Athlete of the Week: Danny Sparks, Dixie

Danny Sparks, Dixie

Danny Sparks, Dixie

Name: Danny Sparks

School: Dixie

Grade: Junior

Age: 16

Sports: Cross country, track

Claim to fame/honors: Qualified for regional championships; ran personal best 17:46 at Troy Regionals; ran 17:44 in Versailles in preseason;

Bet you didn’t know … I can’t swim

Words you live by: To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.

Toughest opponent: Waynesville

Biggest influence: Steve Prefontaine

Meet-day rituals: Usually I don’t anything for breakfast, then drink caffeine, then I run

What’s on your bedroom walls: Some of the cross country bibs, abstract art

When I’m bored I like to … run

Favorite movie: Prefontaine

Person who would play you in a movie: Tom Holland

Favorite TV show: Stranger Things

Favorite musical artist: Kane Brown

I can’t live without: Chocolate milk

I can live without: TV

Event you’d like to attend: 2020 Olympics in Tokyo

Favorite book: Ready Player One

Favorite home-cooked meal: Homemade pizza

Favorite restaurant: Olive Garden

Favorite smell: Spring morning

Favorite cereal: Frosted Flakes

Store where you’d like a shopping spree: Dick’s Sporting Goods

Vegetable you won’t eat: Asparagus

I’d love to trade places for a day with … Mo Farrah

Whose mind would you like to read? Coach Bill Bowerman

Place where you’d love to travel? Hawaii

Talent you’d like to have? Fly

Favorite school subject: Math

Favorite athlete: Steve Prefontaine

Favorite team: Ft. Loramie cross country and track

Favorite Olympic sport: 5,000-meter run

Something in the world I’d like to change: Get more people running

Favorite sports moment: League meet from sophomore year I ran almost a minute and half faster than my PR

Favorite junk food: Doritos Nacho Cheese

Best thing about cross country: Going to meets and seeing everyone else

In 10 years, I hope to be … in a well paying job and running, but maybe not professionally

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