MileSplit SC talks with Grant Young of Wren before the SCHSL qualifying and state meet. Read the question and answer below.
How would you rate your season so far with a win at Wendy's and top four finish at Bob Jenkins SCTCCCA Coaches Classic?
I would rate my season as a solid 8/10 because Eye Opener was definitely not what I was hoping for but Wendy's was amazing. Coaches Classic wasn't exactly perfect but I was still happy with the effort. Wendy's definitely has been the best part so far, but I'm feeling good about the rest of my season too.
What made you decide to choose to attend Appalachian State in 2025?
I really enjoyed my time up in Boone. The team atmosphere is really close and reminds me a lot of my current team where it is just super fun to be around the other guys on the team and they all seemed to be really close with each other. Coach (Brad) Herbster also is a super successful coach who I know will help me improve a ton over these next few years. And Boone is just a really cool, special town and the whole campus vibe just feels like the right fit.
What other universities were top on your list?
I had also been in contact with Arkansas State, Memphis and Charleston Southern, but I had planned since the spring that I would go to App if I got an official offer.Any tips for other runners while they are choosing a college?
The main thing is really just to reach out yourself to coaches and don't wait for them to come to you. Probably 90% of my interactions with coaches came from me reaching out first and not the coach. Also I would recommend going up to the campus with your family even if you don't have an official visit so you can get a true feel for how it is on campus because there's no point in going somewhere that you won't enjoy the college life.
"I used to play basketball and soccer in middle school, but I broke my arm playing soccer and couldn't finish the tryouts for the school basketball team, so the coach and my parents thought I should run cross country to stay in shape. I ended up making the varsity team that year as a seventh grader and just stuck with running after that." - Grant Young
What do you hope to study and achieve on and of course at the college level?
I'm going to major in exercise science and I want to get to the point where me and the team can really be competitive not only on the conference level but the national level as well.
What goals do you have for the rest of your senior cross country season?
My main focus at this point of the year is to win state. Wren has only had a couple of other runners do it and no one has done it from Wren in almost 30 years, so I'm hoping to break that streak.
What's your preferred race strategy? How do you adapt if it changes?
I like to front run, but I have worked a lot more this year on staying a little more conservative and just settling into a competitive position at the start. Then I just kind of keep my position near the front and just give myself a chance to win until about the 4K mark and then really just ripping the last 800-1K of the race. Front running is definitely my preferred tactic, especially if I'm the favorite going into a race, but I feel like learning to race tactically has been my biggest improvement this year.
How did you get involved in the sport?
I used to play basketball and soccer in middle school, but I broke my arm playing soccer and couldn't finish the tryouts for the school basketball team, so the coach and my parents thought I should run cross country to stay in shape. I ended up making the varsity team that year as a seventh grader and just stuck with running after that.
What kind of mileage do you have now for a week and how will that change as the season nears championship meets?
Over the summer I was pretty consistently at about 60 (miles) each week and I've dropped down to about 45-50 with the occasional 55 mile week mixed in during the season. I will probably start to taper back sometime in the next few weeks, but I really don't expect I will go super deep into a taper. I probably won't go much lower than 40, maybe 35.
What is your motivation for now and the future?
My main motivation this year has definitely been to win state. I have wanted to win an individual title since I first started and that has really been what's driven me this season. For the future I don't really have any specific time goals yet, but I am hoping to chase down a few school records this spring.
Have you had any changes this year, please explain?
The main change this year compared to others was that I trained a lot more by myself. I have always had a couple guys on the team that I would do workouts with to push me, but this year I didn't have that. I think that learning to push myself during workouts when it's just me alone on the track early in the morning has really been what has helped me take the next step this season. My physical side is definitely stronger than the last couple years, but my mental side is really what's been improved a lot more from all the solo training.
How do you look at your time at Wren as the season winds down?
I've thought about it a lot especially since we went and did a meet at Nettles Park this past week which will always be special to me since that was where my first ever race was. It honestly feels like so much longer ago that I started running, but it's pretty much all good memories. I have been blessed with awesome coaches and teammates throughout the years to help me get to where I am today.
What do you want to see happen in the sport in the future, and why?
The sport is definitely growing and that has been awesome to see. Especially in South Carolina, I feel like the level of popularity and ability has improved a ton since I started running, and I am super excited to see what it can continue to become in the next few years.
What other hobbies do you have?
My main hobby is golf. I definitely play too much of it and spend too much time and money on it, but it really helps me just unwind and relax and it is a ton of fun. I also still dabble in some basketball and play church ball in the winter (shoutout team Newspring).
"My physical side is definitely stronger than the last couple years, but my mental side is really what's been improved a lot more from all the solo training." - Grant Young
What would you like to say to family, friends, coaches and your teammates?
Just a massive thank you as my high school career comes to an end to everyone who has helped me over the last 6 years. My family has always been willing to help me pay for things, drive me to races, and be flexible to help me succeed. My coaches have really helped me learn about the sport and how to improve my physical and mental state, and they have really inspired me to where I want to coach one day once I'm done running competitively. My teammates and friends have always supported me throughout my high school career, and we've always had a special kind of atmosphere at Wren where it's more like a big family than anything. I'm blessed to have been placed into a place like Wren and wouldn't go back and change a thing if I could.
Do you have postseason cross country meet plans?
I am planning to race Foot Locker in Charlotte and then start gearing up for track season.
