MOUNT VERNON — It’s not 1994, and no one is yelling “Run Forest, Run!” But on June 19, “Run Calvin, Run!” will be the mantra as Calvin Heithaus, a rising freshman at Mount Vernon High School, competes in the New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia.
What is the New Balance Nationals 2025?
The event is important because athletes have authored world and national high school, middle school, and meet records. The meticulously planned schedule and logistical marvel of accommodating thousands of athletes and fans promise an unforgettable experience.
“Just before my seventh grade year, my mom (Emily Heithaus, also assistant athletic director at Kenyon College) wanted me to start being more athletic because I didn’t do a whole lot of sports,” Heithaus said.
Mom decided to make running a family affair.
“It was actually on his birthday and he and I went out for a run, and then we would do little family runs on holidays, New Year’s, Thanksgiving morning, and stuff like that,” Emily Heithaus explained. “Up to that point (the early days of running), we had to kind of poke at him to keep him going so we could finish as a family.”
It was on another birthday run that Emily noticed a change in her son.
“This time, he crushed it, he just kept getting farther and farther ahead, which I didn’t expect,” she said. “After we finished that, I said, ‘You might want to consider cross country because that was a good run for you.’”
Even though Calvin still runs cross country, he prefers track, where he specializes in the 4×800 relay and the 1600-meter run. Heithaus enjoys the team aspect of the relay.
“Getting the race put together well so that everyone’s skills can be used at different parts of the race can be challenging,” he said.
Since the young speedster runs more than one event, he had to adjust his position on the relay team.
“I ran the fourth leg for about half the season, and then I realized that running the last leg really didn’t give me an opportunity to rest, so I decided to swap to the first leg,” he said.
Mom explained the need for a rest, no matter how brief.
“He needs a break between; there really isn’t much time between the relay and the mile,” she said.
Not everyone can compete in the nationals.
“This year, I believe the minimum qualifying time was 4:48,” she said.
Calvin had to go to Notre Dame Latin near Cleveland for his official qualifying time, where he stopped the watch at 4:37.
He has a specific goal in mind in Philadelphia.
“I’m looking to really push myself at the race and hopefully earn a medal and get an All-American title,” he said. “That’s been one of my biggest goals since I started running.”