He's going the distance: Sean Fought's race to a Marmonte League title
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Photography by: Grant Smith
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Runners on your mark. Inhale, exhale, right foot back,left foot forward, hands loose, roll neck, chin down. Get set. Hips up, breathe in, visualize the finish line. BANG. React.
The sound of the gun, which marks the start of a race, used to intimidate Sean Fought. A cue that signaled a long battle against oneself. Recently however, Fought has heard the gun with a new set of ears, and the vibration of his confidence and leadership will carry the Newbury Park Panther's track team across the finish line.
"I don't get nervous like I used to [during] the previous years," Fought said. "I've gained a lot of confidence, and don't second guess myself anymore."
The senior standout raced the two mile last Wednesday Mar. 14 at Oaks Christian, where he set a stadium record with the time of 9:47. Ironically, this was Fought's first time running the event, and simply for the purpose of putting in extra conditioning to prepare for league meets.
His main events include the 800 meter, the mile, and the 4-by-400 meter relay.
He started out the 2012 season at the Ventura County Invitational, where he ran the 800m in 1:57, the mile in 4:25, and a split of 50.7 seconds in the 4x4.
The Panther has a background of track, cross country, and soccer. During his first two years of high school, he ran track and played for the frosh/soph soccer team. At the start of his junior year, he decided to expand his running talent into longer distances, by joining the school's cross country team. There, he was mentored by last year's Marmonte League champion, Sean Grumney, who also ran the 800, mile, and 4x4 during his years at Newbury Park High.
“I’ve always looked up to [Grumney],” Fought said of his friend who is currently participating in the track and field program at UCLA. “He’s a great athlete, and really helped me improve my times, especially during my junior year. He’s been a real inspiration.”
In the same way that Grumney inspired his teammates, Fought motivates his fellow Panthers as a captain of the varsity team. It came as no surprise when he received the "Most Inspirational" award at the end of both his junior and senior cross country seasons. Fought became well known around school when his mental and physical strength proved inflexible during a race incident which left him walking in a cast for a week.
Within the first 200 meters of the CIF prelims race held at Mt. San Antonio College, Fought was clipped in the heel by an opponent and lost one of his shoes.
“He didn’t even think twice about it,” Kendall Esparza, one of Fought’s varsity teammates explained. “Just finished the race without looking back. That course is all rocks and dirt. I imagine that it was three miles of pain for him, but he’s always putting his teammates in front of himself, and we wouldn’t be the same [without him].”
“He’s a motivation,” Jonny Byrne, another member of the varsity team, added. “Though I’m not going to lie, it was somewhat demoralizing knowing that with one shoe, he was able to keep up with me that entire race. But we love him because besides always putting in all of his effort at every meet and practice, he’s also always making an effort to get everyone on the team involved.”
The feeling is mutual. Fought claims that without his teammates support, he would not be where is today.
“It’s easier to work harder when you’re with people you want to be with,” he said. “Everyone has so much character and heart, and at the meets we all support and cheer for one another. You can’t run and score points in every event, so track is just as much of a team sport as anything else.”
Off the track, Fought enjoys playing his guitar and singing, and hopes to make a career in the music industry in his future.
“I asked to sing the national anthem at one of our home meets, but I guess they want me to focus on my events instead,” he said jokingly.
The Panther’s have a lot to look forward to this season. Fought’s goals include winning the 800 and 4x4 league titles, and he believes there’s a good chance Newbury Park will come out undefeated this year. He plans to do everything he can to make these goals become a reality, and to leave everything he has on the track during his last year of high school.
“I’m only going to get better as the season goes on,” he said. “I haven't even come close to reaching my limit.”
Think you could keep up with Fought? Take a look at his workout schedule and decide for yourself.
Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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45 min bike ride
1.5 mile track warm up & dynamics
Track ladder repeats – 200 meter, 300m, 400m, 500m, 600m, 500m, 400m, 300m, 200 m x2
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hill repeats on the “black beast” - 10 forty second sprints
2 mile track warmup and dynamics
30 minute run off track
15 minute core work out
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60 min bike ride
4 mile run off track
1.5 mile warm up and dynamics
Six 200 meter sprint repeats with relay handoffs
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45 minute bike ride
2 mile warm up and dynamics
Twelve 200 meter sprints
3 mile cool down
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*recorded from March 5 to March 8.
