Athlete Spotlight
Hometown
Beaverton, Ore. |
High
School
Beaverton |
Year
Junior |
Major
Advertising |
James has been the fastest man
at PLU for the past two years. After finishing third in the 100-meter
dash at the Northwest Conference meets as a freshman and sophomore,
James is looking to stand atop the podium at the conference meet
this season.
Describe
your family. How have they helped you in your athletic career?
My dad was a track athlete all through high school and
college at Lewis & Clark. He was the one who first launched
my love for track at a very young age. My dad has always been
my personal coach, whether it is helping me train in the off-season,
analyzing race footage, or critiquing me. Both my Mom and my Dad
made sure they were always at all my sporting events up until
college, and even now they make every meet in Oregon and in the
Tacoma area. My grandparents were also a big influence on me because
they too made sure they were at my games and meets to watch and
cheer me on. Knowing I have such family support really helps my
confidence.
What made you decide to come
to PLU?
For starters, I didn’t want to go to a school in
Oregon. I didn’t want to go to school which half of my high
school was attending. I liked that PLU was far enough away from
home so it was a whole new atmosphere, but close enough for me
to go home when I wanted. I also love the small class sizes and
the fact that I don’t have to walk across half a city to
get to class.
Have you studied abroad?
If so, describe your experiences?
No. I have thought about it, but have decided against it. A semester
abroad would be way too long for me to be away from my family
and friends, and January is a pretty crucial time for track training.
What
has been your favorite class at PLU?
I’m really enjoying my Advertising class right
now. My other favorite was my Public Speaking class because I’ve
been told I am a good BSer.
What are you plans after
college?
Not sure yet. I hope to get an internship in the area
sometime soon and hopefully that will turn into something more
permanent in the future. I know I want to go into sports marketing
or advertising and I would like to stay in the Pacific Northwest.
When your athletic career
is all said and done, what is it that you would want people to
say about you?
That I was fast? I’m not sure, hopefully no bad
things. Maybe that I was a hard worker but still knew how to have
fun.
Describe your hometown and
what you miss about it the most.
Well, Beaverton is right next to Portland and has a population
of about 70,000 or so, but I’ve never counted. Most people
know Beaverton because the Nike World Headquarters are there.
It’s just an average city, highlighted by the fact that
it is in Oregon and there is no sales tax and no self-serve gas.
The thing I miss the most about home is my family and the memories
of growing up there.
What's your favorite spot
on campus?
It’s a toss up between Names Fitness Center and
room 804 in T-Stad. Those are the two places I spend most of my
time when I’m on campus….when I’m not in class,
of course.
What does your pre-competition
meal consist of?
If the meet is in Oregon, I stay at home for the
weekend. So my pre-competition meal is my mom’s homemade
waffles or pancakes. If the meet is somewhere we have to travel,
it would depend on how early I want to get up to get food. So
most likely toast, bagels or dry cereal. Milk before running is
a very bad idea; I would know.
What is your favorite restaurant
in Tacoma?
Famous Dave’s barbeque is hands down the best restaurant
in the area. Chipotle is also amazing.
