Senior Spotlight: Austin Foster

Varsity Cross Country and Track & Field Head Coach Tammy King describes Austin Foster as “friendly and sociable before competitions, but when he takes position, his focus becomes all about competition. It’s all or nothing and his competitive instincts rise up to the highest level”. Of course, King knows what it takes to compete at the highest level after winning two individual State Championships at Palmer Trinity, graduating as a dual-sport student-athlete from FIU, and representing the United States in international competition. However, King is not just Austin’s coach, but his mother, which has allowed King to observe firsthand the hard work, time, and dedication Foster has put in to achieve excellence.

Foster started running at the age of seven, essentially just to burn off an abundance of energy and sometimes even before school to help him focus once he got to class. Over the years, Foster has worked methodically to reshape his body, focus his mind, and excel. Foster currently holds the Palmer Trinity record in the 400m Dash (50.45), 110m Hurdles (15.57), and 300m Hurdles (41.94) for the Track & Field team. He looks forward to the challenge of breaking these records while also setting a new discus record. Foster is quick to credit his teammates from the Class of 2022 as great leaders who always motivated him to be his best and he looks forward to being the senior leader this year and hopes to lead by example while introducing new training techniques and regimens.

When asked if it is hard to be coached by his mom and if she holds him more accountable than others, Foster is quick to refute that idea. “I think my mom being my coach is the best opportunity I have ever been given,” Foster claims, “being able to learn from one of the world's best right in my home and constantly understand one another every day to better our relationship is something no one else could replicate”. Foster refers to Coach King as Coach while at practice and states that among the most important lessons she has taught him is to always be patient and professional.

When he’s not running or training, Foster enjoys playing video games and spending time with those he loves. He volunteers at Camillus House and by feeding the homeless as well as at all Palmer Trinity Cross Country and Track & Field events, even when participating as well. Something you may not know about Foster is that while he has never performed anywhere, he is an excellent singer. He also is a seasonal fisherman, despite having an irrational fear of both the ocean and crabs. He claims his favorite movie is Joker, favorite artist is Rex Orange County and listed burritos, sushi, and “a good juicy burger” as his favorite foods since he couldn’t choose just one.

While Foster looks forward to many more accomplishments at Palmer Trinity, he is already thinking ahead to the next level where he plans to compete as a student-athlete at the NCAA level while studying communications and media production. He is currently considering American University, Lehigh University, Old Dominion University, St. Joseph’s University, George Mason University, and Monmouth University.

           
Come out and support Austin and the rest of the Varsity Cross Country team when they host the PTS Invitational on Saturday, October 8^th at 7:00am.

 

Go Falcons!