Elias will also be a part of the 2020 graduating class of seniors and will be joining an incredible program. He has committed to Adams State University and will be leaving his warm clothes at home to rough the colder climate in Colorado. Perez also boasts an impressive collection of accomplishments which include 3 trips to State. Out of those 3 trips to State, Perez also helped lead his team to two back to back 5A State Championships. He like Juan Olmos was a part of El Paso history when he helped his team make two NxN appearances along with one NxR first place team finish.
Notable Performances Include:
4:22.63 - 1600M at the Fred Loya Invitational 2020
9:22.36 - 3200M, 9th place at the Nike Chandler Rotary Invitational 2019
14:45.90 - Three Mile Run, 9th place finish at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic 2019
15:03.46 - 5000M, 6th place finish at the UIL State Cross Country Championship 2019
TxMileSplit - So let's jump right in! How are you handling the unfortunate ending to your season and how did you stay focused on staying in shape when your season was still in limbo?
Elias Perez - The season ending the way it did was obviously not the way that I envisioned it to end. I had many goals that I still want to accomplish, however in my eyes it wasn't anything to get down on myself or feel bad. I wasn't very sad because I figured I'm going to have 4 more years in college. It's hard to stay in shape and continue having that motivation to run when the season is basically over but I just want to be at the top and I just didn't want anyone to outwork me so I'm going to make sure I put in the miles every day and get on grinding.
TxMileSplit - You've announced that you've committed to Adams State University. Did you feel that not being able to really showcase your entire skill set this Track season hurt your chances of signing with a good school?
Elias Perez - I don't think it did. Adams State has a really good program and that's really what I was looking for. Personally though, I felt as if I still had way more to prove to everybody, not that I need to prove myself but just show some everybody that I'm the best.
TxMileSplit - Walk us through the process of how you went about deciding which school was right for you academically and athletically. Was ASU always at the forefront of your choices and why did you finally decide that Colorado was the place for you to continue your journey for running?
Elias Perez - Adams state was definitely one of the forefront schools. I had never known who they were until Coach McLain told us. He really looks up to their program and tries to take some of the things they do and bring it back and incorporate it with our team since they're such a good program. Once I went on my visit I was able to see the team and the city and how they operate and it just reminded me of the team I have now as well as the coaches and I knew that I would be able to become even better.
TxMileSplit - You've had a stellar career in running under Coach Mike McLain. Two 5A State titles back to back and two back to back NXN appearances. What's so special about this team environment that's run by two of the best coaches in the city in Mike McLain and Yadira Salazar?
Elias Perez - Obviously it's no doubt how good this program is and the coaches that run it. I think the most special thing about this program and the team is that everybody just believes in you. I know for me, I'm always going to have a chip on my shoulder and I'm there's always going to be someone that I'm trying to pass to get to the top and if you believe in me that's awesome, if you don't then I'm going to prove you wrong. Coach McLain believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself and that can give a kid a lot of confidence. The team environment is just special and no one ever talks about how much the coaches work hard especially coach Salazar, she's always is doing things for the team and just working as hard as us and we really love her for that. The team itself is just everybody cares for each other and they know how to work hard and that's built from the coaches.
TxMileSplit - You've also ran against the best talent the nation had to offer. From Woodbridge to Desert Twilight to NXN, which meet stood out to you the most in terms of team performances and why?
Elias Perez - The meet that stood out to me the most was definitely state. All throughout the season, we were kind of struggling a little bit with just runners being injured and just not mentally there. We had some younger guys also on the team so we had to kind of help them through the season because it's a lot for them just being thrown onto one of the best teams in the state and competing at such a high level so we helped them through the season. There was some doubt that we wouldn't make it to NXN or win state and if you let doubt creep in, it can be very deadly to your mental. Personally I knew what we were capable of and I know we can beat anyone we want when we are all locked in and to be able to come back at state and just completely dominate everybody there from all divisions just showed everybody what they were capable of and it made us even better.
TxMileSplit - In what way do you think that's prepared you to be successful at a collegiate level?
Elias Perez - Being able to run for somebody other than yourself makes you better than you could ever imagine and now since I'm moving to college, where teams are even more important, it really just helps being able to believe in the guys around you and being able to show out for them.
TxMileSplit - Lastly, what advice would you give your teammates or future runners in the sport that you're leaving behind to see the level of success that you and your Varsity boys have seen?
Elias Perez - The advice that I would give my teammates or really anybody that's trying to see success in the sport of running is just to believe in yourself even when no one else does. The sport of running is really unforgiving and sometimes makes you question whether it's worth even doing. The more you believe in yourself and believe anything you can do, there's no one that's going to stop you and it makes it even better when you're at the top and you're able to look down at all the doubters and obstacles you had to overcome. I would also say never forget where you came from and who helped you along the way and always listen and try to take information that you get from others and use it yourself. Also the last thing is to learn how to race. Running fast times and getting PRs and trying to break your time each meet is fun and all but this sport is about racing and racing to win before anything you should try to learn how to race and race to win and only then will you get fast times.
We were also lucky to talk to Mr. Perez. Here what he had to say about his son, the culture at Eastwood and traveling to see his son compete outside of El Paso.
TxMileSplit - You've seen your son mature into one of the top athletes in the State of Texas as well as being a part of one of the most successful HS programs to ever come out of El Paso. What did you enjoy the most about his process from afar?
Mr. Perez - As a parent, of course all the success that Elias and his team have enjoyed has been really fun but I think seeing him grow as a runner, teammate and young man has been the best part. That growth is a testament to the kind of program that Eastwood XC has built.
TxMileSplit - You travelled to almost every out of town meet that Elias ran at. What were your experiences when being immersed with the culture that the Eastwood coaches have created out here?
Mr. Perez - Following Elias to almost all of his out of town meets, I've been able see how much Eastwood XC is respected by their peers. I have also seen how hard the kids work and that they buy into the program. The kids are committed to the team and I think that has led to a lot of their success. I am just so grateful that Elias has been a part of this program. I believe that the lessons he has learned will serve him not only in running but in this life in general.