JEFF FIELDER Editor
MITCHELL – Caden Knutson, a junior on Mitchell High School’s boys cross country team, is this week’s Nspire Today! Male Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Knutson medaled at the Nebraska Class C state cross country meet Friday, placing 11th with a time of 17 minutes. 8.5 seconds. His performance helped the Tigers place fourth in the team standings. It’s the first time Knutson has medaled at state. He placed 32nd as a sophomore and 66th as a freshman. In addition to cross country, Knutson competes in basketball and golf. His parents are Sara and Ryan Knutson.
Q: How excited are you about how the state meet went?
KNUTSON: “It went really good. I’ve been training all year, so I really thought it was going to go good that day but not as good as it ended up being. My friend [junior Ashtyn Martin, who placed ninth in 17:05] and I were really focused. I was really happy with my time. I never thought I would run that fast at that meet.”
Q: Going into the state meet, what were your goals?
KNUTSON: “My goal was to try to place in the top 15 and help my team out as much as I could. We had a bunch of freshmen who were really looking forward to doing well at that meet, so I tried to help them out as much as I could.”
Q: Describe how challenging this year’s state meet was.
KNUTSON: “I felt it was really challenging. The course is really hard – there’s lots of hills. Also, the time that I ran would have won the state meet seven or eight years ago. But at this meet, it wasn’t even in the top 10.”
Q: That’s incredible. What do you think that says about the sport of running?
KNUTSON: “It seems like the times keep getting faster. Even looking at last year, my time this year would have been in the [top four] last year at state. But this year, it wasn’t even close to that. There’s people now running low 16’s at that meet, which is just crazy to think about.”
Q: Was your time of 17:08 a personal record?
KNUTSON: “Yes, it was. My previous best was 17:28 at Western Trails Conference last year.”
Q: How exciting was it to lower your time by 20 seconds?
KNUTSON: “It was really exciting because at the conference meet last year it was a really flat course. To go from that flat course to running [17:08] at one of the hardest courses of the season [in Kearney] felt really good.”
Q: So what were you more excited about – medaling in 11th place or achieving a personal-best time?
KNUTSON: “I’d say placing 11th was more exciting because it feels great to know that I was able to hang with the best runners in the state – even though they were running some crazy fast times.”
Q: What’s helped you continue to improve as a runner?
KNUTSON: “I would say it’s because of [Ashtyn]. He and I have been really close all year, and without him there, I don’t think I would have been pushing myself as hard.”
Q: Have you and Ashtyn been good friends for a long time?
KNUTSON: “Yes, we met in second grade, and we’ve been best friends ever since then. I probably wouldn’t even have competed in cross country had he not encouraged me to try it in junior high. I ended up loving it. I enjoy running with him. He’s a really great leader on the team – he helps everyone.”
Q: How exciting is it to know that the two of you have one more high school cross country season together?
KNUTSON: “It’s really exciting. After this year’s state meet, we talked and said that our goal next year is to try to get in the top five at state. We’ll train hard all summer.”
Q: Are you surprised at all with how successful you’ve been in running?
KNUTSON: “Yes. Before I started junior high, I thought running was crazy. I thought, ‘Why would anyone want to run like that for a sport?’ But then I tried it, and I didn’t think it was that bad. It ended up being really fun. Then as time went on, I seemed to get faster and faster.”
Q: Do you run year-round?
KNUTSON: “Yes, we run year-round. When we’re not in the season, I try to run in some 5K races around the area just for fun and to stay in shape. We do most of our running, though, in the summer and fall.”
Q: During the summer, how many miles do you try to run each week?
KNUTSON: “Probably about 15 to 20 miles a week, if not more.”
Q: You also compete in basketball and golf. Which sport is your favorite?
KNUTSON: “Cross country, by far. I really like the team atmosphere. Also, even though you’re competing against different schools, I have friends from other schools and we cheer each other on.”
Q: What other school activities are you involved in?
KNUTSON: “I’m in FBLA, NHS, and I’m involved in other groups, like the prom committee.”
Q: Outside of your school activities, what do you like to do for fun?
KNUTSON: “A lot of my friends and I are really big into hunting and fishing. I also like to snow ski.”
Q: Where do you like to go snow skiing?
KNUTSON: “I’ve been all over Colorado and Wyoming, but my favorite spot is Copper Mountain.”
Q: Where’s your favorite place to go fishing?
KNUTSON: “Lake Minatare.”
Q: Who’s your favorite professional athlete?
KNUTSON: “Stephen Curry.”
Q: Favorite college football team?
KNUTSON: “The Huskers.”
Q: What are your thoughts on how Nebraska’s season has gone up to this point?
KNUTSON: “I have a lot of mixed feelings about that. I feel like they’re still building a team. I feel like they have a lot of talent coming up, like with Wandale Robinson. I think they’ll be better next year.”
Q: Favorite type of music?
KNUTSON: “80’s rock.”
Q: In your opinion, who’s the kindest student at Mitchell High School this year?
KNUTSON: “Jonathan Pieper. He’s our senior on the cross country team. He’s nice to everybody.”
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
KNUTSON: “Burger King [in Scottsbluff].”
Q: What do you like to order there?
KNUTSON: “A double whopper.”
Q: If you could give a shoutout to one business in Mitchell, which one would it be and why?
KNUTSON: “Ayala’s Restaurant. They’ve been a huge supporter of our team, and they have really good food.”
Q: Name one person who you think is a big difference-maker in the Mitchell community.
KNUTSON: “Probably my golf coach, Nick Kuxhausen. He’s always very supportive of everyone in every sport. He always gives everyone good advice.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
KNUTSON: “I have one little sister [Halle, 10] and one little brother [Brock, 15].”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Athletes of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, you may do so by sending an email to jeff.fielder@nspiretoday.com or by mailing a letter to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Nominations may also be submitted by sending a text to 308-220-8865.
In addition to being recognized online, athletes of the week will also be recognized in Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues) to the magazine, please send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. To pay with a credit card, please call 308-220-8865. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 in October to the Panhandle Humane Society.
For all your insurance needs, visit The Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance, located at 1012 Ave. I in Scottsbluff, or call 308-632-8598.
