Annie Boos

Read distance runner Annie Boos' answers to the following questions we asked her about her experience as a Claremont track and field athlete!

1. How did CHS's track and field team help you accomplish so much?

First, I learned the importance of diligence. Track and field requires an immense amount of mental and physical strengh to perform at a high level. I had to be diligent in managing my recovery, sleep, homework, and friendships/family in order to run my best. To this day, being diligent is a driving force in all sectors of my life. The second lesson I learned was being a team player. My terammates became my best friends and it is important to value each athlete beyond their performace on the track. Supporting every single athlete in a CHS uniforn builds trust and momentum on a team which has helped me build relationships in my school and work life aswell.

2. What was the CHS track and field team's bond like while you were there?

The CHS track team had a strong bond during my time there. During a meet, everyone prioritized cheering and supporting every member of the team, regardless of an event group.

3. What is your favorite moment down at the CHS track?

I have countless memories from CHS track that I will cherish forever. Some of my favorite moments were practicing hand-offs for the 4x400 with my teammates, Kyla Morris, Kyra Tisopulos, and Kylie Robinson. Although nothing significant happened during the 4x400 practices, we grew a tight bond which was special to me considering we all competed in different events. We ended up qualifying for CIF finals in the 4x400 and I think a large contributor to our success was our deep connection and respect we had for one another. Another special moment was when I qualified for CIF State Championships in the 1600 my junior year. The best part qualifying wasn't the fact that I ran a personal best of 4:48 or earning the school record, it was the fact that my teammates and friends were there to cheer me on during my race. Running fast is special, but sharing that memory with my friends, teammates, and family is unforgettable.

4. What was your favorite event?

My favorite event to compete in was the 1600 (aka the mile). To me, it's a happy medium between a distance and a sprint race.

5. What advice can you give incoming CHS track and field athletes?

Failure is important. We can't always have the best day on the track. Coming off my freshman season as a school record holder and nationally ranked number 1 in my class, I put too much pressure on myself to succeed every time I stepped on the track. I was so afraid to fail that I often thought about dropping out of my race rather than losing. The fear of failing is what led to me the worst season of my running career. My junior year, I embraced failure. If I had a bad race, I saw it as an opporunity for growth rather than defeat. Most importantly, overcoming my fear of failure helped me find joy in running again. Enjoying your sport is the best success an athlete can find.

6. What kind of difficult training did you endure in the past to gain the levels of success that you did?

The most difficult workouts I did at CHS included 6 mile tempos, mile repeats, 400 meter repeats, and running 60 miles a week. I continue doing these type of workouts throughout my collegiate career but the intensity and volume increased as I got older.

7. What peaked your interest towards track and field?

I grew up playing soccer but I always enjoyed the running aspect of soccer the most. I was intruiged by the competitive aspect of track. For me, standing side by side with your competitors and putting your body through maximum exertion until crossing the finish line is one of the most thrilling experiences.

8. Some track and field athletes refer to the phrase known as "runners high", is there anything from your experience that you can tell us about this?

A runner's high feels like putting the last puzzle piece into a 1000-piece puzzle. Every step feels satisfying and my body feels in rhythm with the trail. It just feels amazing.

9. If there was somebody who helped you push and strive for a greater PR who would that be and why?

There are so many mentors that have guided me throughout the way. My former CHS track coach, Rob Lander instilled confidence in me. He taught me that if I didn't feel confident on the track, then I would run timid and scared. Even if I didn't feel like the fastest on the track, I had to tell myself I was worthy enough to race against the competitors around me. And without a doubt, I always PR'd when I ran with confidence. Another great mentor at CHS was coach Kristin Crowell. She was pregnant with her first child when I was a sophmore. I thought it was so inspiring that she coached, taught classes and ran with us everyday weeks before her pregnancy. I don't think I ever heard her complain despite how much she had on her plate. She helped put things in perspective for me and always encouraged us to work hard but not take meaningless worries too seriously

More About Annie Boos

Annie Boos was a student at CHS from 2014 to 2017. She won the 1600m race at the CIF Southern Section Masters meet her senior year. She holds the school record for the 1600m as well as the mile and the 3200m. In college, Annie ran at Cal Berkley and then at Syracuse as a graduate student.