Lindgren's track to success started on the base paths

They say failure is the stepping-stone to success. Episcopal Academy track and cross-country runner Elias Lindgren is a prime example.

Lindgren was never very good at baseball as a kid, but he was a speedster on the base paths. In fact, Lindgren vividly remembers the time in Little League when he stole home to win the championship. That led him to decide that perhaps track was a better fit for him.

And that's where the story begins.

The Episcopal Academy senior, who has been running cross-country and track since the sixth grade, holds the school records on the hilly home course in the 5-kilometer run (17 minutes, 2 seconds), the 4×1600-meter relay (19:03), the 4×800 relay (8:06), the distance medley relay (10:32), and  the 3,200 (9:27). His personal records are 1:59 in the 800, 4:24 in the 1,600, 9:27 in the 3,200, and 16:35 in the 5K.

Lindgren broke another school record recently as the EA cross-country team tied Haverford School, 28-28. He won the race in 17:02, breaking the old mark of 17:15 that was set by Jake Jorgensen in 2015. An ambitious Lindgren said he wants to finish with eight school records before graduating.

Lindgren is coming off a successful spring season on the track, where he set personal records in the 3,200 and 1,600. Last fall, he finished fourth (17:57.30) in the Inter-Ac League cross-country championships and eighth (17:22.30) in the PAISAA championships.

"I am super excited for the season, hoping to put on a good showing at the invitationals, Inter-Ac, and PAISAA," said Lindgren. "Having set the school record for my home course, I hope to go after the overall course record."

Lindgren has become friends with one of his toughest competitors, Peter Borger of Malvern Prep. Last fall, Borger won the Inter-Ac cross-country title in 17:14.30 and finished third in the PAISSA in 16:57.90. Lindgren and Borger spent some time training together over the summer.

Jim Farrell. the associate director of athletics and boys' cross-country coach, can't say enough good things about Lindgren.

"Elias is a very strong leader who leads by example and vocally," said Farrell. "He gets up every day ready to hit the challenge in the classroom and in athletics."

What fuels Lindgren?

His "breakfast of champions" meal consists of eggs, toast, grapefruit, and coffee. Lindgren caps the day with a fourth meal, which is a big plate of pasta. He also drinks chocolate milk for recovery after every practice and race.

But Lindgren's resume in the classroom is arguably more impressive than his running accolades. By the end of his senior year, he will have completed 10 honors courses and five advanced courses. He will also have taken courses in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, abstract algebra, and real and complex analysis, which are generally the core courses of an undergraduate math education. In addition to all of that,  he's a National Merit Scholar.

"He loves what he does in the classroom, and he loves running," said Farrell. "He's like a sponge. He soaks it all up."

Lindgren's love for math can be a blessing and a curse when he's in a race, he said. Sometimes he catches himself checking his watch for split times. Farrell said there have been times where he's had to tell Lindgren to focus on the race and not his watch.

"I can get a little obsessive over my watch trying to figure out pace," Lindgren said.

Lindgren has yet to make a college commitment but is looking at Williams College, Swarthmore, Haverford, Johns Hopkins, and Middlebury.