Riley Davis Interview

New Richmond senior cross-country runner Riley Davis talks to Sun Sports Reporter Jake Dowling about her qualification for the OHSAA state championship meet and the injury she had to overcome to get there.

And I’m here with Riley Davis who got 20th overall at the Division 2 region meet here in Troy and was the time in 1956 and that qualified her for a second time for the state meet uh next week in OETS. Is that how you pronounce it? So first of all Riley, congratulations and just your thoughts on making it to state for a second time in your career. Yeah. Well, I’m just super excited to be here and have the chance to go to state again. I didn’t really think I was gonna um have a chance because over the track season last year, I’d ended up getting a stress fracture in my hip. So, put me off for all summer training, which was super hard. Um and I didn’t really get to get into it until halfway through this season. So, I was just, you know, coming here going to have fun for my last meet. Obviously wanted to go to state, but I really didn’t expect it, which kind of makes it all the better. Yeah, absolutely. All right. So, um I guess through the first mile and three/4ers, two miles, you were around the 20th uh the 30th place spot. Yeah. And then you kind of rev it up there in that last mile. So, what’s kind of the strategy to get that pretty much that that last qualifying individual spot? Well, I always start out too fast, so I just try to stay calm and like I said, the goal is just to have fun at this meet. Um and the first two miles are super easy, flat, and it’s just like a fun run. And then as soon as that third mile hits, you just go straight up the hill. And I was gonna be honest, I was just like, “Okay, it’s fine.” I was injured until my coach told me I was like 12th individual. And I knew the top 10 individuals went to state. So I was just like something just clicked for me and I had, you know, a lot of people here to support me. Um so everyone was just the energy was high and I just kind of found what I could for the last mile. That’s awesome. That’s awesome. Uh, so going to state for a second straight year. Just kind of tell me um last year you finish, how did you kind of feel about where you finished and then what’s your goal this year for? Well, I ran a huge PR last year. Um, so honestly, I would just love to kind of get back down to the times that I was running um last year. That’s like the main goal. Um, a placing would be nice, but it is kind of good that I ran last year at state, so I have experience and know what to expect. It’s very crowded. So, if I can just kind of stay calm like I did again today and see how see how I finish, I’ll just be happy to be there.