Thomas Ashby has done the unthinkable. The recent Apollo High School graduate will travel to the legendary Hayward Field at the University of Oregon on July 8 to compete in the U20 USA Track & Field Championships against some of the finest collegiate athletes in the country.
Ashby ran a remarkable 5:53.81 in the 2000M Steeplechase on Wednesday to qualify for the premier event. As one of only two high school athletes to qualify for the meet, he will toe the line against top runners from the universities of Notre Dame, Iowa, Michigan, Oregon, and more.
“It feels special,” Ashby said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Eugene and run at such a legendary track in a World Championships Qualifying meet.”
Ashby said he’s locked in and ready for the challenge, dedicating what little turnaround time he has to train and rest.
“The fitness required to get here has been a 2-year project,” he said. “I’ve been consistently training and keeping myself healthy to be as fast as possible. However, the steeplechase is new to this year. After racing steeple a couple of times during my sophomore and junior season, I knew I wanted to go all out on it during my senior year.”
Ashby recently brought home the gold in the 1600M run at the KHSAA State Championships. His coach Charlie Shoulta had several positive things to say about the accomplishment.
“Thomas is currently ranked fourth in the nation in the HS 2000M Steeplechase,” Shoulta said. “But what defines Thomas is his high character. His legacy on the Apollo distance program will extend far beyond his times and victories. His work ethic, leadership, and passion for helpings others are what Thomas will truly be remembered for.”
Shoulta is on the brink of retirement, and a trip to Hayward Field with Ashby would merely be icing on the cake.
“For nearly three decades, track & field has been an enormous part of my life, but with a growing family, it has come time to take a step away from this part of my life,” he said. “I would love nothing more than to close this chapter of my life by watching one of the finest athletes of my career compete at the most historic track & field venue in the U.S.: Hayward Field.”
The steeplechase is a distance race that requires runners to clear four steeples each lap, one of which is followed by a water pit. To adjust to steepling, Ashby began mobility drills immediately after cross-country season. Since then, he’s regularly worked on the jumps and encompassed hurdle drills into his training regimen.
Ashby said he expects to go out and compete at a high level, not taking the opportunity for granted.
“My goal for the race is to place as high as possible and get close to the sub-9-minute mark,” he said. “As one of the youngest racers in the field, I don’t have a great chance at making the USA U20 World Championship team, but anything can happen, and I sure won’t back down from trying to secure a spot.”
