Wingspan: Have you qualified for the state meet before?
Voehringer: “I have not qualified for the state meet before this year.”
Wingspan: What was your initial reaction when you found out that you would be advancing to the state meet?
Voehringer: “I was initially just really relieved and excited once I found that I qualified to state. I have worked really hard this season and put a lot into being my best for that day. Therefore, I just wanted it all to go smoothly, and I felt that weight lifted once I crossed the finish line. It was really cool to be surrounded by my parents, coaches, and teammates. They have all been really supportive and are all a big part of my life. I was really glad they were there to experience the day with me.”
Wingspan: What (if anything) do you believe separates athletes who make the state meet from the rest of the field?
Voehringer: “I have been running the 800m for multiple years and have learned a lot about the event. There are definitely factors that separate runners, especially in the 800m. I would say that everything that I’ve done this year has been elevated in comparison to previous years. The amount of time that I have put into training, especially outside of just running, has been at a level it’s never been. Even little things in my life, like diet and sleep, are things always on my mind. I’m always thinking about track! It took a lot of commitment and sacrifice to get the results that I wanted this.”
Wingspan: What are your goals for the state meet, and how are you preparing to meet them?
Voehringer: “My goal at the state meet is to give everything that I have on the day and come out of the race with a medal. It should be a really entertaining race and I can’t wait to get out there! Leading up to the race, we have tapered back a little bit in terms of the workload. It’s really been about maintenance and making sure that I’m feeling good and confident headed into state.”
Wingspan: Is there anything that makes your event at state (the 800m run) more challenging than other events? How are you planning to address this?
Voehringer: “The 800m is a tough race to run itself, and it becomes that much harder in competitive, bunched up races. I’m really focusing on trying to be relaxed through the first lap and staying mentally engaged throughout the race. The final half lap of the race is always the most painful, so I’m mentally preparing myself to fight through that and leave it all out there on the track. For me, I just need to trust myself and my training, and I believe everything else will take care of itself.”
Wingspan: What are you the most excited and most nervous about as far as the state meet is concerned?
Voehringer: “I would say that I’m definitely more excited than nervous headed into the race. This is everything that I’ve worked for over the last year, and I really just want to enjoy it all and embrace the moment. It’s such an incredible opportunity and I’m just excited to showcase my ability on a big stage. I’m really excited to get to hang out with everyone going to the meet and represent Liberty one last time.”
