No stopping Clover in this field
It is a steady climb toward the top for Atascocita junior Avery Clover, who was one to watch in 2019 and will remain so in 2020.
The All-Greater Houston Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year is a regional champion for the first time at 18 minutes and 24.50 seconds in the 5,000meter run at the Region III-6A race this year. She finished fourth as a freshman and second as a sophomore.
If history is any indication, she could be a state champion next season. Clover finished third at the UIL state meet at 17:35.88, good for bronze and good for the highest finish for a Houston-area girl.
Not to be overlooked is the district championship-winning 18:18.66, a personal record for the three-mile run.
Clover was busy outside the high school realm, too. She ran in four national races inside the span of a month, finishing sixth at the Nike Cross Nationals South Regional, 10th at the Foot Locker South Regional, 40th at the Nike Cross Nationals and 19th at the Foot Locker National Championship. Clover turned in a personal record in the 5,000-meter run of 17:31 at the Foot Locker South Regional.
“I can’t tell you how many awards she won this year,” coach Todd Symons said. “She’s becoming a great runner. I’m not surprised because I see her work out every day. And she wants to win. She wants it bad and she’s worked hard, and she’s earned what she’s got. Very proud of her. She’s done a great job and good things are going to keep coming.”
Q: This feels like a launching pad of a season for you. Would you agree?
A: “Yes, I feel like working hard my junior year is really important going into my senior year. I definitely did a lot of bigger races this year than I’ve done in past years. I think that’s just going to prepare me for the future.”
Q: What made the biggest difference for you to make that jump?
A: “I think it really helped me to stay focused on what I was doing with my training. Even more than just focusing was probably getting confidence in racing and managing my nerves better. I think that really helped me this season just getting more comfortable and realizing I could compete with the faster girls.”
Q: What moment from this season gave you indication you could put it all together and compete?
A: “I ran the Chile Pepper Festival in Arkansas and that was really my first meet where I was by myself (standard practice in cross country and track and field). My coach didn’t come, my team didn’t come and I did really well (first place among varsity girls at 18:07.60). I just got a lot of confidence from that race and I realized that I had a lot to offer this season.”
Q: What were the moments leading up to the regional championships like for you?
A: “Before the race, I was pretty nervous. It was in the afternoon (races are usually in the morning). But once the race started, I knew what I had to do. I guess I just relaxed and ran. And then of course I was super excited to win because I’d never done it before.”
Q: What were your first thoughts after crossing the finish line at regionals?
A: “When I first crossed the finish line, I wasn’t really surprised but I was just like ‘Wow, I’ve never done that before.’ I was pretty happy.’”
Q: The state championships were a different experience. What were the key moments during that race?
A: “I remember the first mile because I was leading it. I went out pretty fast and that was definitely not the best choice. I was up there with the front pack and that was what my goal was. I wanted to be in the front. So, I just kept trying as hard as I could to finish.”
Q: You raced in a few national competitions as well in December. How does that help and intersect with what you do in the high school realm?
A: “It was a really important experience for me to compete because they were the top girls in the nation. I think the opportunity allowed me to face the hardest challenges I hadn’t faced yet and I think that puts things in perspective as I go into my track season and into next cross country season.”
Q: You’re also busy during track season, running the two-mile and the 1,600-meter races. What are your plans in those events for the spring?
A:
“I did not go to state last year because I finished third in my region for both of those events but I did go my freshman year in the two-mile. I definitely have hopes to go to state this year.”
Q: What is life outside of running like for Avery?
A: “I like to spend to time with my family and friends. I like to cook as well and read. I mostly like spending time with my family. I study a lot.”
Q: What are some of your favorite meals to cook?
A: “I like to experiment a little bit. I don’t really follow recopies. I make scones and muffins and I help out with dinner as well.”
Q: Whether it’s cooking or any other hobby, how important is that time outside of running to decompress and spend with family and friends?
A: “It’s really important to me because I think it’s important to have good relationships outside of running because running, it’s really fun but it’s not everything.”