The Patch Sprint is pleased to bring back a popular feature- “Meet the Patch Sprinters” - last published on this site in 2008.

   This week we feature teenage racer Andrew Gonzalez.  Though just 16, Gonzalez, from Mellville, New York, is a Patch veteran, having trekked or raced in four events, while setting a PR of 3:17:00 in 2011.
   A high school sophmore, Gonzalez is 46er #6266.  His entire family is registered into this year’s Patch Sprint.

What is the best part about the Patch Sprint?
The best part would have to be seeing all the patch sprinters and recruiting new ones. During the race, its definitely the last one hundred yards on the summit ridge on Pok-O.

What is the hardest part for you?
The hardest part is the section on Fiegalley when you get off the dirt road and enter the woods, because I have always lost the trail and much time is lost either finding the trail, or bushwhacking parallel to the Northway.

What are your 2012 goals and how are you training for them?
My 2012 goal is to win my division or break three hours. I am training by myself doing long distance runs, intervals and hill repeats until spring track starts at Walt Whitman High School.

As a young teenager you were out on the course alone. Was that strange or scary for you?
To me, it was not strange nor scary. In the moment of the race, being scared or strange was not my first thought.

What is your advice to people considering their first Patch Sprint?
My advice to new sprinters would be: It is a fun weekend, full of excitement, but come race time, success will come with prior training, and not going out too hard.