Caleb Larsen | Senior | Gretna High School
Gretna High School senior Caleb Larsen fell in love with running at a young age. “The rest of my family runs competitively, so it was a natural thing to begin running at age five,” he said. “When I was six years old, my sister was running in a national championship race, and my parents signed me up too. I unexpectedly won the race and was hooked. I quickly fell in love with racing and saw it as more than just a sport. I saw it as a way to challenge myself and continually work to improve.”
Larsen runs cross country and track for Gretna High School, but he has also run with a club team since he was nine years old from the Kansas City area called the Brocaw Blazers. “Caleb was a key component in nine straight national team titles in his age group,” said Blazers coach David Ramsey. “More importantly, his competitiveness and fun made the entire team better. I wish everyone had the opportunity to have a Caleb Larsen on their team.”
Larsen loves being part of a team. “I have made lifelong friends as a result of this experience,” he said. “Each year, athletes ranging from elementary through high school travel together and compete at a national meet. I always look forward to traveling with the team and meeting other runners from all over the Midwest.”
His drive to succeed comes from within. “Seeing small improvements, whether in workouts or races, pushes me. I want to become the best version of myself, both as an athlete and a person. I also draw motivation from wanting to have a positive impact on my team. I want my team to similarly push themselves to be successful even after I have graduated. I am most proud of the impact that I have made on my younger teammates, both club runners and high school athletes. In 20 years, I will not be able to run as fast as I can now, but I hope that the impact I made on them remains.”
Gretna Cross Country and Track and Field coach Bryce Brunswig agrees. “Caleb dedicates himself to being a great student and achieving high grades, along with pushing himself to be the best runner that he can be,” Brunswig said. “Whether he is assigned a run or workout to do on his own or to do with teammates, there is no doubt that it will get done. Caleb enjoys the process of running and understands that there will be good days and bad days, but through all of it, we have to be dedicated, showing up and being the best we can be the next day. Caleb stands out as the perfect example of how academics and athletics help to create a well-rounded young adult.”
Larsen also keeps busy outside of his sport. “At my school, I am involved in the Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, and Student Council. I enjoy playing basketball and golfing. I also attend Journey Church in Gretna.”
He has big dreams for himself. “My ultimate goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon, so I plan to major in biology or biochemistry while continuing my running career in college. I want to challenge myself academically and athletically while making a positive impact in my future career. I hope to combine my passion for medicine with the discipline and teamwork I’ve learned through running.”
