Going the Distance

Some kids take it easy during the summer.

But not Abbot Acosta, Dilan Barron and Jacob Estrada.

This trio of La Grange High School long distance runners are among the hardest working teens you will find.

They often wake up early to run five or six miles in cross country workouts every day at 7:30 a.m., then they are either working or volunteering locally, and then in the evenings at 7 p.m. they are running several more miles most days as part of the Optimist Club Summer track program’s long distance squad.

“They always put in hard work and rarely complain,” said Optimist Club distance coach Katie Christen. “They are great, and they are great kids too.”

That’s why we’re proud to honor this hard-working trio as this week’s Fayette County Athletes of the Week.

We caught up with them Monday evening after their Optimist Club workout at Leopard Stadium.

They all had their own reasons for gravitating to distance running (where they are putting in about 30 miles a week of training).

“I was actually a sprinter and realized I wasn’t going far, so I decided to change it up in summer track last year,” said Acosta, who will be a senior. “Then I got into cross country and made it to regionals for the first time last year ... Coach Hammontree (LHS cross country coach) has really supported me and helped me out this season.”

Both Barron and Estrada were talked into trying middle school cross country by friends, and grew to love it – even as some of those friends left the sport.

“I ended up being the only freshman to run cross country and track in the same season (last year),” said Estrada, who is heading into his sophomore year.

“I didn’t start liking it until my freshman year when I started to get more consistent,” said Barron, who is going into his junior year.

All three said they appreciated their coaches (Hammontree and Christen) for working with them.

“I want to thank all these coaches for their hard work and dedication. They make us better,” Estrada said.

The results speak for themselves, with the great performances piling up in summer track, and hopes of a strong cross country season this fall looking more and more likely with every mile.

Acosta was the overall winner of the Schuetzenfest 5K earlier this spring. He’s no stranger to even longer distances. He said he’s run up to 10 miles without stopping.

Both Barron and Estrada said they have run up to 15 miles at one time.

“You lose track of the mileage and just listen to the music,” Barron said. “You starting running around town, you lose track of everything – and just enjoy it.”

Barron and Estrada said they both like listening to various types of Hispanic music while they run.

Acosta said he listens to 2000s mix, rap (JDot Breezy) and Nirvana when he runs.

What really makes these guys special is that they are excelling on the track, while juggling so much more.

Estrada recently volunteered for a week at La Grange Elementary’s Camp Invention, helping younger kids with their projects. Before that he was a coach on a Optimist Club youth soccer team this spring.

Barron also coached Optimist soccer this spring, coaches his little sister in dancing, has his own lawn mowing business, and helps out several days a week at a family gravel pit business.

“I’m always busy,” he laughed.

Acosta sandwiches his morning and evening distance workouts between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. shifts at Taco Bell.

Barron summed up these guys’ approach to distance running, but he could have been talking about their approach to life too. “It’s all a mental game,” Barron said. “You just want to be the best out there. When you see someone in front of you, keep pushing.”