THE FAMILY BUSINESS: TWCA's Catron carrying on legacy

THE CATRON NAME HAS BEEN SYNONYMOUS WITH THE TWCA TRACK AND FIELD TEAM FOR YEARS.

Ellie Catron passed the baton to Harry Catron, who is passing it to the last of the Catrons... Philip.

“We have this discussion all the time,” Philip laughed. “My Dad ran a little bit, and my Mom didn’t. It just happened for us kids. It’s been great to be able to look up to my brother and sister on the track. To see how far they went and following in their footsteps has been really special.”

The mid-distance star has high expectations for his senior season.

“I want to medal at State in either the 400 or 800,” he said. “I’m really focused on my times and seeing how far I can push myself this season, wherever that takes me.”

He started his mid-distance journey in the eighth grade.

“Those races are the most challenging in all of track,” he said. “Especially the 800 meters... it’s brutal and very mentally challenging.
That makes it fun and really challenges your toughness. It’s my thing.”

When he’s not training, Catron loves to hoop with his friends and race go-carts. However, that fits in between his school work, which he takes very seriously.

“I’m have a path for my future,” he said. “I want to study aerospace engineering and work for Boeing. I’m between going to Oklahoma State and Texas A&M for college. I’ve always wanted to work in that field.”

“Running track has really helped me work on my time-management as crazy as that seems. You have to plan for training, school and studying. It’s worked for me.”

As he hits his final curve and heads down the stretch of his high school career, he’s grateful for his time representing the green and gold.

“TWCA has been an amazing experience,” he said. “The track program is really special with Coach (Tom) Earle and all my teammates. This is a family where everyone uplifts every other.”

That’s the way it should be.