Ep. 154 - The New Generation Of High School Superstars: Sitting Down With 4:12 miler, NON Emerging Elite Mile Champ, & Rising Junior Yosuke Shibata

Today on the podcast is Yosuke Shibata.

Yosuke is a rising junior out of South Eugene High School in Eugene, Oregon.

Remember the name, folks.

A lot of people are asking the question: “After Owen Powell, Josiah Tostenson, Tayvon Kitchen, Charlie Vause, all these guys who graduated, who is going to rise to the top on the high school scene?” Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have an answer for you. Yosuke is going to be a star on the national stage in high school.

Yosuke has run 1:54 for 800m, 3:55 for 1500m, 4:12 for mile, and 14:59 for 5K XC. While those times might not yet seem like they are the caliber of a national champ, as we talked off the air, just before the start of this past track season, Yosuke, at the worst possible time, got hit with atypical pneumonia. He couldn’t run or workout for 2 weeks. He was too weak to even go to school some days. And as Yosuke described it, it was a massively difficult point in his career, having to swallow his big goals for the season and really just take it one step at a time. He said that he had to remember that he was running to become better, not just to give up when something doesn’t go to to plan.

Ultimately, Yosuke, while not reaching his original goals, made a very admirable comeback.

He set PRs across multiple events, finished 3rd in the 800m at State, 6th in the 1500m, and won the Nike Outdoor Nationals (NON) Emerging Elite Mile.

More that just the results, the fact that Yosuke had the mental fortitude to salvage his track season, shows a level of grit and character-development. And honestly, those mental skills could be the separators as he emerges over these next two years.

Aside from that, Yosuke and I had a fantastic conversation. He had so many stories and insights, especially when it comes down to race tactics, making mistakes, and mental toughness.

So much to learn, I know you’ll enjoy my chat with him today.

But before we get into the show, please, if you haven’t already, and you are enjoying this podcast, I would really appreciate a follow and a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or whatever other platform you are listening on. That goes a long way in supporting the growth of The Sunday Shakeout. That’s all I ask. But other than that, sit back, relax, and enjoy my conversation, with the one and only, Mr. Yosuke Shibata.

I hope you enjoy this episode of The Sunday Shakeout!