Athlete Spotlight: James Wood cross country runner Haley Witt

James Wood 17-year-old senior

Sport: Cross Country

Parents: Tammy and Steve Witt

Hometown: Winchester

What do you love about cross country: I like how it’s a team sport, but also an individual sport. You can focus on yourself, but as a team you all come together for a win and you all support each other.

Most memorable moment in cross country: Whenever it rains we do mudslides and stuff down on the soccer field. That’s a lot of fun.

Most embarrassing moment in cross country: There’s a lot. Probably when you slip and fall in front of everyone.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Marilyn Monroe because she’s just an idol and I just love her and the whole aspect of her; My grandma [Zona Smith] because she was one of my favorite people other than my mom and she taught me about cooking and how to make green beans with bacon; Jennifer Aniston, she’s just really funny. I love her.

What’s the best sports advice you’ve ever received: It was probably from my mom. Run like someone in front of you has your phone.

If you could go on a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go: Dubai. One of my friends used to live there. I see pictures and stuff and it is so beautiful. And, I want to try their food.

Favorite teacher: Mr. [Shane] Lympus. He makes the boring history facts more fun and more lively.

Favorite team: Washington Redskins

Favorite movie: It’s probably a horror movie. I watch a lot of them. Probably one of the “Wrong Turn”s.

Favorite TV show: “Family Guy”

Favorite song: “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver

Favorite food: Chinese (General Tso’s Chicken) or crab legs

Plans after high school: I want to go to JMU hopefully and major in research psychology for the criminally insane and as my under major do teaching for Teach America. The fact that you can get into someone’s mind and know what is going on in their brain is really interesting. Working with serial killers and knowing why they do what they do, that just interests me a lot. I want to work with a prison first and then if I can get into law enforcement after that, then yeah.

 — Compiled by Walt Moody