Isaiah Harris (runner)

“I’ve got 10 boxes waiting for me at Penn State, I can’t wait to see what’s in those. Twice a year they send you those training packages.”

“I’m looking forward to a slow build-up into shape.”

“It’s going to be a fast race every single time. You know you’re in the top quality races. In Paris, we had 12 guys in the 800, which is a lot, and I was, like, the fourth-slowest guy of those 12, They all have PRs of 1:42, 1:43. It’s the best of the best now, every single race.”

“It’s fewer races, obviously better quality, but also a little bit later on in the year, The collegiate system is long because it’s a lot of races and you’re going from indoors in January all the way to USAs (in late June).”

“As much as I was happy for myself, I was glad that I could make all of those people happy as well, Penn State had always called ourselves ‘800-U,’ but didn’t have a national title. I had alumni coming up to me after the race literally in tears. It was great.”

“I’d wanted it for so long and I’d been close, getting second twice, It just meant alot because Saruni was the top guy, the collegiate record-holder and everyone’s favorite, and I felt like I’d proven myself on the biggest stage.”

“I still felt good. Coming off the turn down the home stretch, I just tried to give whatever I have for that last 150 (meters) and got on his shoulder, That’s another mental thing, when someone’s right on your shoulder near the end, you start to feel it. It can hurt. And I feel like that got to him mentally. Once I looked over and saw him fading back, I felt a little relieved. But I also felt like someone else (eventual runner-up Marco Arop of Mississippi State) was coming on my outside, so I was just, like, ‘Just finish the race.”

“I was just waiting for that, and all of a sudden I see him coming on my outside and making the big move and I was, like, ‘I’m not letting him get away, Once that gap forms, it’s a mental thing. It’s so much harder, so you’ve got to go with him and just keep him right there.”

“The day of the race, I felt so good. While I was warming up, I’d never felt so ready to race, I was talking to myself in warm-ups, like, ‘You’re going to win this.’ I felt something. I don’t know what it was, but I felt really good.”

“Track was giving me the opportunities that basketball wasn’t.”

“Track kind of just threw itself at me and forced itself upon me, I was kind of upset that I’d have to give up basketball (dreams), but I also knew if I focused my training on track, I’ll improve a lot.”

“It takes a village. It’s kind of cliche but it’s so true. If I ever wrote a book, I think that would be the title, I’ve just had so many people who at some point in my life have given me whatever I’ve needed.”

“It’s kept me humble, Just being from Lewiston and my whole entire life, moving from apartment to apartment and never really having much to being taken in by Russ and them helping me out. I’ve seen a lot in how communities work and families work.”

“It’s hard to put into words. They’ve done so much for me over the years, I started hanging out with Kevin in sixth or seventh grade. Then I think it was my eighth-grade year where I just started staying with them, and I’ve been staying with them ever since. They just took me in like their own, and it’s been that way ever since. Whatever I’ve needed to succeed, they would help me out with, whether it’s school stuff, training stuff, anything.”

“I always thought I was going to play basketball in college, I loved basketball. I still do. I always told everyone I was going to the NBA.”

“There was nothing more I could really do. There was no better time, I’ll be done (with school) for 2020. It’s an Olympic year. I won’t have to worry about classes. It will be the first year I can solely focus on track, and I think that will be big.”

“It’s pretty awesome. I mean, Nike is obviously the powerhouse, Best part was being able to stay with my coach and stay with what I know works.”

“For some reason, I think everyone on this team is kind of an underdog. Everyone has that same killer mentality. We want to be at the top and we want to have that respect we deserve. Even Danny as a coach has been an underdog. Time after time, people are starting to understand these guys are legit. Josh is the best example of that. I think over the next couple of years, there will be more people winning medals.”

“I do feel like I’m sort of an underdog. I’m not sure why. I think I’ve proven myself to be consistent through rounds. I’ve been in every final since my freshman year of college and I’ll continue to be in every final until my career is over. That’s the confidence I have in myself. When you’re in the final, anyone can win.”

“I think I’ve always kind of been considered an underdog, which I don’t mind. I think it’s easier than having a target on your back at all times. I’ll be up there in the mix.”