Steeplechase Fifth Makes Jefferson's Doughty an All-American

Phil Grove

Brandon Doughty won a pair of state titles during a standout career at Jefferson, claiming the Class AAA 1,600-meter run and cross country titles as a junior for the Cougars. On June 14 in Eugene, Ore., the redshirt sophomore added All-American to his list of achievements with a fifth-place finish in 8 minutes, 41.65 seconds. WV Runners caught up with Doughty for an update on his career since he graduated from Jefferson in 2011.

 

Q: The steeplechase is arguably one of the toughest events in track and field. Tell us about your first try at the steeplechase and how you came to the event after running plenty of 800s during your initial (indoor) track season at Oklahoma.

 

A: My first steeplechase was actually a very good experience. I ran one after my freshman year to get a qualification time for Junior Nationals. All of the 800s I did my indoor track season at Oklahoma were more so to get used to the higher level of competition. I did 800s because it made it easier to be able to come back the next weekend to race again so I could gain more experience.

 

Q: In 2013, you ran 9:01 in the steeple. What has been the biggest key in dropping your PR in three consecutive races and down to 8:41.65 for fifth at Hayward Field?
 

A: The biggest key is consistency in higher levels of training without pushing too hard and burning out or getting injured. There is a very fine line between not training hard enough and training too hard, and I feel like my coach and I did a good job of finding a nice balance with my training this year.

 

Q: You were a member of OU's national qualifying cross country team in 2012. How did that experience help you deal with any nerves you had before last weekend's steeplechase final?
 

A: Every trip to nationals is a great experience and helps you deal with nerves, but that does not mean that you are any less nervous.

 

Q: Hayward Field in Eugene is one of the most historic track and field venues in the world. What was your first impression of the facility that was the home of the late Steve Prefontaine and has been the site of many significant meets and records?
 

A: I think the fans knowledge about all of the track and field events and the amount of fans that came to the race made the experience unforgettable.

 

Q: What was the feeling of running in front of such a knowledgeable and supportive crowd?
 

A: Honestly, it made me feel like I was in a sport that gets more recognition like football or basketball because there were so many fans and they were so knowledgeable.

 

Q: You are part of a growing West Virginia contingent at Oklahoma. How did it help your transition to Division I athletics and college in general to have familiar faces that you competed with and against in high school as fellow Sooners?
 

A: Well, since my fellow West Virginia teammates are all younger than me I still had to go through the transition fairly alone. However, it is pretty cool to have guys that I competed against and trained with in high school to be with me at an even higher level of competition during our collegiate years.

 

Q: In the past several years, distance runners from West Virginia have recorded some of the best times in the nation and competed well on the national scene. Do you see your All-American performance as shedding more light on talented runners from the Mountain State?
 
A: Yes, I think West Virginia high school running has come a long way recently, and it is just going to keep growing and improving in the future.

 

Q: What has been the biggest adjustment or change in your training from your state championship years at Jefferson to today?
 

A: I think maturity in every aspect of running and life has been the biggest change since I was in high school.

 

Q: What goals do you have left to achieve at Oklahoma?
 

A: I like to try to take it one season at a time and not try to look too far ahead, so for the fall the goal is simply finish as high as possible as a team at NCAA Cross Country Nationals.