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Joe Lasalle : Marshfield High School Joey is a great talent that will continue to improve. He only came out for track the spring of his sophomore year and only ran for 3 and 1/2 seasons out of 8 in high school. He is a natural leader that runs for his teammates and himself. Coming off a tear in his knee this fall, Joey showed great perseverance in his recovery. He was able to return this spring to help his team in many ways. He showed great versatility in moving up to the 800 meter to help his teammates capture a National Championship in the DMR. The future is very bright for this young student athlete.---Coach Sheppard
What do you enjoy doing outside of your running?
I enjoy learning something new, sleeping(dreaming), music, drawing, basketball, volleyball, Frisbee, arena Frisbee, soccer, archery, skimboarding, swimming, yoga, rollerblading, writing,
What are you going to miss most about your high school running career? Spending time with my classmates I’ve grown up with and all the fun we’ve had doing random things (where’s kyle, dizzy blocks, swerving field loops), and teaching & inspiring the younger teammates.
What was your most memorable race? 2011 All-State meet; I remember the announcer exclaiming how I broke away from everyone else in my 400 IH race and I ended up coming in 4th from the unseeded heat.
Out of all your high school running accomplishments, what stands out the most? Thanks to my very talented DMR teammates I am an All – American and national champion. Knowing that my team was #1 in the nation was the most satisfying accomplishment during my high school track career. I am very grateful for it.
What was the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome? In retrospect I made a mistake by playing football my senior year. I had played previous years but with a bright future in track I know now that even though I enjoyed football, I should not have jeopardized my track career by playing a dangerous sport. Lesson learned. I tore my meniscus in the second game and I wasn’t running again until the end of February. However, I kept a balanced mind and did not sulk over this misfortune. Instead I got back in the groove of training and caught right back up. I’m thankful to have had a supportive family, friends, coach, and physical therapist that nurtured me back to full strength. Nevertheless, I should have swam in the fall…
Do you have any advice for younger runners? Work hard and do not take your talent/ opportunity for granted. I was devastated when I learned I had to be on crutches and couldn’t do activities I enjoy. Yes, the workouts are painful but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Don’t quit because you’re tired or hurting; remember that there are people in this world that would do anything to be in your situation. Stay determined and focused; and appreciate what abilities you’ve been given because if you squander them, someday you’ll wish you hadn’t. Also, RUN FOR YOU! My coach and teammates would always have their track talks and tell me how some other kid has a better time than me or is getting close to mine. I ignored all that and eventually just told them to not involve me. If you like knowing your competition because you are a competitive person then I’d suggest engage in those conversations. To each their own. I, on the other hand, don’t believe that focusing on how someone else is doing will help me be the best I can be. Evidently, I am not competitive. With 10 hurdles in the way I have no time to care about how well the guy next to me is doing; sure if he is blowing by me it might be an indicator that I should push myself harder, but when it comes down to it, I have the final say in telling my exhausted legs to move just a little faster, not him… he’s just a reminder. So if what I say makes sense, run your own race, focus on your steps and optimizing each movement of your body. If not, beat the guy next to you! Do whatever gets you past that finish line.
If you were to change anything about your high school running career.....what would you change? Even though I despised the 600, I wish I ran it indoors to give me an edge for the hurdles outdoors.
What are your college plans? I start at UMass Amherst/ College of Engineering/ Honors Science & Math RAP/ Track & Field in the fall of 2012.
Who would you like to say thank you to? Thank you Madre & Padre for encouraging and supporting me. I love you both. Thank you Nana & Papa for coming to my meets. You two also have my love. Thank you friends, you all were very friendly. I love you. Thanks Joel, Kev, and Ryan for running fast and making me an All-American. I love you. Thanks physical therapist, Brendan. Much love. Thank you Kev; my little cuz, I love you. And lastly, thank you Coach Shep. Te Amo!!!... And thank you God & Jesus. Amen… JT Over & Out!!
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dancing, marsh jumping, meditating, camping, bridge jumping, coding, yoyo, eating, and leather bound books.