My name is Andrew Panther. I currently run track and field at Cheshire High School in Connecticut and I am a junior. I started to run track my sophomore year. My dad thought I would be good because he noticed my acceleration and top speed from the prior years while I would participate in the Cheshire soccer leagues. Since then, my training and speed workouts have increased drastically while I am trying to obtain an elite status in track and field. My main events are the 200m, 400m outdoors and while running indoors it's the 300m, 400m, and the 600m event.
What was your best meet?
My best meet is yet to come when I compete at the Yale Invitational meet. My best race the past year would be states were I PR’d by running a 23.8 indoors and than came back to run a 39 in the 300m.
Who is the best athlete you have raced against?
The best athlete I have ever raced against is Justin Doehr, from Sheehan High School, who is currently the best 200m, 300m and 400m in the state.
How do you make your team better?
I tend to score points in the middle-distance events, and in track and field every little point matters. Also, I tend to push myself in practice, which tends to help my teammates to excel and gain something from the practices.
Who is your favorite player?
Usain Bolt, he is the fastest sprinter in the world. Every time he runs, it’s a jaw dropping view. Every time he is about to run, everyone spectating, instantly thinks a new world record is about to be broken.
Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because participation in both gives balance. No one wants to succeed in sports and possibly risk getting injured and not having a back up plan.
What advice can you give other student-athletes?
The main advice I have for other student-athletes is to recognize that sports is a reflection of life. Success comes through hard work and you don’t always succeed the first time. So,” try until you succeed” is something you adapt in order to achieve long-term success. Also, sports lets you lose gracefully without accepting defeat, because every time you don’t succeed it forces you to try harder and to give more of yourself in order to achieve success. This never says die attitude is applicable to the classroom as well. So a true athlete is also a true student who works diligently at each subject as they work on their event or sport.
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