One can’t blame Dripping Springs Tiger senior cross country runner Bobby Holt for wanting more success in 2018.
After all, last season Holt came within one second of breaking Dripping Springs’ longstanding cross country time record. That accomplishment came at, of all places, the UIL 5A state cross country meet in Round Rock, where the Tiger boys finished sixth as a team.
As he readies for the 2018 season, Holt aims to set the standard for the Tigers cross country program and eyes another run at a possible state title.
“A big goal of mine, and a goal I think we can hit, is getting the whole team back to state,” Holt said. “I want to try and get top five team wise and for myself I want to win. That’s pretty aggressive people might say, but I feel that you shouldn’t set any goal that you’re not going to have to work towards. After getting sixth at cross country at state, I think it would be almost wrong to set a goal that isn’t to win.”
To get into Holt’s confident mindset, you have to take a look back into Holt’s past to see what has motivated him.
Holt began running competitively in the 7th grade when he joined the track and field team in Cedar Park; at the time, Holt ran the 800-yard dash and the 1600 meters.
It was during that season that Holt wasn’t chosen to be a part of the district meet because of his inconsistency. From that moment forward, Holt used it as motivation to better himself and become a more consistent runner. Holt responded in his 8th grade year by breaking his middle school’s record in the mile and half with a time of 5 minutes and 3 seconds.
After being home schooled for a portion of 8th grade for athletic purposes, Holt then moved from Cedar Park to San Antonio and began attending Clark High School his freshman year. Holt didn’t start running cross country until his sophomore year at Clark, a transition he described as a difficult one.
“It was a major culture shock,” said Holt. “... just realizing how intense it could be.”
After making it to the regional meet in cross country his sophomore year at Clark, Holt moved to Dripping Springs for his junior season where he took his talent to another level.
“When I moved to Dripping Springs last summer, and I started practicing with the team and I got to meet the coaches, I was one hundred percent sure that the team was going to go to state.’ Holt said.
The Tigers team finished in second place in district, third place at regionals and sixth place at state in 2017. Holt himself finished in fifth place at regionals and in sixth place at the state meet. Dripping Springs is currently ranked 8th in the state rankings heading into the 2018 season.
Holt’s practice routine this summer consists of running 6 to 7 miles on Mondays and Saturdays, with team circuit running on Wednesdays and Fridays. On his off days for recovery, Holt runs around 4 to 5 miles and hits the weight room to build on his leg strength.
“Last year I wasn’t hitting it as much, but I’m trying to step up my mileage a little bit this year because it’s my senior year,” Holt said. “I’m just trying to take on more and see what I can do and what can come from it.”
Since his breakout junior year, Holt has seen an ample amount of attention from college programs to join their cross country and track and field teams. Holt is taking his time with his decision, and eyes a possible commitment after the end of the cross country season.
“I’m definitely planning on waiting to making any sort of final decision until after cross country,” said Holt. “I know that I’ve done some things this year that has attracted some amount of attention, but I know after cross country when my team has accomplished its goal and I have accomplished my goal that the attention will then again be amplified.”
