Barstow Captain answers a few questions

photo by Doug Speck

While your local folks are complaining about the summer weather and finding a number of other excuses to skip the summer work, the folks out at Barstow HS, one of the state's historically top running programs, are working hard to take home another championship.  Despite blast furnace conditions for the summer months the Aztecs typically show up for a well-paced fall campaign. After rolling over all comers in a recent Riverside CC summer race Anthony Solis (that's soul-lease, not soul-lice for announcer types he indicates below), 2007 Barstow team captain Anthony Solis took a few minutes to answer some questions for us. 

Anthony has progressed nicely during his prep career.  Two years ago as a soph he was a member of the Barstow State Division III Champonship team that took Cabrillo (Lompoc) 80-117 for the title, placing 87th individually at State.  Last year as an eleventh grader Anthony was the number two man on the Aztec State Championship squad, placing 17th at the State competition to follow up his 8th place in the Southern Section finals in helping the squad to a crushing state meet win over Del Campo (Fair Oaks) 78-166.  Solis added a  4:25.1 during the spring track and field season.  His recent "over a minute" win against the field in an August 2nd Riverside City College "Fun Run" certainly shows he is getting ready to roll into the 2007 season with some solid groundwork laid down.

We are a believer that something is not possible unless someone is willing to talk about it, and as Anthony indicates below to the State's Division III squads for the coming year, get ready because 'here we come.'    

1) How has the summer training been going for yourself and the team?

AS - "The summer training has been good with a couple minor setbacks but I am really happy with it and the team is doing good.  I just wish a couple people would step up."

2) How do you feel about the team going into this season compared to say, last year, where your group peaked in super style to dominate your division in the state meet?

AS - "I think that our team is looking good--three words - here we come."

3) What part of your own running do you feel you wished to work on especially as you head towards your senior year?

AS - "Well, I like to work on my strength so I am not as tired at the end of races as I have been."

6) Why do you think that Barstow has had such success in Cross Country and distance running?

AS - "Because of our coaches, Duarte and coach Shipman."

7) What thought have you given to your own running after high-school and what are you academic-athletic plans?

AS - "Well I am not exactly sure where I want to go but I hope to earn a scholarship to a 4 year university but if not, I am going to go to San Bernardino Valley College."

And here is something for announcers at CIF races: Solis is pronounced "soul-lease" not "so-lice"

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