Dacula Cross Country Runner Goes to Nationals

Ethan Selph only started running two years ago, but his commitment and dedication to the sport has already developed into amazing success. Selph recently placed 117th out of 300 of the country's best runners at the USATF (USA Track & Field) Cross Country Junior Olympics. Competitors in the event included over 2,500 athletes representing every state. There were only 12 from Georgia in Selph's division race of 300 runners. He was also the only athlete from Gwinnett county.

“He was disappointed that he didn't place higher, but I thought he did very well considering he is one of the young 9-year-olds and these were the best of the best runners from all over the country," Selph’s mother Shauna wrote in an email. "He ran a 12:16 overall with a 6-minute mile. It was quite an experience and I know this is only the beginning for Ethan.” 

According to Shauna, Selph has run in over 25 5k races since March of this year and has won first place in his age group every time but two. In most races, Selph has been in the top 10 for all age groups, adults included. In addition, he placed 10th in the USATF Cross Country state meet and 20th in the USATF Regional Cross Country meet in Myrtle Beach, S.C.  From that, he qualified to move on to the USATF Cross Country Junior Olympics. He runs a 20-minute 5K time and around an 11 to 12 minute 3K time. 

“He loves running and does it effortlessly,” Ethan’s mother wrote. “He amazes me daily with his intense passion for athletics and his ability to strive academically as well.”

Selph is a fourth grade honor student at . He was on the 9-year-old Mill Creek football team coached by Clay Sturgill, and the Mountain View running club coached by Blake Watts.

“He is a pretty driven little kid,” Watts said. “He also played football, so he would have practices with us, and then the other two nights he would be practicing running.”

Selph practices hard, and is a very fast runner, but he knows that there are kids out there that might be faster than him. He does not let that shake him, in fact it motivates him.

“When he got to the southeast regionals there were other kids that were faster than him out there," Watts said. "I was really curious as to how he would respond to that. It was disappointing to him, but it did not break him. He was okay with it, and it made him work harder. That is just the way he is wired.”

When Selph runs in a competitive race, he gives it all he can and does what it takes to win.

“In the regional finals in Myrtle Beach, he just qualified for nationals,” Watts said. “He needed to be 20th, and was running 22nd with just a few meters to go. I told him where he needed to be, and he did what he needed to in order to get up there, and he got it.”

Selph will be an incredible runner to watch develop over the years. He is determined to do what it takes to improve his skills as an athlete.

“Ethan is really coachable,” Watts added. “He is very interested and just wants to run fast.  If I told him that climbing trees would make him run faster, he would be up in an oak. We wants to do whatever he has to do to become faster.”

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