Kirtland sophomore sets the bar high

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Sep 8, 2016 | Track & Field |

Kirtland Central Bronco Kashon Harrison won the UNM Invitational in Albuquerque Sept. 3 in the first big race of the season. Harrison finished with a time of 15:33.90.

ALBUQUERQUE

One race does not make a season but Kashon Harrison has earned his place as one of New Mexico’s elite high school runner.

Somewhat largely ignored, Harrison scored a runaway victory during the University of New Mexico Invitational on Saturday morning against some state powers.

The KC sophomore won the 5K-race in 15 minutes, 33.9 seconds at the UNM North Golf Course. Jericho Cleveland of Albuquerque Volcano Vista was a distant second, finishing the race in 15:48.

“I felt that anybody could have won it,” Harrison said. “This race was more about strategy and mental toughness.”

Admittedly, Harrison said he felt some early butterflies but during the race it went away. And after the first half-mile he took control and never looked back.

“I felt that I could stretch out the lead a little bit more,” Harrison said. “I felt that I still had some kick.”

KC head coach Lenny Esson said Harrison is naturally gifted with speed so him winning the title didn’t surprise him.

“We’re well aware of what Kashon is capable of doing,” Esson said. “The only difference from last season to this year is he’s a year mature.”

Esson said his pupil increase his mileage over the summer and some of that training paid dividends for him.

“He was able to get out and that altitude training he did in the summer really helped,” Esson said.

As a big idol of Steve Prefontaine, Esson said Harrison tested the waters early on before he went “out there to make it an honest race.”

“He did not sit there and wait,” the KC coach said of Harrison. “He was willing to see who was willing to challenge him. He wanted to be dominant from the beginning and that is the way we’re training him.”

Harrison said winning the race was a big confidence booster and in retrospect he will be part of the conversation for the rest of the season as a likely threat to win the 5A crown.

“Last year I barely knew what mental toughness was,” he admitted. “All I did was run. Having that mental toughness makes a big difference.”

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