Frick will enter the season as the 11th best 5K returner in the state and a state meet finalist. He competed well at both the Nike and Foot Locker regional championships.
Wait. Who?
Gavin Frick.
This is the senior cross country season for Frick who would be one of the top distance runners in the state -- of Ohio.
His family moved to Celina, Texas last winter right before the start of track season. Frick already got an introduction to the Texas UIL track and field season.
He placed second at the Region 2-4A 3200m earning a qualifying position to the state meet. In Austin, he would go on to finish in 8th place going 9:42.24.
This fall is his first cross season in the Lone Star state, and right now, Frick and his Celina teammates are still trying build their base to be able to progress with the rest of the season.
"This year, we had to change a lot. The move was definitely challenging, but every move is an opportunity for change and I really appreciated the opportunity here at Celina. They've welcomed me with open arms and I couldn't be more proud to be a part of this program."
Gavin Frick, Celina senior
Frick should be going to familiar meets, running on courses that he knows backwards and forwards, and running against competitors he is familiar with. However, things won't exactly happen that way this season.
In addition to the few things that Frick will have to adapt to, the Texas weather is another. "Early on, I definitely felt a difference in the heat, but once I kind of got used to that I could tell that the heat might make me a better runner," Frick said. Hopefully, when the post season hits when it cools down I can use being used to the cooler weather to my advantage later.
With all of the differences he has already witnessed and will continue to encounter, there are some similarities between his previous home of Ohio and his new home of Texas.
One unexpected thing is that he doesn't have to remember a new head coaches name. "Believe it or not there is a lot that's very similar. The coach's name is the same. "It's crazy, and I'm really happy that I didn't have to do too much changing aside from the heat here, but I'm excited."
Every year, Frick has improved both on the track and in cross country. This year should be no different. He is at Celina, which is a good program with good coaching and tradition. Plus, he will encounter some running on a consistent basis like none other that he has seen.
Texas returns 120 boys who ran 16:00 and under in the 5K last season, including four boys who ran 15:40 and faster in 4A, the classification that Frick will compete in.
Frick will add to the laundry list of 16:00 and under returners for 2019. He PRed last season with a 15:53 5K of his own and that would place him as the #5 4A returner. He ran 10:05.30 2 mile on Friday, at the Hebron Friday Night Hawk Invitational.
"This year, we had to change a lot. The move was definitely challenging, but every move is an opportunity for change and I really appreciated the opportunity here at Celina. They've welcomed me with open arms and I couldn't be more proud to be a part of this program."
