Hoover senior wants to be top 5K runner in America

Hoover High School senior Patrick McGregor has a simple plan for his final varsity cross country season.

Already the fastest runner in the state, McGregor wants to become the top 5K runner in the nation.

"My goal is to be the best distance runner in the country," said McGregor, who will begin his senior campaign Saturday at the Clara Bowl meet at Berry College in Georgia.

McGregor, the defending Class 6A boys individual cross country champion, isn't far away from his goal. He posted a career-best time of 15:35 at last season's Smiths Station Invitational and ran a 16:11 at the Nike Southeast Nationals last November. He had the second-best time in the event.

Though the clock is an important part of competitive running, McGregor said he doesn't let time determine his demeanor after each race.

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