Dale Hall
Hampton
Senior
Events: Distance
Favorite Invitational: Butler
College Fall 2024: Liberty University

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received from a coach or teammate?
I don’t know if it’s the “best” advice, but it probably is the funniest… Coach Neff from North Allegheny  told me I needed to “man up on that third lap” when talking to me after I was disappointed in a solo effort in the 1600. My family and teammates have laughed with me about it since, but it certainly has a ring of truth to it.

Is there a specific race or competition you’re particularly proud of?
I’m proud of my 1600 race at states. I was finally able to “man up on the third lap” and stayed focused through the pain during that race. The result was super exciting, and it was a blessing to be able to show everyone else what I was capable of.

What aspects of track and field do you find most challenging, and how do you overcome those challenges?
I find the mental side of track and field to be the most challenging. Distance running really hurts, and I get really stressed and nervous about pushing through that pain. One thing that really helps me overcome that challenge is knowing that my identity is as a creation of God, and He doesn’t love me any more when I win or any less when I lose. This helps me block out bad stressors, such as the opinions of others. This frees me and helps me to run more relaxed, but I still really struggle with the mental aspect of running. I also like to look through my training and remind myself that I can do anything for X amount of time, however long the race is.

What advice would you give to younger athletes who are just starting their journey in track and field?
Don’t pressure yourself too much with it… your worth isn’t in how well you are able to run. Enjoy it, it’s a fun sport. Don’t try to put too much training stress on your body, especially when you are younger. Take breaks… you need to recover. And honestly, don’t worry about “getting behind” or having too late of a start compared to other athletes. Gary Martin didn’t seriously start running track until his sophomore year and he was breaking state records two years later. If you’re capable of it and you put in the work, it will happen.

How has your coach played a role in your development as a track and field athlete?
I think the encouragement my coaches have given me may have been the biggest part of my development. I came in as a decent runner, but with their support and encouragement, I believed in my capabilities and never doubted what I could do. That has played a huge part in my development. My coaches also talk with me a ton about training and have worked to further my development and understanding of the training. This has made me a much more informed athlete, which I find to be a huge benefit because I am way more in touch with the training and understand how and why they want me to perform a workout or race. They’re also just great life mentors to me and have built into me as a person, not just an athlete.

What do you enjoy most about the sport of track and field, both in terms of training and competing?
I love just running… it brings me a lot of joy, and I’m one of those people who look forward to practice, and it is the highlight of their day. Because of this, I love the process of training and checking off boxes. I think the accumulation of fitness is super neat. Competition is always fun to me just because it is a thrill to move fast… the nerves are scary, but the feeling of ripping down the homestretch is part of what keeps me racing.

Can you walk us through your journey in track and field? How did you discover your passion for the sport, and what events do you specialize in?
I always loved running as a little kid. I was always wanting to race on the playground (and usually lost 🙂 I would sprint through the woods behind our house, jumping over logs and loving the feeling of flying. When I played baseball as an elementary schooler, I remember that our coach threatened to make us run if we misbehaved, and I was like, “Great!” I started running in middle school and struggled with injury. My 7th-grade spring I was a shot putter :). The fall of my freshman year I had a lot of success on our XC team, and I think that really ignited the flame in me. I didn’t have the sophomore season I wanted in XC, so I stopped cutting some of the corners I had been. Since then, I’ve been continuing to work hard and have been blessed to continue progressing rapidly and reaching new levels of success. I do distance because I started doing distance and it’s what I’ve had the most success in.

The reigning PIAA 1600 meter run champion, Dale Hall from Hampton, looks to defend his PIAA championship from 2023. Since 2022, with each race and each meet, Dale has made significant adjustments and gains, establishing himself as one of the top runners in the state of Pennsylvania. Dale could compete for the WPIAL & PIAA Championships in all three distance races: the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dale lowers his time to the low 4:04’s by May to defend his 1600-meter title.

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