By Angela Brunk
Grady Carlson, a senior at Maize High School, has high expectations for his final cross country season, and he’s putting in the work to achieve his goals. A dedicated runner in both cross country and track, Carlson is aiming to break the 16-minute barrier in the 5K and place in the top 20 at the state meet. But his goals aren’t just individual; he’s just as focused on helping his team place in the top five at state.
“I’m looking forward to improving and potentially breaking the 16-minute barrier for the 5k,” Carlson shared with Vype Magazine. His progress this season has been no accident. Carlson committed himself to a strong off-season, logging high-quality weeks of training to boost his fitness and build momentum heading into the fall.
His competitive spirit and resilience were on full display last spring when he earned all-state honors in the mile, placing 12th at the state track meet. “That race meant a lot to me,” he said. “I was coming off a slump in my junior year, so it felt good to finally improve.”
Beyond athletics, Carlson is a member of the National Honor Society, showing he values excellence in the classroom as much as he does on the course. After graduation, he plans to continue his running career at the collegiate level while pursuing a degree in engineering.
With his strong work ethic, competitive mindset, and commitment to both personal and team success, Grady Carlson is ready to make his senior year one to remember, and he’s just getting started.