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Unstoppable force

Richmond’s Hogue not slowing down

Photo courtesy Mike Scott University of Richmond runner Johnny Hogue, a former all-state standout for Ritchie County High School, is pictured here earlier this month on a steep incline on Loon Mountain in New Hampshire during the 10.6K Collegiate Mountain Running Championships.

PARKERSBURG — Johnny Hogue, a former four-time all-state cross country standout for Ritchie County High School, has been keeping himself quite busy this offseason.

The redshirt senior for head coach Steve Taylor of the Division I Richmond Spiders was in New Hampshire a week ago Sunday spending a little time on Loon Mountain. He was there to compete in the 10.6K Collegiate Mountain Running Championships, where he finished a strong fourth overall.

“I wasn’t really focused on placement or time or anything like that,” admitted Hogue, a 2017 Atlantic 10 All-Conference cross country honoree who also placed ninth at the 2018 Collegiate 10K Road Race National Championship.

“It was more of a race I was trying to see where I’m at in training, something I’m looking to go forward toward this fall. For me, our conference (meet) ranks at the top.”

Hogue already walked for graduation back in May, but will return to Richmond in a little less than a month as a redshirt senior to finish off his final season of eligibility. The ex-Rebel earned a double major in business administration and leadership studies.

“The plan is to start working and continue training,” Hogue said after his classes are finished in December.

“For me, I think I’m definitely not done. I’m going to continue to run and hopefully, eventually, join a team somewhere.”

Hogue added he plans on going to graduate school at some point, but wants to focus on his running and future career in the work force, at least for the time being.

“I’ve been in New York all summer,” said Hogue. “Doing all flat running along New York and New Jersey areas on asphalt. I wasn’t really sure how I would do with the hills.

“Coming from West Virginia and that kind of background and those kinds of trails and having appreciation for the mountains and those terrains, it set me up for the race. I wasn’t expecting anything going into it. I wanted to race hard and continue to train for the fall.”

Currently working as an intern for PubWorX, a company which helps magazines and publishers on a variety of aspects including budgeting and subscription analysis, Hogue realizes his college life is drawing to a close rather quickly.

“It’s almost over, but I’m looking forward to going back for one semester,” he said. “We doubled the size of our team. I’m looking forward to training with everyone and bringing in new guys.

“If we are healthy and everything goes right we’ll have a great season. I’m focusing on running and focusing on a career path and what I want to do once I leave in December.”

Hogue admitted his time as a Spider has “definitely been a rocky road, battling injuries, personally and with my team. Dealing with that has been difficult, but it’s been very rewarding. Getting all-conference and placing fifth, that’s something that was good and I can build upon. I’m looking to go even further this year.”

The Spider will stay in New York City for a few more weeks before heading back to Richmond for the fall season.

“Coming to the University of Richmond was definitely something I’ll cherish forever,” Hogue continued. “We have a saying, once a Spider always a Spider. I love my experience in Richmond and being with coach Taylor has been amazing.

“He’s really helped me grow as a runner, individually, and pushed me to be the best I can be in running and outside (of running). My other classmates and friends I’ve made, it’s something that’s going to be close to my heart forever.”

As too would winning an Atlantic 10 crown with his teammates.

“Hopefully,” he said. “(We’re) bringing a title back to Richmond from the conference championship.”

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