Athlete Spotlight: James Wood track & field athlete Jared King

James Wood High School 18-year-old senior

Sport: Track & field. Main events: Discus and shot put

Parents: Bill and Bonnie King

Hometown: Manassas (moved to Winchester at age 5)

What do you love about track: Really, it's the teammates. It's really fun every day, going out and having a great experience with everyone. Going to meets on the weekends is always a fun experience.

Most memorable moment in track: I'd say a couple of weeks ago when I threw my [personal record] in the discus. We were hosting a meet with Liberty and Kettle Run. I threw a 137-1, which is two feet from [the state-qualifying mark]. That was a really exciting moment, because right after that Chance [Grove] wound up throwing his PR too and broke his school record. It was just all-around a good day. My previous PR was a 134-7 which I had just hit a week or two before. Up until then, I was in the 120's. Being able to hit over the 130 mark was really inspiring because I had been stuck around 120 for a while. I knew I was able to do it, it was just a matter of getting everything right. I eventually got it, and it felt great.

Most embarrassing moment in track: I've had a couple meets where I had bad days and I just wound up scratching on all my throws. Earlier this year at the Lake Braddock meet, I scratched every one of my discus throws. I just kept falling out of the front. Those are tough times. I just go to practice, keep working, overcome and do my best at the next meet.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Any of my dead relatives, like my great-grandparents. Just to see how they were, see how similar I was to them. Any of the historical presidents, like George Washington. Just to see what it was like for them in office because they lived in a different time. One of my favorite actresses is Emma Watson. I love all of her movies. It'd be cool to have dinner with her and talk with her, see what her life's like, being famous.

What’s the best athletic advice you’ve ever received: Over the years, I've heard people say keep pushing, keep working. Because if you just keep working and don't give up, you can always keep pushing through new boundaries. Stuff like that, I've heard from many coaches. It's inspired me to keep pushing through, and I've been able to improve myself and improve how I act as an athlete and overall do better at sports.

If you could go on a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go: I'd like to visit Germany. My dad's side of the family is German, so it'd be pretty cool to go there and learn about my heritage.

Favorite teacher: Ms. Susan Grove; she was my ninth-grade honors world history teacher. She's a great teacher, she always kept us working, doing good, making sure we got good grades. She was also funny. I still talk to her to this day. And Ms. Amy Snapp; she's my AP English teacher this year. She's really funny. She really brings class lessons to life. She's good to talk to.

Favorite athlete: Lawrence Taylor

Favorite team: Green Bay Packers

Favorite movie: Any of the "Kingsman" movies

Favorite TV show: "The Big Bang Theory"

Favorite song: "Make Me Smile" by Chicago

Favorite food: A nice, good pork loin

Plans after high school: I’ve been accepted to James Madison University and I plan on majoring in dietetics. I went to visit JMU when they were doing a bunch of information sessions on all the different majors, and it seems like a really fun field. I love food, too.