Joshua Otten has one thing on his mind while he prepares for his track meet – winning. His parents were track stars as well, his mother being featured in the UDM Hall of Fame. So it is only natural for Otten to run in their footsteps. Otten was recruited for track and cross-country fresh out of high school by Coach Guy Murray.
Being a track athlete, Otten has to remain disciplined in his academics and his sport.
Otten said, “It’s a balancing act between my school and my sport. It makes you better at managing your time.”
Otten has a competitive spirit that he uses to fuel his motivation for his track meets. He usually runs about 60-70 miles a week to prepare for his track meets. He mentioned that he enjoys running and it feels good. Otten prepares for a track meet by visualizing himself winning the meet the night before. He likes to get all his track gear ready the night before so that he is prepared for the next day.
Two hours before his spikes hit the tracks, Otten puts his headphones on to get motivated. Otten has a specific playlist that he likes to listen to while he stretches. At the last meet, he was listening to “Kills” by Chief Keef. The 4x400m relay race is Otten’s favorite to run because the “energy is really high and it’s competitive.” Otten likes competing and enjoys races that challenge him.
According to Coach Murray, “Otten can cover anywhere from 400 meters up to the 8000 in cross country.”
Not only is Otten fast on the track, but he is also diverse in his sport. Katie Anderla, a senior on the track team, mentioned that Otten is the fastest man on the men’s team. When he isn’t running in an event, Anderla said he passes time reading. Otten’s favorite pair of running shoes is the Endorphins Speed 3 produced by Saucony, which has since been discontinued.
Otten goes into a race prepared to win even if he is not in the top seed. With his routine and his dedication to track, Otten was able to secure a personal record (PR) of 4:11.86 in the mile at the SVSU Classic on Jan. 17, 2025. Otten ranks as No. 3 currently for the mile and the 1500m.
According to Coach Murray, “He is on the verge of securing a school record.”
Not only has Otten secured a PR, but he is also ranked Top 10 in school history and secured the spot for the 10th best 10k time in school history.
Murray said, “Josh offers a lot of competition to the sport, and he sets the pace for the team.”
To maintain his track record, Otten maintains a healthy diet and runs at least once, sometimes twice a day. Be on the lookout for Otten as he trains to secure more PRs.
