Newburgh’s Ryler Gould was working out last week during spring practice, and the junior enters the outdoor track season as the defending state Division 1 champion in the 400-hurdles.

“I opened up good,” said Gould, of last season, “but through the season I had a couple of flaws.”

Despite the flaws that troubled Gould during the regular season, he qualified for the state meet in Middletown and ended the season as the top big schools’ 400-hurdler with that title.

“I ran way better than I thought I was going to run. I knew I had it in me, but I didn’t know if it was that day,” said Gould, of his state title run. “I pushed, I did it, and I overcame it.”

Gould started running in seventh grade, and he’s now one of Newburgh’s busiest sprinters – along with his work in the hurdles. He runs the 200, 400, and 800 sprints along with running legs in the 400, 1600, and 3200 relays.

And with such a long list of events, Gould said he never gets confused or overburdened by so many events that need him.

“It gets in your head of what you need to run,” he said.

Hurdles, though, are his favorite event.

“I just like the feeling of just not plain running. It’s run and jump, run and jump,” he said. “It’s a fun thing to do besides running straight.”

Gould is now defending a state title, and he knows he will be the focus for others to beat. And he intends to face the competition with hard practices throughout the season.

“It’s not a burden,” said Gould, of the state title. “It’s more of an honor to be running as the state champion. But I know I need to stay focused because this year I know I am going to have people on my back.”