Atrosh wins big at Nike Outdoor Nationals

With a two-week break in his running schedule, Hudson Atrosh did the next best thing to keep in shape: Hike Mount Defiance with a friend on a recent day.

The Mercer Island resident felt a sense of accomplishment when completing the trek on the mountain summit west of Snoqualmie Pass. They absorbed the stunning views before heading back down the trail.

On June 14, the 17-year-old rising Seattle Prep senior experienced the stellar view of crossing the finish line in first place in the Emerging Elite two-mile race at the Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. He triumphed with a personal record mark of 9:02.50.

While rolling to victory, Atrosh sported a thrilled look on his face while pointing to one of his teammates nearby.

“I was excited, especially to kind of prove to him that I could win this race, and so I gave him a laugh and a point right there,” said Atrosh, who won the race by six seconds. He was stoked to win the Emerging Elite heat, but was disappointed to not compete in the Championship heat. Atrosh said he hit the Championship qualifying time once, but was short on marks for officials to eyeball since he was injured during his freshman and sophomore track seasons.

During the Emerging Elite race, “It was a great dynamic,” said Atrosh, noting that his dad, mom and a teammate apprised him of his pace and form and cheered him on throughout the two-miler.

Atrosh took up cross country running when he was a second-grader at Lakeridge Elementary School and has never looked back. He later attended Islander Middle School and St. Monica’s, where he first delved into the track scene in eighth grade.

“It becomes addictive. The endorphins and the adrenaline rush you get from pushing your body to the limit, to the max, and seeing if you can do better,” Atrosh said of his love for running. In track, he finished sixth in the 3A state 3,200 last season.

Getting his legs moving while in the good company of friends is another plus for Atrosh.

“I’m just talking and making memories with my friends every day. After school, I get to improve on my goals and hang with my best friends,” he added.

At Seattle Prep, Atrosh has run on the school’s varsity cross country team for three years and helped the squad win 3A state team titles the last two seasons. He said that Mercer Island High School’s team will be Prep’s top challenger for the title in the fall.

On the school front, Atrosh especially enjoys his AP environmental science and history courses.

The Reporter asked Atrosh a series of questions to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his life:

If you could go to dinner with one person, who would that be?

David Attenborough. I love watching the old nature documentaries that he does and I’m pretty passionate about the environment, the outdoors, and so I feel he’s got a lot to say on that.

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

It was “Inception” for a while, but I’m a big fan of “Baby Driver.”

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

People who don’t use their turn signals (in traffic).

What provides inspiration for you?

Characters in movies and TV shows. I love watching superhero movies and action movies.

What superpower would you like to have?

I really like shapeshifting.

If you’re having a tough day, what do you do to overcome that?

If I can’t run, I go biking (running is tops, though). It makes you feel productive.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

In terms of running, it’s definitely to stretch. Stretch and PT (physical therapy) has been a big one.