Christian Groendyk, 18, a senior at Fort Collins High School got his start in running six years ago when he realized that he just was not competitive in soccer anymore but he could outrun all of the players on the field. Soccer’s loss was cross country’s win. Since then he has gone on to win Colorado state titles, earn Athlete of the Year recongition from Gatorade and USATF Colorado, and represent Team USA at the World U20 Mountain Running Championships.
He has announced he will matriculate to Princeton University in the fall where he plans to study psychology.
But before heading back east he has lofty goals to finish out his senior year.
In our interview below with Christinia we learn more about his college decision, who he would most like to have dinner with, his favorite food, his favorite athlete, his go-to social media platform, his goals for the remainder of his senior year, and much more.
So let’s Get to Know……Christian Groendyk.
ow did you get your start in track & field?
I started running cross country in 6th grade after realizing I just wasn’t competitive in soccer anymore. My mom had been running my entire life and in soccer I always played midfield and ran quite a bit, so I knew it was something I enjoyed. Sure enough, I fell in love with the sport and 6 years later, I’m still running!
What would you consider the three most memorable highlights of your running career so far?
The most memorable moments of my running career so far are going to the Arcadia Invitation last spring, Thailand for the World Mountain Running Trail Championships, and winning state here in Colorado. Arcadia was my first big exposure into what it was like to compete with the best of the best. The environment is so electric, surrounded by people from a dozen different states, all with the same goal. I came away with a heat win in the 3200. The trip to Thailand was an absolutely incredible experience. I was able to run for the US U20 trail team, an opportunity one of my former teammates had also had. Living with 60+ professional runners (many of whom are the best in the world in their event) along with my fellow U20 athletes, was amazing. The environment is totally unmatched, being at a World Championships not just as a fan of the sport, but a competitor as well. Finally, winning a state title in-state here in Colorado was one of the biggest moments of my life, something I’d been working towards, knowingly or unknowingly, for years. My freshman year I was alternate at state, not even competing, so to finish out my high school cross country career with winning that same race was incredible.
What are your goals for the upcoming track season?
I’d like to aim to be under 9:00 for the 3200m (editor’s note: he ran 8:54.43 at the Arcadia Invitational; the #11 performance all-time for a Colorado prep) and break 9:00 in Colorado, something only Parker Wolfe and Cole Sprout have done before. I’d also like to put my team in the best position possible to place at state, which may mean more of a focus on our relay than individual events.
Favorite subject in school?
I’ve always loved science, but I think I’d have to say english.
Read the rest of the interview on the USATF Colorado website: https://colorado.usatf.org/