Q&A: Brebeuf's David Coffey

David Coffey is finally out of the shadow of Zack Snider and ready to prove himself as one of the best runners in the state. In his first meet this past weekend he took the victory in 15:51, 40 seconds faster than in 2014. His time puts him as one of the fastest in Indiana. We talked with Coffey about this race and becoming the new #1 for the Braves.

First off great race this weekend. How did the race play out? When did you make your move to pull away from the field?

The Harvey Invitational is our first race of the season. While I have been training hard all summer, before the race I wasn’t sure what times I would be capable of this early in the season. Because of this uncertainty, I decided to take the race out conservatively. I started out in 5th place, behind 4 Fishers runners. I steadily passed the first 3 Fishers runners after the 1k mark. I sensed that Trevor was struggling at the 2k mark, and took the opportunity to take the lead.

What were your goals going into the race? I have that as just one second off of your best time - did you think that was doable coming into the race?

Last year Zack ran a 16:16 at the Harvey, and I hoped that I would run about the same. Beyond that, I simply hoped to win the race.

Do you think it helped to have a home meet for your first meet of the season?

Yes, having the race on our familiar home course helped me tremendously during the race. Knowing all thenooks and crannies is a huge mental relief and strategic benefit. Having the race at Brebeuf provides a fantastic opportunity for the whole Brebeuf's cross-country community to come together and support each other.

The last couple of years you have been running with Zack Snider. What has it been like transitioning to being the top guy on the team now?

The transition in training has been very easy. I have a lot of people with my best interests in mind, which takes away a lot of stress. The hardest part of the transition has been working with younger athletes and helping them realize their potential.

What do you think you learned by having someone on your team who was one of the top runners in the state?

Before Zack, I thought of running as something that I did after school from 3pm-5pm. Under his leadership I’ve learned how to treat running not just as an activity, but as a lifestyle. Running has always ruled my afternoons, but it now also rules my mind throughout the rest of the day. I’m making better decisions and training more effectively because of this new attitude.

What are your goals for the season for yourself and for your team?

The last two years have been the best years in our program’s history. Twice our program has gone to state, and twice we have ended the season on the podium. Landing on the podium my sophomore year was the happiest moment of my life, and I want my teammates to be blessed with the same experience. We are all working toward the same goal. Last year, every single podium team had an athlete in the top 6 overall performers. The expectations are clear.

How did you get into running?

I started running cross-country in 6th grade simplify because of an intense, but healthy sibling rivalry with my older brother, Will. I didn’t begin running in the spring until my 8th grade year, after a scare with several concussions while playing lacrosse.

What has been your favorite running memory been so far?

Running has been a huge blessing, and I have lots of memories of thrilling side-by-side races and podium finishes with my teammates. I have a passion for running and a passion for winning, but my favorite memories are the ones I've made hanging out with my best friends, my teammates.