Senior Athlete Balances Teamwork, Strategy & Big Goals
When Mason Tomboni represents Wapahani High School as a competitor in cross country or track, he is dedicated to giving his best for his team in addition to improving his own performance. This year, as a senior, he enjoyed a successful cross country season, achieving several long-standing goals. As his last high school semester unfolds, he continues to train for upcoming running competitions.
When asked which of the two he likes best, Tomboni says it is hard for him to choose between cross country and track. His parents are former triathletes and have been involved in the sports industry. Running long distance was something he began at an early age. He ran his first 5K race when he was in first or second grade in about 23 minutes. From there, he participated on school teams throughout elementary and middle school.
While both sports are based on running, cross country and track are different from each other. Cross country involves running long distances over an outdoor course of varied terrain. Tomboni’s cross country event is the 5K, which is 3.1 miles. Track running events are held on a paved surface marked with separate lanes and are comprised of shorter distances, the longest being a 3,200-meter, or two-mile, race. Besides competing in the eight-lap, 3,200-meter event, Tomboni also participates in the four-lap 1,600-meter and the two-lap 800-meter races. In addition, he runs the 4×800 relay and the 4×400 relay.
“There is a team aspect in the sport of running,” Tomboni says. “There is more to it than just trying to do your personal best. We work together in the relays. The combined scores of all teammates determine what school wins a meet.”
The training for the two sports varies somewhat. Running cross country requires participants to build endurance and stamina. The same abilities are needed in track, along with speed and acceleration.
“In the winter, I do a lot of cross-training,” Tomboni says. “I swim laps in the pool, ride a stationary bike and do sprints. I also do weight training two or three times a week, once with a trainer.”
All the time and effort Tomboni has put into training has paid off. He was named to the News Times All-GPC Team for Graphic Printing Company Boys Cross Country, as well as Runner of the Year. He currently holds the school record for the 3,200-meter race, along with the record for Wapahani High School’s 5K course. A highlight was achieving 12th place at regionals, which earned him a competitive spot at the state meet. There, he placed 103rd out of 250 competitors.
“I have faced some challenges. I hurt my hip in the spring of 2025. At sectionals, my hip was bothering me, and I was coughing,” Tomboni says. “After a bad race, you have to talk to your people. I talk to my friends on the team, my parents and my girlfriend. You must get out there and do something. Keep pushing. You can’t quit because if you do, you will never know how good you could have been.
“I definitely think about strategy,” he adds. “I begin psyching up on the starting line. I hold up my index finger, like I’m going to win. I realize I’ve got to pace myself and not go out too fast. It’s all about place, not time. I found that it’s best to start behind the leader, then go a little faster and then faster. People start dropping behind. At regionals, I was in 60th place, then 50th. I made it to 12th.”
In addition to cross country and track, Tomboni is also a triathlete. He currently holds the 2025 sprint triathlon state champion title for the 15–19 age group. A sprint triathlon differs from an Olympic triathlon in that the swimming, biking and running distances are shorter but still require diligent training and stamina. He hopes to defend his title at the Muncie Triathlon in May 2026 and has set his sights on competing for the national junior title in Milwaukee in August 2026.
“Coach Bo Stevens and athletic trainer Jared Coats have been my mentors,” Tomboni says. “I’m currently looking at colleges. I plan to study business, and I’m interested in entrepreneurship. I’m also interested in graphic art and would like to make comic books.”
