This PCA senior ran ahead of the pack to win PNJ Athlete of the Week

Congratulations to the latest PNJ Athlete of the Week winner for the 2021-22 school year: J.T. Tutton from the Pensacola Christian Academy boys cross country team.

The Warriors senior runner garnered 74.32 percent of the total vote in the PNJ’s online poll held after the Nov. 8-13 playing period. Each weekly winner is awarded a one-of-a-kind PNJ.com Athlete of the Week shirt provided by BSN SPORTS.

Tutton captured seventh at the 2021 1A State Championships on Nov. 12, crossing the finish line with a time of 16 minutes, 20.6 seconds. The team placed fourth overall, the highest finish for the program at state in 23 years.

Previous AOTW winner: Pensacola High senior Nataniel Agustin

Learn more about Tutton below after he spoke with PNJ sports reporter Patrick Bernadeau. Check back next week to vote in the next PNJ Athlete of the Week poll.

Q and A with J.T. Tutton

PNJ: Congratulations on a great season and really a record-breaking season for you and the rest of the Warriors on the boys and girls side. What was it like to be a part of such a historic season for the program?

Tutton: "It was a lot of fun. We've been kind of building for the last few years and Coach (Scott Cochran) has been saying that this is the season he's really looking forward to as we started out with me and Drew (Birx) as these young, little kids. He was waiting for all of this year and next year as his favorite years because we were going to be at peak training."

PNJ: Was there a point this season where the boys realized that this season was going to be really special?

Tutton: "It was at Pace, our first regular-season meet and when coach said we had a chance of winning the Pace Patriot for the first time ever. So, when you are beating schools like Fort Walton Beach and Choctaw week after week, it's kind of fun and exciting."

PNJ: Is there a moment this season that stands out above all?

Tutton: "Probably regionals, I liked regionals the best. Lining up on the line, knowing that we're going to beat Maclay finally after the last three or four years, and then getting pretty close to the time that I wanted with a 16:02, that was an exciting race."

PNJ: State capped a really nice career for yourself at the high-school level. What have the prior five years meant to you competing in cross country?

Tutton: "It's been a lot of fun. I probably would've found something else to do besides running, but I don't know if I could see myself doing anything else besides running. Mom and Dad have encouraged me to do lots of different things, but they've really encouraged me to keep consistent in running."

PNJ: What do you most enjoy about the sport?

Tutton: "I like the teamwork that comes out. The season is kind of already done, but coach is still out here and my teammates are still out here training for nationals. We're all out trying to train for one more good race."

PNJ: Is this something you'll be trying to do beyond high school? Will you be competing at the college level?

Tutton: "I'd like to compete at the college level. That'd be really cool."

PNJ: Time to dive into some non-running questions. If you had one thing you could eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Tutton: "Probably mom's chicken enchiladas. Those are my go-to, I like those a lot. Those are really good."

PNJ: What are some of your hobbies?

Tutton: "Well besides running, I like to collect antique toys. I actually collect little diecast medal Texaco banks. So that's kind of cool."

PNJ: Do you have a favorite sport or any favorite athletes?

Tutton: "I play football sometimes. I like the Dallas Cowboys, they're not doing too hot right now."

PNJ: Lastly, who would you say is an inspiration to you?

Tutton: "My parents. They come to every single race. I think Dad has said he's missed one race since seventh grade. Parents have really encouraged me to keep on running. They traveled down to Lakeland last week, seven hours there and seven hours back just to watch me run a 16-minute race."

Patrick Bernadeau can be reached at pbernadeau@gannett.com, on Twitter at @PatBernadeau or (850) 503-3828.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: PCA senior runner J. T. Tutton wins PNJ's Athlete of the Week