Athlete Spotlight: Henry Wynne

Being a fierce competitor is often considered a nature vs. nurture argument that really has no definitive answer. Many believe that the drive necessary to excel in an elite world is intrinsic; a gift for only a chosen few.

But the other end of the debate spectrum places more credence in the environment that surrounds us. Simply put, winning breeds winning.

Henry Wynne of Staples High School (CT) may be dead center within that spectrum.  Internally driven in just about every aspect of his life, Wynne runs with a poise and confidence beyond his years.  Part of that is internal, but the other part is learned from being part of a championship program.

The expectations at Staples are through the roof, yet they always seem to exceed even the loftiest goals. The team has been a force in New England for years and last week they won the Connecticut Open Championships. Wynne made a major contribution to the cause with an individual victory in the 1000m, breaking a 23-year-old school record, but he is equally proud of the team title and his contribution to the relays. You can watch Wynne's 1000m race here.

In anticipation of the New England Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 2^nd in Boston, the MileSplit state sites will be profiling some of the region’s top athletes in a question and answer format.  Below is our conversation with Henry Wynne.  We will also have full coverage of the New England Championships with multiple photographers, race video, live results, and a full recap.  Check the meet page for all the details and the most recent updates.

What accomplishment are you most proud of in your high school running career?

I am most proud of breaking the school records in the indoor and outdoor 4x800m last year. These were old records and my whole relay worked very hard to lower each record. We also won states and got 3rd in New Englands twice, which was a great accomplishment for us.

You come from a very well respected and successful program.  How does being part of a championship caliber team change the way you approach training and racing?

Coming from such a great program definitely affects everything we do as a team. We have the expectation of being a good team and we all want to live up to and pass the set expectations. Laddie has been coaching for a long time, so we all trust him very much. While racing there is always the thought of trying to beat the records of some of the all time best Staples runners.

You have run 2:29.56 for the 1000m and 4:22.64 for the mile this season.  What is the plan for the New England Championships?

My plan going into the New England Championships is to run in 1000m and 4x400m. I currently have one of the top times in New England for the 1000m and I hope I can prove myself at the championship meet.

What will you be doing to prepare in the weeks leading up to the New England Championships?

We are preparing for the State Open Championships first, by mixing distance with speed workouts. In the weeks before New Englands I will be doing more speed and attempting to peak for the championship and hopefully be able to carry that peak to the Nationals.

What are some of your long-term goals in the sport of track?

I hope that I can continue to do well on both the state and National level. There are a few school and state records that I hope I will be able to break and I hope to do well in some of the bigger invitationals and championships in the future.

More with Henry Wynne......

Athlete Profile

Staples Team Page

New England Championships Coverage

CIAC Open Championships Coverage