Wharton High School’s Tre Rivers is quietly making a name for himself as one of the state’s top distance runners. And, he’s just a sophomore.
(Photos courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)
On Nov. 5, Rivers placed ninth in the Class 4A FHSAA Cross Country Finals at Appalachia Regional Park, crossing the finish line in 16:16.09, a 5K personal record and the fastest time of any Hillsborough County runner at the state meet.
“It was a goal I had, but I never thought it would actually happen,” Rivers humbly said of his top-10 state finish.
His secret to success?
“I just stay relaxed, said Rivers, “and just be confident.”
The rise to becoming one of the state’s top cross-country runners has been rather swift for the underclassman.
Rivers, who began running competitively at 8 years old, focused exclusively on track throughout middle school, mainly competing in sprints and middle distance races.
“Track was like my niche,” said Rivers, whose older sister, Bryanna, recently signed a track scholarship with the University of Massachusetts.
But, it wasn’t until he started high school that his penchant for running long distance was realized.
As a freshman, Rivers ran his first high school cross-country race in a rather uneventful time of 20:33, a 6:38 pace per mile. By the start of the 2016 cross-country season, however, Rivers had slashed his 5K mark to 17:34, a 5:40 pace per mile.
Wharton cross-country coach Kyle LoJacono said he knew Rivers had the ability to be a “very strong runner,” but first had to gear his training regimen towards longer, sustained runs that incorporated cross country terrains, like hills and trails.
“We knew that once we got his distance base built back up that he was going to really cut (time),” LoJacono said.
“With him, the longer it is, usually the better.”
Rivers, who now holds the school’s sophomore 5K record, is eyeing the Wharton all-time record of 15:55, set in 2005, by Ryan Courtoy.
“That would definitely be within his reach,” said LoJacono, “especially with the fact that we know his work ethic is going to continue.”
That work ethic, LoJacono said, often helped inspire Rivers’ fellow teammates throughout a grueling cross-country season.
“He never, ever cheats you on a workout. He will give max effort,” LoJacono said. “He kind of sets that standard for everybody else, and because he works so hard every single day, it gives everybody else that goal.”
It surely worked, as Wharton reached the state finals for the first time since 2008, finishing in ninth place (out of 20 teams).
“What really was the key,” said LoJacono, “was Tre being that No. 1 every single day.”
“He gets stronger as the race goes on,” the Wharton’s third-year coach added.
“It really kind of allows everybody else to do the same thing, because they see, ‘Wow, look at that,’” LoJacono said.
With no seniors on the roster, the Wildcats’ recent success — like Rivers’—doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.
All of Wharton’s other top runners are expected to return in 2017, including: Noah Damjanovic (17:18.91 at states), Sahil Deschenes (17:30.46), Frank Goldbold (17:34.72), Casey Pleune (17:46.76), Denarius Murphy (18:44.99) and Ryan Anders (19:18.20).
“This groups wants to establish itself.” LoJacono said.
In the meantime, Rivers will look to continue his success this spring — on the track.
Last season, he set school track records for freshman in the 3,200-meter (9:58.68), 1,600-meter (4:36.14) and 800-meter (2:07.83) races.
“I really can’t live without the other,” Rivers said of competing in both track and cross-country.
Published November 23, 2016
