Transferring from one high school to another is a difficult decision, especially when the two schools are archrivals.  That's the dilemma Isaac Phipps faced after his freshman year at North Surry High School.

Phipps, who is academically a senior on the Winston-Salem State cross country team but a sophomore athletically, was the solo member of the "team" so he transferred to nearby Mt. Airy.  He was primarily running to stay in shape for basketball. 

"My first year I was the only one on the team," Phipps recalled. "I was on the basketball team, so I did cross country just to stay in shape."

His sophomore season saw a significant change.  "I qualified for the (NCHSAA) Regional," said Phipps.  He continued running on the track team during the spring, but an injury caused a major disappointment.  "I got hurt and was very upset because our 4x800 relay team went on to win at states."

Although Mt. Airy never had a full cross country team, Phipps could still compete as an unattached runner.  "My junior year I finally was able to break the times I wanted to break," he said.  "I finished in the top ten, but they only took the top five to states."

He also gave up basketball to run the mile and two-mile races in indoor track.  He found some teammates to help in outdoor track.  "I got a couple of teammates to push me," he said."  "We had a strong relay team.  We were in the top three."

Phipps continued to improve his times his senior season and knew he wanted to run in college.  "My times kept coming down," said Phipps.  "I knew I wanted to continue running at the next level.

He started looking at DII schools and some were looking at him.  "Coach (Antonio) Wells came to one of my outdoor meets," Phipps said. "I won every event that day.

"We set up a time I could come to WSSU for tour," he continued.  "I liked everything about it."

A physical therapy degree offered at WSSU was a major sales point. "In high school, when I first signed to come here, I've always been around sports, so I wanted to do something with athletes," said Phipps, "but I lost interest.

"I've been thinking about it a lot," he continued. "I changed my major from exercise science to justice.  If I come back next fall, I can get an exercise science degree.  I'll have both degrees. Then I'll have time to decide what I want to do."

Phipps was pleased with the progress he made in cross country this fall.  "This season I really had a breakthrough on how I run my race," he explained.  "I don't pay attention to the watch or other runners.  I set my own rhythm.

"I take a little bit of a different approach that most people," added Phipps.  "At the start everybody takes off fast.  I can't do that.  It's just not the way I run.  At about the 1 ½ to 2-mile mark my body starts to adapt to what I'm doing."

Phipps said the mental aspect may be the most important part of running.  "It's very much a mental thing," he described.  "You're making sure of your stride and form of breathing."

He recalls his high school days when preparing for a meet.  "I have the same play list I had in high school," he said.  "I think about all the people who helped me get here.  I look at old pictures.  It's kind of like a walk down memory lane to put me in a mindset to do what I have to do."

His best 8k time was a 34 (minutes) flat.  "That was my sophomore year at the Queen City Royals Challenge at McAlpine Park," said Phipps.  "That was my favorite course.  It reminds me a little bit of our Salem Lake course."

The lost season during the Covid pandemic was a challenge.  "It provided lots of challenges and trials," said Phipps.  "Going out to run was not the same.  I was really frustrated."

Rejoining his teammates this fall quickly erased the frustration.  "My teammates were very energetic," he said.  "We push each other.  It brought back a lot of love and passion."

Still, the pandemic shut down had a residual effect.  "Without the pandemic I would have been so much farther ahead," he said.  "There were only two (teammates) left from my freshman year. A lot of them had graduated."

Phipps plans to keep running after graduation.  "It's something I want to do for health and happiness," he said.  "At the end of the day running has brought me lots of stuff.  It's something no one can ever take away from me."