College of Guelph’s monitor and box program has been creating one of the vital best distance runners in Canada for many years, and one athlete taking a look to be subsequent in line is Max Davies. The 20-year-old from Toronto has been a dominant runner at each stage, and his 2024 indoor season noticed his performances skyrocket, making him the seventy fifth Canadian to run a sub-four-minute mile. Now, with the cross-country season at the horizon, Davies is aiming for not anything in need of gold.
Davies had an unconventional post-collegiate trail; he headed to Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. to compete within the NCAA, however discovered himself again in Canada after his first yr. “Within the peak of COVID, I couldn’t do recruitment visits at any faculties, and Iona ended up now not being the most productive are compatible for me,” says Davies.
He transferred to the College of Guelph in 2022, the place he was once reunited with head staying power trainer, Terry Radchenko. The pair had overlapped whilst practicing with Toronto Observe Membership. “The way in which Terry trains works for me–being injury-free is maximum necessary,” says Davies.
In his 2d yr at Guelph, Davies took silver on the 2023 OUA XC Championships however was once hungry to blow their own horns his health after falling in need of his targets that season at U Sports activities. In January, he ran his first-ever sub-four-minute mile, clocking 3:59.24 to grow to be the seventy fifth particular person to sneak underneath the barrier–he was once simplest getting began. By means of the tip of the indoor season, Davies held 4 faculty data (1,000, 1,500m, mile and 4x800m relay), two OUA championship data, two U Sports activities championship data and the entire 1,000m collegiate file. The third-year control scholar was once named OUA Athlete of the Yr, and was once one in every of 8 athletes throughout Canada to be nominated for U Sports activities Athlete of the Yr.
“I didn’t be expecting that monitor season [success] coming off cross-country. I attempted to not overthink the rest–I simply confirmed up, did the exercises and stayed constant,” he admits.
Originally of the 2024 outside season, after an implausible 1,500m season opener of three:39 at Sound Operating Invite in California, a devastated Davies discovered himself with the similar unhealthy success. He was once compelled to take a seat out and concentrate on restoration–for the second one outside season in a row.
“All I may just do was once disregard about it and transfer my center of attention to the following objective. I used to be putting in place such a lot of hours cross-training or within the pool–I needed to stay myself motivated,” Davies says.
Davies’ targets as a runner don’t finish with varsity monitor and cross-country. The athlete is ready on changing into a qualified runner first, after which, after all, an Olympian. “I wish to be in an Olympic ultimate, or even make a opt for a medal,” Davies admits. “I additionally wish to constitute Canada on the global championships, and the whole thing in between. Steadily operating to raised myself takes me nearer to these targets.”
The loss of investment for Canadian monitor athletes has been a vital problem for Davies, in addition to many different elite runners. Balancing a task and summer season categories whilst keeping up intense practicing has been laborious. “The cruel fact is that extra investment method higher get admission to to amenities, remedy, and power—all crucial for staying injury-free,” says Davies. “I’m looking to carry out at a top stage in opposition to competition who’ve that monetary strengthen, which places me at an obstacle.”
Davies says he’ll proceed to stay a favorable mindset, stack the educational days, have amusing, and keep constant during the season. The sector is deep this yr; a large number of competition throughout Canada are contenders for the person win. When it comes all the way down to the overall festival, Davies is aware of he has to provide it his all. “Whoever can harm probably the most will win—I’ve to need it greater than the opposite guys,” he says. “I’m now not right here to lose.”