WEBUTUCK — Tiere Spruill is softspoken as he sits among his indoor track club teammates and coach. He is concise, and pauses before answering questions, unlike the rest of his team. He cracks a smile occasionally, but mostly all you see is a sly grin. Without seeing him in action, you might be led to the impression that he is an average, capable athlete. But man, can he run.
Spruill qualified for the indoor Eastern States Championship Track Meet last Tuesday, Feb. 24. As his coach, Landon Johns explains, that is no easy feat.
“To receive an invitation to participate in this meet necessarily means that the runner is one of the nation’s top athletes,� he said.
Participation in an event like this hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park for Spruill. A Virginia native and a current Amenia resident, he has officially been running for seven years, after joining his seventh-grade varsity team.
“I was playing football then,� he remembers. “I went out for the track team just to try to stay in shape.�
Running quickly became his top interest and football has faded into the background.
When asked why he enjoys the sport so much, he kept his answer brief.
“Running’s my passion,� he said shrugging.
“Because he wins!� his teammate James Boeding piped in.
On the starting blocks, waiting for the pistol shot, Spruill is focused on two things.
“Power and speed,� he said. “I keep saying the words over and over in my head. My personal trainer taught me that.�
Spruill competed in the 200 and 400 meter events at Eastern States. In the 200 he gave a performance “well below the hoped for conclusion,� according to Johns, clocking in at 22.70 seconds and settling for 13th place. The winner of the event posted a time of 21.90, a number that Johns said Spruill has reached at previous competitions.
The 400 meter was not Spruill’s forte, and prior to Eastern States he had not run the event in competition. He qualified for the race based on his 300 meter time, an event not run at Eastern States. Spruill nevertheless posted a 49.77-second performance, winning his heat and finishing seventh overall.
There are no secrets to Spruill’s success.
“We practice every day,� he said, looking to his coach.
Johns explained that this is the first year that Webutuck has had an indoor track team. Officially a club, the group of dedicated athletes has dwindled down to a core three at this point in the season. The outdoor track team, which begins practice early in March, will have many more participants.
“It’s cool to see how we all stay together,� teammate Brett Sherman said. “We’re like a family now.�
Practicing since October, the team has been through quite a bit of training. Any weather is good weather for the club, whether it’s sunshine or freezing rain. The club originally was practicing in the Webutuck hallways, but Hotchkiss School in Lakeville was kind enough to offer the use of its facilities. The club travels across the border two to three times a week for indoor practice.
“We can’t thank them enough,� Johns said. “They have beautiful facilities. I’ve been to Division 1 colleges that don’t even come close.�
Spruill is a senior, and he has no intention of letting his running career slow down after graduation. In fact, he already thinks he knows where he’ll be next year.
“Ohio,� he said, adding he’s already been accepted to the University of Akron, but has yet to visit. He also mentioned Texas as a possible destination. Johns added that a lot of coaches have called to inquire about the star athlete, and that some road trips to visit schools may be in the future.
When asked what it is about his current group of athletes that impresses him so much, Johns said it was their “dedication, professionalism and character.
“They’re developing into nice young men,� he added. “People should look up to them; they’re the leaders of the pack. Every kid in this school should be fortunate to have role models like these guys.�
State qualifiers were held at West Point last Friday, Feb. 27. Only Spruill qualified, after breaking a personal best of 36 seconds in the 300 meter, even though Boeding also ran a personal best in the 600, coming in under 1:29.
State championships will be held Saturday, March 7, at Cornell University. Nationals, which Tierre has qualified for as well, will be held March 13 through March 15 in Boston.
