SPRINGDALE -- T. J. Sugg was mostly unknown at the beginning of the season in cross country.
They know now after he blistered the competition in Arkansas' largest classification.
All-NWA Media Boys Cross Country Runner Of The Year
Class 7A/6A
T.J. Sugg
School: Springdale Har-Ber
Class: Junior
Height: 6-1
Weight: 140
Notable: Won the Class 7A state championship in his first year as a cross country runner. … His winning time of 15 minutes, 17.8 seconds is the second-fastest recorded in a state meet at Oaklawn Park. … Also plans to participate in soccer and track and field at Har-Ber. … His father, Thomas, and mother, Jennifer, are former college athletes and now instructors in the Springdale School District.
Sugg transferred to Springdale Har-Ber from Grapevine, Texas, where he played football, basketball and soccer and ran track at Faith Christian School but not cross country. That changed at the urging of Joe Crommett, the Har-Ber boys cross country coach.
"He said it would help build me up for track season," Sugg said.
Sugg did much more than just stay in shape for track and field. He culminated a remarkable first season in cross country by winning the Class 7A state championship at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs. The junior ran away from the competition in a time of 15 minutes, 17.8 seconds, which is the second-fastest recorded for a state meet at Oaklawn Park.
"It's amazing how quickly he improved his first year in cross country," Crommett said. "Over the season, his time dropped from 17:26 to 15:17 in the 5K. On top of that, he raced smart and did things in races I've never seen athletes do. It was a fun season, and I am honored to have worked with him."
Sugg started to gain notice while running with the Har-Ber junior varsity during a meet at South Lake, Texas. It was only his second race, but he timed better than the varsity runners for the Wildcats. Sugg then surged onto the scene at the prestigious Chile Pepper Festival where he ran 15:25 to finish first among runners from Arkansas at the time. Sugg then won the 7A-West Conference meet before helping the Wildcats to a third-place finish with his commanding performance at the state meet in Hot Springs.
Sugg crossed the finish line well ahead of second-place Austin Salazar of Rogers High, who finished in a time of 15:43.7.
"I did everything I could to prepare myself for that race," Sugg said. "I stuck with the leader, and when he kind of fell apart, I kept going at a pace I felt like I could stay at."
Sugg is a hard worker and humble athlete whose parents were also athletes in high school and college. His father, Thomas Sugg, was a wide receiver for one year at Texas A&M. His mother, Jennifer, ran track at Hendrix College and Boise State.
Both now work in the Springdale School District where Jennifer is a counselor and Thomas a junior high teacher and coach.
"Having parents who were athletes is definitely more helpful than harmful," Sugg said. "They offer good advice because they've done it themselves. It's good, too, to have those genetic traits passed down."
After conquering cross country, Sugg has turned his attention to soccer where he'll take the field with the Wildcats this spring. He'll also participate in track before returning to defend his state title next fall in Hot Springs.
"I was new to the team this year, and I really didn't know what to expect coming in," Sugg said. "Next year, I'd like to get a sub-15 (minutes), maybe at the Chile Pepper. That would be really nice."
Sports on 12/27/2014