James Wood High School 17-year-old senior
Sport: Cross country
Parents: Margaret Lucas and Adam Amerine
Hometown: Winchester
What do you love about cross country?: I like the team atmosphere and the energy and adrenaline rush you can get from racing.
Most memorable moment in cross country: Breaking 18 minutes for the first time in a 5K [last year] because it was a big goal I had that season, and one meet before I came about five seconds short of it. It was a proud moment for myself.
Most embarrassing moment in cross country: Running a race and, at the end, I completely tripped over myself and fell at the finish line.
Most difficult moment in cross country: Trying to stay positive after a hard race I didn’t do well in. It’s hard to keep that positive mindset and motivation to keep going in that moment.
Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Jennifer Lawrence, Abraham Lincoln and Princess Diana. I think Jennifer Lawrence is really funny, Lincoln is my favorite president and I like Princess Diana’s attitude. She really showed the royals who she was.
Biggest athletic influence: Parker Valby from the University of Florida. She’s a distance runner and she kind of really reshaped college athletics for its training and kind of broke the stigma for Florida and is very unserious in her interviews. So I think that brings a light to the sport.
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Riggleman, she was my early childhood ed teacher. We really bonded, and she helped me a lot in school.
Favorite athlete: Professional distance runner Parker Valby
Favorite team: Penn State football
Favorite movie: “White Chicks”
Favorite TV show: “American Horror Story”
Favorite song: “Seeing Green” by Nicki Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne
Favorite food: Cheese pizza
Worst thing you’ve eaten: BeanBoozled jelly beans
Plans after high school: I’d like to attend a big university and study either communications or psychology. I don’t really plan on running in college.
— Compiled by Joe Tuman