FORESTBURGH –– Monticello senior and Forestburgh resident Evan Waterton recently competed in two prestigious competitions across the country –– the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympics and the Outdoor Nationals presented by Nike. At the former, Waterton captured a gold and bronze medal.

“The experience was awesome,” said Waterton, who added that it was difficult running without the support of all the friends/family back home. “But I’m used to being locked in and focused.” 

At the Junior Olympics, in Jacksonville, Florida, Waterton ran the 1500 meter dash in three minutes, 58 seconds for bronze, and ran the 2K steeplechase in six minutes and 10 seconds to win gold.

Waterton has been competing at the varsity level since seventh grade. In the fall, he runs cross country and also participates in soccer. In the winter, he enjoys nordic skiing and indoor track, but in the spring is where he shines in outdoor track and field.

For example, on May 22, Waterton placed first in the mile but missed qualifying for Nationals by one second with a time of 4:16.2, making him No.1 in NYS in the 1600 meters.

On May 24, he had another chance to make Nationals, where he would compete in the 3000-meter steeplechase, a race that he hardly ever runs.

Waterton won his heat and not only guaranteed his spot in Nationals but it also earned him the No. 1 time in the country in that event at 9:35.09.

At the Outdoor Nationals, which was held at the University of Oregon on July 3, Waterton came in fifth overall in the 2K steeple, with a time of six minutes and one second.

In addition to his running accomplishments, Waterton is an Eagle Scout in Troop 101 in Rock Hill.   Both his parents are Monticello alumni as is his older brother Corporal William Waterton of the United States Marine Corp.

Waterton is a scholar athlete as well. He hopes to qualify for the Nike and Foot Locker Regionals, and then Nationals for Cross Country in November.

Also, he is slated to compete in the AAU Cross Country Championship and the Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship on December 4 and 11 respectively.

Other goals for his senior year of high school include getting his 5K time to under 15 minutes, and he wants to win the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championship, bringing a state title to Monticello. He also wants to lower his mile and steeplechase times, and capture state titles in the indoor and outdoor track and field events he’s placed in.

Lastly, when asked what he learned from the two races last month, in addition to new workouts runners were doing, he noted that sometimes in those types of events, participants like to hang back and see what everyone else is doing instead of taking the lead.

As for his philosophy, Waterton said, “Just go for it.”