“I want to be the best at Oak Hills” Is what freshman Owen Huff wants to accomplish here at Oak Hills on the cross-country boys team. Huff is already the fastest freshman and 11th-fastest runner in the program’s history. He still has three years left at the high school level.
Huff faces some hardships as a freshman “going against people older than me” and “not being taken seriously.” We asked junior Oak Hills cross-country captain Colin Klasener how Owen handles these challenges and hardships. Klaserner said, “Owen appears unfazed when hit with a challenge, and uses it as an opportunity to grow as a runner or as a teammate.” Huff Always comes with a positive mindset when going into a race; he always thinks about what he can do instead of what he can’t. He always sticks to his pre-race rituals: “Night before I always eat pasta and the morning of I eat waffles and strawberries.” This is another main reason for his success as a runner.
He isn’t just an excellent runner, he is also a student. Although it is a challenge for some student-athletes to balance school, sports, and social life; for Huff, it is a different story: “I always try to stay on top of homework.” When he has free time he likes to relax and chill with friends.
Even though it seems Huff only has goals over a long period, this isn’t the case: “(A) personal goal is making it to regionals maybe state and breaking 16:00 in the 5k.”
Along with all of his personal goals and challenges, he also has a heavy influence on his teammates. Klasener says, “Owen is truly a great influence on me as a runner and as a captain. Someone who, even for being an underclassman, is a strong encourager for everyone which is great to know that someone has my back.” Huff is not just an influence on Klasener, he also has a big influence on the whole team itself: “Owen is the glue guy on the team. He holds everyone together between his fellow underclassmen and the upperclassmen, and is at the center of a tight-knit group of guys” said Klasener. The Oak Hills cross-country team is currently ranked sixth in the GMC. With the upcoming GMC tournament, Huff believes that they can place higher: “Our team is very determined for GMCs.” One of the memorable moments Huff has had this season, he says, is “(At) Little Miami breaking the freshman record”
After his time at Oak Hills, Huff says, “I want to go to college for running.” Huff surrounds himself with many goals which is one of the reasons for his success. Another goal he set is: “I want to be the best in my family.” Huff’s family is a cross-country family which is one of the reasons he began running cross country because of their influence. If anyone should learn a life lesson from Huff it should be “that you have to enjoy the journey to get to the final destination.”