Whether you’ve seen his name on social media or on local television, senior Owen Powell has taken the high school cross country (XC) and track world by storm, not only being the first ever male WA runner to run an indoor-mile under four minutes but also leading MIHS Boys XC to their 24 3A state title. Although he’s engraved his name into MIHS record books, Powell will continue his journey in college at University of Washington.
Powell may be a big star now, however, he had humble beginnings and is aware of his status to others.
“Running’s kind of always been a part of my life … both my parents were [track] coaches,” Powell said. “I moved to Mercer Island in sixth grade, didn’t really have any friends, didn’t know anybody, so I thought I’d give cross country and track a try just to meet new people. I ended up just liking it so much, I’ve stuck with it all the way through.”
Not only did Powell enjoy XC and track, he also had a natural talent for running and started to get lots of recognition, especially after he started gaining award after award.
““I think my mile indoor national record where I ran 3:56 and broke the six-year-old state record — that one means a lot to me,” Powell said. “That record really represents my biggest accomplishment, and I think it reflects all the hard work I’ve been putting in over these years.”
Additionally, Powell is still determined to break more records in the future, especially with the 24-25 track season already going on.
“I always want to strive for improvement,” Powell said. “I’m eyeing down the outdoor national record, which is 3:53 … it’s been pretty untouchable for the last 20 years or so.”
The accolades that Powell has broken or is aiming to overcome take a lot of skill and dedication every single day, which he has learned from his journey of running.
“[Running is] like studying — if you work hard for something, it usually pays off,” Powell said. “My achievements reflect the work I’ve put in, and that’s a valuable lesson beyond running.”
All of this experience and hard work has accumulated to Powell’s commitment to the University of Washington for XC and track. As he finishes his time at MIHS and heads off to college, Powell plans to aim for bigger heights.
“My goal is to eventually go pro,” Powell said. “I don’t know if it’ll happen, but I’ll do my best. Even if I don’t stay in running, it’ll always be part of me.”
