MOULTON — Lawrence County High coach Stanley Johnson has found a young protégé in Caleb Lipsey for his perennial state cross country championship contender.

The eighth-grader is only in his second year of long-distance running. Lipsey has already become the Red Devils’ second runner in most races. Johnson said Lipsey has a lot of a God-given ability and tremendous potential.

Lipsey set a school record for an eighth-grader in a 5K with a time of 17:04. He has won two seventh- and eighth-grade two-mile races, including running a 10:53 last weekend at St. Bernard Prep School in Cullman.

Lipsey met with Decatur Daily sports writer Bayne Hughes on Monday to answer these six questions:

Question: How do you think your second season in cross country has done?

Answer: I feel like it’s been good. I think it will get better as we get deeper in the season. I have to learn how to run more mentally instead of using my emotions. The older guys have been very cooperative with me. We work on pushing each other. We’re all one big family.

Q: When did you start running long distance races?

A: I ran two races before I joined the team last year. My first race was the Jesse Owens (Memorial Run) race as a fifth-grader. I’ve just worked my way up to long distance. I still have the pain other runners do, but I’m used to it because I run seven or eight miles every day.

Q: What’s your advice to the novice runners out there who want to run long distances?

A: Just keep telling yourself that you’re going to work through the pain and learn to block out the pain.

Q: Have you picked out a Halloween costume?

A: If I do wear one, I’ll probably dress as a deer hunter. I usually dress up in camouflage if I have to wear a costume.

Q: I understand you enjoy hunting with your dad. What’s your favorite kind of hunting?

A: My favorite so far has been dove hunting. My dad and I are real big in deer hunting. I’ve killed one young buck.

Q: What’s scarier — vampires, werewolves or ghosts?

A: Werewolves are scarier. They are animals that can run fast and you can’t really hide from them.