
MS: I asked your teammate Matt Terry the other day what it was like training with Willie Ahearn and your other senior teammates the past four years. What are your feelings towards Matt and the other seniors?
WA: They are the best group of guys I have ever been a part of. I have been on other close teams throughout my life, but nothing comes close to how I feel about these fourteen guys. I would do anything for them and I am sure they would say the same. We are essentially inseparable, and although the ladies do not often enjoy the fact that we would rather hang out with each other instead of them, we love it. We all take similar courses, eat lunch together, and hang out at least once every weekend.
As for Matt, he is one of my closest friends and is someone I can easily relate to. Having someone who is constantly going to keep you working hard every day is a major reason for my success. We are competitive, and although things can get tense on the track or cross course, we will always be there for each other when the day is through. I hope it remains the same way next fall, and although I know we won't be on the same team, I cannot wait to come home after months away and see him, along with my other fourteen brothers.
MS: Last season Danbury put up some great results at Nike Outdoor Nationals, then came into the fall and did well. What are you doing now in order to take another step towards greatness?
WA: Right now we are simply following the plan of our coach. He makes the map and we follow it. It was brought us this far, so I do not think it will fail us now. Granted things do not always go as expected, but he is there to guide us around roadblocks or other obstacles in our way. He is also continually reading and researching the best ways to make that next jump, so I am sure he will have a few tricks to share in the upcoming season.
MS: Many of the top high school distance runners have started to make their commitments to colleges. Have you committed yet, and if so where?
WA: I have not yet made a decision on where I am attending. I applied to only four schools: University of Texas at Austin, Stanford, Notre Dame and Georgetown, but have not yet heard from any of them. I adapt well to my surroundings and seem to make the best out of things, so I am not worried that I will not mesh well wherever I end up.
MS: You've been a good runner for a little while now. When did you origin
ally get into running?
WA: My brother was a runner for Danbury and his 2001 team really paved the way for us this year. That team won the New England Championships as well and ended up ranked tenth in the nation. He and his buddies would continually rub that in my face, but since NTN he hasn't brought it up.
Coming into high school I was a soccer and basketball player. I was not a big fan of the politics and opinions that determined playing time, so when I began understanding you essentially determined how fast you ran, I was hooked. After the first week of cross country I knew my high school sports would be limited to running and I do not regret the decision.
MS: Time for one last question, and hopefully a fun one for you. If you could travel to any one place in the entire world right now where you go and why?
WA: I would probably book a ticket to Australia. I hear it is unbelievably beautiful and is a place I would love to visit for a month or so with my family. Also the fact that it is summer there while we are freezing here in the Northeast would be another logical reason to make the trip.
MS: Thanks Willie and best of luck this track season!