Athlete Spotlight: James Wood track & field athlete Ethan Pratt-Perez

James Wood High School 18-year-old senior

Sport: Track & field. Main events: 800 and 3,200 meters

Parents: Brad and Amaya Perez

Hometown: Winchester

What do you love about track?: I like the team aspect. I just like how you can interact with people with different running backgrounds as far as hurdles and sprints and long distance, and you can observe their events and how they do their events. It's diverse. I've enjoyed the company of all my teammates at various points during my track career.

Most memorable moment in track: The two-mile [at the Class 4 state track meet], when I was able to place third. (Pratt-Perez earned All-State honors in our outdoor track for the first time.) It's the first time I've done something successfully at states. I really placed well and had a good showing.

Most embarrassing moment in track: Probably losing a chess game to a teammate. That was this year. It may have been at (the Apple Blossom Invitational). I would usually be able to match his play.

Most difficult moment in track: The two-mile at states, I did have to overcome some weird illness. I'm not really sure what it was.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: My parents; they've always supported me. When I've had my moments of not being quite as inspired to run, they've just been there to help me along. It's never been a high-pressure situation where I have to do a sport. If I was not feeling up to it, they wouldn't be disappointed if I was to leave (cross country and track). I kept going because of that. And (James Wood junior runner) Elijah Clark; he's cool and a good teammate.

Biggest athletic influence: (James Wood track) Coach (Craig) Woshner. His drive to run inspires me.

Favorite teacher: Ms. (Amy) Snapp. She taught me in 12th-grade English. It was the first English class I really, truly enjoyed. What you were able to read in there was open to your interpretation, so you can draw your own conclusions instead of having some predefined answer.

Favorite team: Washington Wizards

Favorite movie: "A Quiet Place"

Favorite TV show: “House”

Favorite song: “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

Favorite food: Pesto

Plans after high school: I’m going to Bucknell to run cross country and track and study engineering. I just like to construct and design things, and then have those things work and make life a little bit easier and more interesting and satisfying.

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki