Spangler Intends to Continue Breaking Records in College

1. What do you feel are your greatest accomplishments and why?

It would have to be making it through the iron deficiency I had from the end of my junior year and coming into the Cross Country season this year. It was hard not being able get anywhere near the race times that were expected based on the amount of effort I was putting into my training. But we caught it early in my season and were able to turn things around so I could help my team win states for the second year in Cross Country, help our relay team take the Class 2A Outdoor State title in the 4x800m and grasp and individual State Championship in the 1600m run. 

2. What records have you broken and what are your times?

Right now I hold the 800m (1:56.04), 1600m (4:16.43), and 4x800m (8:03.28) records at Winters Mill High School, along with a few county records for the indoor and outdoor 1600m (4:28.34 and 4:19.76)

3. What are your plans for the future e.g. college, running?

Next year I’ll be going to Shippensburg University where I will run for their Cross Country and Track teams as well as major in Biology. I am extremely passionate about people’s health and wellness, so I plan on going after a career in the medical field. Then, depending on how successful my college running career is, I will either continue to run competitively for a few years or just keep on running low key and start participating in a few marathons here and there. 

4. What is your advice to incoming freshman who want to be involved in athletics?

Athletics have been an organizing force in my four years of high school. You immediately have a group of friends and it’s much easier to balance your time because you get into a routine. If you just work hard and don’t lose focus, everything is going to pay off in the end, even if you have a few setbacks. The next four years will fly by, so just make the best of it and ENJOY IT! 

5. Anything you want to add about how awesome you are?

I’m going to back to Nationals on June 17 to race in the mile in Greensboro, North Carolina. It’s really cool because I started there freshman year and I’m able to come back for my senior year. I would have never thought with the start I had in Cross Country that everything would turn out as well as it did!