By Matt Browning
For Circle senior sprinter Jay Bonewitz, the goals for his final season aren’t subtle. They’re tied to fractions of a second — and unfinished business.
“Coming into this year my main goal was breaking my school’s 100-meter and 200-meter records,” Bonewitz said. “Last year I was under a tenth of a second short for both and it would feel like unfinished business graduating without taking them with me.”
That motivation has fueled a decorated career that already includes three state medals and an AVCTL Division III league championship in both the 100 and 200 meters. His current personal records — 10.87 seconds in the 100 and 22.12 in the 200 — put him within striking distance of rewriting the school record book.
Bonewitz credits his consistency and late-race strength as a defining part of his success.
“As a runner my main strength is speed endurance,” he said. “I’m able to get to and maintain top speed for a very long time, which is 100% the product of my coaches’ training over the past four years.”
That edge didn’t happen by accident. In the offseason, Bonewitz focused on building explosiveness, spending much of the winter in the weight room.
“This offseason I wanted to get more explosive,” he said. “You could find me in the weight room every day this winter working with Coach Clothier to get everything out of my body that it could take.”
Now in his final high school season, Bonewitz isn’t just chasing records — he’s aiming for the top of the podium.
“As an individual I want to win state in at least one event,” he said. “I’ve been close my sophomore and junior years and finally being able to break through and come out on top would be the perfect way to end my high school career.”
