SARATOGA SPRINGS — After being sidelined with a knee injury earlier in the season, Saratoga Springs senior Jay Navin made no doubt about where he would finish his high school career—on top.
Navin clinched first place in the individual 800-meter final at the New York State Track and Field Championships in Syracuse on June 6 with a time of 1:54.24.
Navin adds his first individual state title to his trophy case of nine individual Section II track wins and two Section II championships in both cross country and track. He was also part of the 2012 cross country team that won a state and federation title.
The two-time All-American is committed to run at Northeastern University in the fall of 2014 and will start training for college cross country after a week off, hoping to build off of his career at Saratoga Springs.
In this week’s Q&A, Navin looks back on his career as a Blue Streak.
As far as the 800-meter, what does it mean to finish your high school career on top?
It’s awesome. That’s been my goal for a while. I think midway through my junior year, winning states became more of a reality and I thought it could happen. I kept coming up short, but I was lucky enough to do it in my last year.
You help set the school record in the 4x800, coming in third place at states. Can you describe what that says about you guys (Joe Verro, Aidan Tooker, Rob Young)?
Going into the year we didn’t think we had as good of a 4x800 as last year when we set the previous school record, but as the year developed we started to run well and had a lot of good team chemistry when it came to the relays. Our original goal when we got to the state meet was to make podium and we ended up getting third, so it was huge and we came out of the slow heat to do it.
You’ve been through a lot with Joe Verro, both coming up to varsity in 10th grade. What comes to mind when you think of Joe?
He’s a really tough runner. He’s always gutsy and loves to win. He’s really level headed and doesn’t get too upset about anything, so that’s always good to have him around with me because I tend to get a little more emotional about stuff, so he kind of keeps me in check.
In both cross country and track, Saratoga Springs has a winning tradition. After holding up your end of that tradition, how do you feel about the future of the program being in the hands of some of the younger guys like Aidan Tooker (sophomore)?
Aidan is probably the most talented runner that I know personally. He’s just phenomenal when it comes to distance events. I’m older than him, but I really look up to the way he races. He’s really gutsy all the time and any day of the week he can just go out, love to race people and give it everything he has.
Any favorite memories?
We had a couple good indoor relays last year at nationals and then our DMR this year we got fourth and fifth in nationals, so making All-American both times. Winning the state meet in cross country my junior year by one point was probably one of the top moments in addition to winning states this year.
What have you learned from coaches Art and Linda Kranick?
To be great you really have to put the time in and you have to be very dedicated to the sport. TThat’s what I’ve learned from them for the most part. I’ve learned a lot of good things about training and nutrition and what it takes to be a great athlete from them too. They’ve coached a lot of fast people.
How about coach Tom Reilly (distance coach for outdoor track)?
I really like running for Coach Reilly and Shane Zanetti. They taught me a lot. Coach Zenneit has helped me a lot, not that I have any issues, but just socially giving me advice and stuff. He’s kind of been like an older brother and mentor figure to me. And then Coach Reilly is great. Out of anyone, he’s great to talk track with and he’s probably pushed the hardest out of anyone. He’s always given me really hard workouts to see what I can do and make me dig deep to try and be good, so I appreciate that
Do you have major influences?
When I was younger Same Place was on the team and he was like the best runner. He was someone I really looked up to. As far as professional athletes, I like Mo Farah. He’s one of the best distance runners in the world. I just love the way he races. He always finishes really hard and tends to win a lot. Nick Symmonds, too, who’s an 800 runner for the United States.
When people look at your career as a Blue Streak, what would you like them to say about Jay Navin?
I’d like people to remember that times are important and winning is important, but the most important part is creating a culture where everyone supports each other and it’s team first. Also, loving to win and doing whatever you can to win.
Do you have a favorite pre-run song?
“Sail” by Awolnation gets me fired up.
Three dinner guests?
Coach Reilly, Jack Johnson (musician) and Nick Symmonds
