Josh Lampron will be the most accomplished distance runner to toe the line in Massachusetts this year. But it is not individual accomplishments that truly drive the Mansfield harrier. Modesty, work-ethic, and accountability to his team are the fundamental attributes that propel Lampron to the front.
Lampron enters the season with tremendous momentum after winning a national championship in the mile, but he understands that cross country is a different beast. Athletes will test his strength in the middle of races because they realize that a 50 meter gap may not be enough to hold-on to a win once the finish line is in sight. Although his foot speed is unmatched, it is his teammates and coaches that have helped Lampron develop into a complete runner over the past year. Plenty of strength work was on the schedule this summer, and MileSplitMass had the opportunity to catch-up with the latest Mansfield protoge to see how his summer training was unfolding.
Best times in a 5K and 3 Mile race?
My best 5k time is 16:06 but I've never raced a 3 mile course.
Tell us how your training is going?
Training is going great. I am coming off a very successful spring track season and I've gotten some
good base mileage in this summer so I feel ready to bump up to the 5k.
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
I'm aiming for the individual state title and am also trying to qualify for Nike Nationals, but more
importantly my team is hoping to get the team championships as well. We've all worked very hard
over the summer so I think we have a good shot at it.
How long have you been running and how did you get started?
My sister got me interested in doing track because she was on the track team when she was in High School.
But I signed up for track but not cross country because I thought distance running was stupid. So after doing sprinting
for all of freshman year I realized that I was not a sprinter so I switched to distance sophomore year.
Will you be competing out of state this season?
Before the All State meet we will be going to the Ocean State Invitational. Then we will be going to Nike Cross Regionals.
Favorite course to run in Massachusetts?
Franklin Park without a doubt.
Toughest course in Massachusetts?
Northfield Mountain. I only raced there once but it was awful and I'm glad I never have to go back.
Favorite Cross Country race so far in your high school career?
Last year at the EMASS D2 race at Franklin Park. My teammate Shayne Collins and I finished 1-2 and we got 1st as a team as well.
Favorite Cross Country memory?
Winning the State Championship as a team my sophomore year. Although I wasn’t in our top 7 at the time so I didn’t
race I remember how no one knew what the results where after the race until two of my teammates came running from
where the results were screaming that we won by 4 points. Everyone started jumping on each other and yelling and I don’t
think we stopped celebrating until we got off the bus at the our school.
When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?
I like to hang out with friends and teammates. Going to the movies or after a meet making a team trip to Red Robin to reward ourselves.
Favorite quote?
"Almost every part of the mile is tactically important: you can never let down, never stop thinking,
and you can be beaten at almost any point. I suppose you could say it is like life." -John Landy
Personal Bests
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1000 Meter Run2:29.77
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1500 Meter Run3:50.03
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5000 Meter Run16:06.82
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800 Meter Run1:53.13
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One Mile Run4:05.99
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