April 2nd, 2013

Mitch Dutton is a freshman at Army, studying and training at West Point. Prior to this year, Mitch attended Fort Wayne Snider High School and was an 800 meter standout.

As a sophomore at Snider, Dutton burst onto the scene with a personal best, 1:53.79 at his conference meet. He would go on to place 10th that spring at the IHSAA State Finals.

Dutton remained relevant as an 800 meter specialist in Indiana through his junior and senior seasons. His junior season, he would improve upon his sophomore mark, running 1:53.44 and finishing 2^nd at State. He would struggle a bit his senior year but still managed to run 1:53.83 and finish 5^th at the State Meet.

Not satisfied with his accomplishments to that point, Dutton and his coach, Derek Leininger, decided to pursue a last chance effort at the American Milers Club Meet on June 13^th, 2012. The decision proved to be a wise one as Dutton would go on to have the race of his high school career that night under the lights at I.U.P.U.I.’s Carroll Stadium. Mitch was kind enough to talk a little bit in the interview below on his AMC experience, his senior season, and more!

Lining up against runners with 10+ years of experience on him, Mitch ran a gutsy race, finishing fourth in his heat and clocking a personal best of 1:50.72 on that day. That time currently stands as the ninth fastest time ever run by an Indiana high school athlete. The video of the race can be found HERE.

Congratulations to Mitch from the American Milers Club. The AMC series is hoping that Mitch’s performance (as well as teammate Adam Williams PR 1:52.33 will lead to a higher Indiana based participation in their meets this year and moving forward.

1. How has your first year at West Point been both in training and just the change of scenery in general?

My first year at West Point has been very interesting to say the least. Two weeks after running at the AMC meet I was in basic training at West Point which was the most challenging 7 weeks of my life. Actual running training was minimal because of field training etc. Scenery is extraordinary and kept me going when I got down. Now more than half way through the academic (Plebe) I can say training is going well and I'm finally injury free. I've run 1:53 indoors and looking for a fast 800 this upcoming weekend against Navy!

2. What made you and your coach decide that the American Milers Club was something you wanted to pursue as a way to end your senior season? 

I ran the mile in the Midwest Meet of Champions a week before the AMC meet and thought it was my last race. I ran well and was satisfied with my senior season, except one thing- the 800. I lost for the first time in Indiana at the State meet when it mattered the most and Derek Leininger (Dl) knew how much it meant to me. The morning after the Midwest meet I woke up to a txt from Dl that said, "You ready to run the 800?" I jumped out of bed and went for a run. Three days later I was at the AMC in Indy running!

3. What was your mindset going into the AMC series knowing that this was the fastest section you had ever been a part of?

My mindset was to have no expectations and just go out and run for fun. Best mindset I've ever gone into a race with. I was nervous but calm at the same time to be running with such a fast field.

4. What was your (and your teammate – Adam Williams’) goals going into the race?

My goal was to run the fastest 800 of my life and as a collective goal Adam and I wanted to help each other run fast.

5. Did you execute your race plan as you had hoped? Tell us a little about how the race panned out from your perspective?

I had a middle lane if I remember right, and in the first 100m my left leg felt weird. I said please God not now. It went away and I found myself behind Adam and most of the pack. That's normal for me so I was just cruising along. We hit 400m and I didn't get a split but I made a move in the third 200. On the back stretch I just started cruising. Hitting 200m I looked to some guy in a blue jersey and said to myself "damn I can run with these guys." I started kicking and swung out in lane 3 and flew!

6. Do you think the American Milers Club could be an asset in the future that elite high school middle distance runners like yourself should utilize and why?

The American Milers Club is AWESOME!!! I thought my senor season was over, but AMC gave me that one last chance everybody always wants. I was stuck at 1:53 from sophomore year to June 12 of senor year. Then June 13, AMC gave me the opportunity to run a fast 800 and I finally did!
With a rabbit and high class field atmosphere I believe anybody can run fast!

7. Can we expect to see you again at the AMC Series in the future?

This summer I should be home at the end of May and I only have Military training in July, so I'll be looking for an AMC meet to run back in Indiana when I get home! I will definitely be at more AMC series! AMC helped make my high school running dreams come true.