Grant Holloway (Grassfield, VA) is one of the nation's top hurdling prospects for the 2015 indoor track season. He is currently the national leader for 55H with his 7.23 win at the Boo Williams Winter Break Invitational (12/19). The junior broke the national sophomore class record last year (7.32). This year, he wants to go for broke and replace his New Balance Indoor Nationals silver with gold. Holloway took some time out of his holiday break to tell MileSplit about his goals and training.
MileSplit: How is your training going? Will you take a break over the holidays?
Grant: Training is going great! I will be taking a break for Christmas day than continue my workouts with Coach Harper and my father, Mr. Holloway (Coach Stan).
When and where is your next competition? What do you hope to achieve?
My next track competition isn’t until January 9, 2015. My goals for that meet is to continue running my best races and improving my times.
How did it feel to nab that national sophomore class record in the hurdles last year?
It was a pretty great feeling! I didn’t know I had the sophomore record until Coach Harper looked it up and told me. Of course I knew the next meet when Mr. Brandon Miles came up to me and told me that I broke the record. It was a great experience!
Do you have your eye on any other records? Which ones?
I “had” my eyes on my brother, Trey Holloway, record for a long time. But I broke it. Another goal of mine is jumping 7’3 in the high jump and also beating Wayne Davis record of 7.16 in the 55H.
You've competed well not only in the hurdles, but in the short sprints, long jump and high jump. How do you train for so many different events?
I train for so many events by doing a lot of them at meets. Coach Harper and I will sometimes come out on Saturday mornings and try to get a little extra practice. Also, I will go out to my father's AAU practice (Track 757).
Do you see yourself competing as a multi-event athlete in college, or focusing on the hurdles?
I see myself competing in multi-events in college. Whatever it takes to lead my team to victory!
Tell me about your relationship with your brother Trey, a state champion hurdler himself. How has he influenced you on the track?
Trey was and still is one of the best hurdlers to come out of the 757. In my eyes, he set the standard for all high school hurdlers.
Are you and Trey able to train together over the holidays?
Yes, Trey will come out to Grassfield High School team practices and will teach me what his college coaches are teaching him. A true role model in my eyes.
You finished runner-up in the 60H at New Balance Indoor Nationals this past year. What are your goals for the coming season, both indoors and outdoors?
Goals for this season would have to be lead Grassfield High School to state team title then get my first national ring at New Balance Nationals.
What's your pre-race pump-up song?
I would say that my “pre-race pump-up song” would have to be getting good luck messages from all my friends and listening to Soulja Boy.
Who is your favorite professional athlete and why?
My favorite professional athletes would have to be David Oliver & Erik Kynard Jr. Both of them are so dynamic in the event they do.
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