There are many work ethic lessons we can learn from athletes. The University of Georgia's Will Sumner is one of those athletes. Will captured the 800-meter title at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. As a true freshman, he shattered his record to bring Georgia its first title in the 800-meter event. We sat down with Will to learn more about his discipline, goals and commitment to excellence on and off the track.
Track and field has always been a part of the family for Will. "I grew up in a track family. My parents ran track in college and professionally, and my sister was a successful runner in high school and college. When I was younger, we'd always watch races on TV, so I was always thinking about it. When I was in third grade, I ran youth track with the Woodstock Track Club. I played various sports growing up, but I always loved running. I was always the fastest on my teams, so I knew track was the sport for me."
Racing on national television gives him a sense of pride to represent his hometown of Canton, Georgia, and his high school, Woodstock High School. "Woodstock means so much to me; it is my community. I cannot thank my coaches and teachers enough for their support." Will is also grateful for his amazing coach, Caryl Smith Gilbert. Will says, "The whole environment Coach Caryl has created elevates me to the next level, helps me become more competitive and brings this new team closer. It's all about doing as much as possible for the team, scoring points and getting better."
Hard work and dedication go into Will's training. "I'll go for my longer runs and do my tempo workouts, which are longer intervals at a quicker pace. I do a lot of sprint work to improve my top-end speed. There's a lot more to it than just running. To prevent injuries, I spend two days a week in the weight room to improve my explosiveness, strength and durability. I focus on the small things, sleep well, eat right and stay hydrated to be my best."
Will believes in finding the joys of putting forth your best effort. "I think the most important thing is to have fun. Sometimes people take sports way too seriously, and the joy of pushing yourself to new limits becomes more like a chore. Whether you are a professional athlete or a student-athlete, at the end of the day, you should be enjoying what you do!"
The most influential people Will has encountered are his teammates. "This year would not have been the same without my teammates. Elija Godwin is a 2021 Bronze Medal Olympian who motivates and keeps me hungry. Matthew Boling is a 2x NCAA Champion and has become one of my best friends this year. We have been together every step of the way in our training. Kyle Garland is a Decathlon Collegiate Record Holder and the team's biggest leader. I have a great appreciation for my teammates."
After a successful freshman year at the University of Georgia, Will hopes to make the Olympic team and compete next year.
"Whether you are a professional athlete or a student-athlete, at the end of the day, you should be enjoying what you do!"
