Waldron's Larrison fearless in pursuit of state's top middle distance runners

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WALDRON -- Will Larrison’s success on the track has forced him to rethink his career path.

The Waldron junior will compete Saturday at the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s Boys Track and Field State Championship Meet at Indiana University with the opportunity to solidify himself as one of the state’s top middle distance runners.

The highly-decorated cross country and track distance runner was not seriously considering pursuing a collegiate career but newfound success in the 800 meters has him reconsidering his options.

“If I go somewhere, I would like to go (Division I),” said Larrison. “If not, it’s fine but that is really the goal.”

Larrison was not an automatic qualifier from the Columbus North Sectional on May 16 despite breaking Waldron’s 28-year-old record in the event. Justin Burris set the Waldron record of one minute, 57.89 seconds in 1996. Larrison crossed the finish line at Columbus North in 1:57.15 but was fourth overall.

That left him out of the Greenfield-Central Regional field without a callback.

“It was the next day because another sectional had to get postponed (on May 16). I still kind of knew, almost 90% sure, that I would move on,” he said.

Larrison got the call, looked at the regional field and set his strategy.

“The regional was perfect. I was seeded right next to the No. 1 seed (Franklin Central’s Joey Ashman),” explained Larrison. “When he took off, I took off with him. The guys behind us let us go and we just stayed there. That worked out perfect. I could not have been in a better spot.

Larrison chased Ashman down the final stretch to finish runner-up and shatter his week-old school record with a time of 1:54.93. That earned him his first state finals trip to Bloomington.

Larrison will run Saturday night in the final heat of the 800 meters at IU’s Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex. He is seeded ninth in the field. If he holds that seed, he would earn a podium finish.

“Last month, I was running a 1:59 at Zionsville and now I’m at 1:54,” said Larrison. “Who says I can’t run faster? I’m only two seconds off the top guy. It is going to be a good race. I’m really excited.”

Martinsville senior Martin Barco is the top seed in the event at 1:52.17. Four runners ran under 1:53 in the regionals. Ashman’s regional winning time of 1:53.78 seeds him fifth.

The fact that Larrison is a state finals qualifier in a middle distance race is still surprising to him. He entered the track and field season with a focus on a longer distance event.

“I was focusing on the mile (1,600 meters) and that’s what I thought I was going to be focusing on coming into this year,” said Larrison, who is the reigning Mid-Hoosier Conference champion in the 400, 800 and 1,600. “I went into the 800 and I don’t how, but I realized I was pretty good at the 800. I was only a couple seconds off the school record.”

Whatever happens Saturday night, Waldron track coach D.J. Higdon knows the moment will not be too big for Larrison.

“I think he is ready,” said Higdon. “I will give him credit for this, it’s one of his superpowers. We went to a big meet at Zionsville and he handled it like a champ. I really believe he will be just fine when it comes to that stuff.”

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