The steeplechase is a 2,000 meter grueling race including hurdles and water obstacles. And on March 5 at the Lovejoy Invitational, junior Grant Tiff finished the course with a time 6:13.14, faster than any high school student in the nation this year.

“It feels good to run that time, especially since that was me and coach’s goal before the race,” Tiff said.

The steeplechase is a very tough event considering the fact that you have to run a long distance race with multiple obstacles along the way.

“Not only do you have to focus on racing your best, but you have to be aware of upcoming barriers and be able to time your jumping right,” Tiff said.

Varsity distance and cross country coach Greg Christensen said that Tiff is also turning in strong performances in the mile and two-mile races, and added that Tiff has improved a lot since his freshman year.

“Grant has worked hard and it is starting to show,” Christensen said. “He currently has the best Steeplechase time in the country and he has one of the best two-mile times in the region.”

Christensen also says that the team’s hard work makes others better.

“Everyone feeds off seeing guys work hard,” Christensen said. “It trickles down and everyone wants to be the best runners they can be to have other doors open for them after Lovejoy.”

Today the team competes at the Prosper Dan Christie Relays and the distance track runners compete at the Texas Distance Festival on March 26 at Carroll High School in Southlake. Christensen expects tough competition in the field which includes Coppell, Flower Mound, The Colony and Southlake Carroll.

“Some of the biggest distance programs in North Texas will be represented this weekend,” Christensen said. “We have 15 guys competing in the mile, and we have a lot of talented girls competing.”