David Woodson graduated from Gloucester High School back in 2005 with modest personal best times of 10:06 in the 3200 meter run and 4:31 in the 1600 meter run while running just under 17 minutes for the 5K. In the next month, Woodson will be wrapping up his collegiate career at Christopher Newport University as a competitor in the men's 3000 meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division III National Championships. A four-time NCAA national qualifier (twice in cross country and twice in outdoor track), Woodson was not highly recruited by Division I schools with scholarship offers coming out of high school without an All-State honors, regional or district titles to his name. At CNU, Woodson has developed to become one of the school's all-time great distance runners with school all-time list performances, school records, conference titles, and NCAA national berths. Woodson is classic example of how Division III athletics provides a great opportunity for high school athletes overlooked by Division I schools to becoming Division I caliber athletes with an additional four years of development.
All photos provided by Jesse Hutcheson of CNUPhotos.com
Interview with David Woodson
MileStat.com: How did you first get into running?
David Woodson: I ran AAU summer track in middle school but didn't consistently run until high school. I started rowing in 9th grade until my ride to practice quit. I had to find something else to fill my time and started running track.
MileStat.com: During your senior year of high school, what level of interest and which schools were recruiting you? Were there any Division I scholarship offers?
Woodson: As a senior, I got a number of letters of interest from schools within the state. I thought better of my performances and contacted several coaches myself. Coach Keith Maurer, the CNU distance coach at the time, contacted me and I initially ignored him. Eventually I realized that I was not a Division 1 caliber runner and decided on CNU, but I was definitely not settling.
MileStat.com: When you came to CNU and started running in college, how did you envision your college career would go?
Woodson: Before starting, I planned on transferring to a larger school after a year. However, we had a group of freshmen that were motivated to become the best distance team CNU had seen. Unfortunately, we became plagued with injury and laziness and nobody from the original class entering in 2005 finished their collegiate career as planned. Some changed event groups, some missed various seasons throughout their career, while others transferred. Ultimately, our plans fell through.
MileStat.com: What do you attribute to the huge improvements you have made as a college runner?
Woodson: What helped me improve the most in college was summer training. I was convinced that Coach Maurer’s 2007 summer training plan would not work so I followed it perfectly to prove him wrong. As it turned out, I was wrong and from then on was able to reap serious benefits.
MileStat.com: You only had one season of eligibility left for this past season with the outdoor season. What were the deciding factors for you to hang around for one more year and use up your final season of eligibility?
Woodson: The main reason I wanted to come back and use my final season of eligibility was that I wanted to be All-American. After qualifying for cross country nationals twice and outdoor track and field nationals one other time, I was dissatisfied with how I left my team and finalized my collegiate career. Once I realized I could come back, I knew I had to take care of unfinished business.
MileStat.com: How much did you know about the steeplechase prior to college? What made you decide to try the event?
Woodson: I had never heard of the steeplechase until college. I tried the 10K and was tired of it after my freshman year. Teammate Daniel Swale convinced me to try the steeplechase my sophomore year and I was hooked. I had never run a race that had the perfect length, kept my attention, and was so horribly taxing (trifecta).
MileStat.com: What has been your most memorable college running experience?
Woodson: I don’t know that I could define a single college running experience as my most memorable. If I had to choose, my most memorable moment would be leading the 2007 regional cross country race and outrunning the ATV that my coach was driving to lead the runners. We were in front of a home crowd with my family, friends, and teammates around as I qualified for cross country nationals for the first time with my teammate, Amy Wampler. I don’t know that I’ve ever had a bigger grin on my face. Perhaps my most memorable moment will change this month at nationals.
MileStat.com: How significant was qualifying for your first of two NCAA XC National Championships in 2007? Did you find become a national qualifier changed your level of confidence and commitment towards the sport?
Woodson: Qualifying for my first cross country national championships certainly changed my outlook in regards to running. I never thought of myself as anything more than mediocre. I realized that I could actually make something out of my running career, especially with how much time I had left in college. I believe that I was already dedicated to running, but seeing that I could make a splash on the national scene definitely enhanced my commitment.
MileStat.com: How do you feel about your outdoor season so far? Currently it looks like your provisional qualifier in the 3K steeple should get you in and just won 2 conference titles at Mason-Dixon in the 10K and 1500.
Woodson: Although I have set several personal records this season, none of it seemed worthwhile until I hit a PR in the steeplechase at Penn Relays. My time was almost 5 seconds better than my previous best and a strong provisional qualifying time making me much more confident heading into the 2010 postseason. As always, there is room for improvement so I look forward to dropping more time at my next attempt. I was definitely glad to win the 10K and 1500m runs at the Mason-Dixon Conference meet. It was a satisfying way to complete my final competition at the conference championship.
MileStat.com: What are your thoughts about that the potential final collegiate race coming up? How do you think you will handle that realization that it is the final time you will put on a uniform for a team?
Woodson: Of course it is a bittersweet feeling to end my collegiate running career. Even though injury delayed it for an extra year, I am happy knowing that it will end on my terms and I will have closure knowing what I am truly capable of doing.
MileStat.com: What is the level of competition and quality of the runners like at the NCAA nationals in Division 3 level? Do you feel a lot of high school runners really don't grasp how hard and how good you have to be in order to be competitive at the regional and national level in Division 3 cross country and distance running?
Woodson: Although many people believe Division 3 sports are lacking in quality, the competition is certainly not inadequate. I thought that I was too good for the Division 3 level and quickly realized that I was wrong. Even on the “lackluster” Division 3 level, runners still have to be around 1:50 800m, around 3:50 in the 1500m, and about 14:30 5K to qualify for nationals. It is safe to say that those kinds of times are not mediocre. I do believe that most high school runners do not understand the difficulty of competition in college athletics, even on the Division 3 level. Although there are numerous incentives and benefits in running on the Division 1 level, I believe that high school runners of all capabilities should keep Division 3 athletics in mind.
MileStat.com: What advice would you give to a high school runner who might have similar times as you did coming out of high school?
Woodson: I was not a standout high school runner (16:53 5K, 10:06 3200m, 4:31 1600m). I think that all high school runners, regardless of ability, should know their place in college athletics. Do not think that you are less of an athlete because you are not going to a big-name school. Find a school and program that fits your goals. Athletes should work to make the most of their own potential and their own ability. Above all else, never be satisfied.