Date of birth: July 1, 1974
Hobbies: Spending time with my family and watching sports, playing Xbox
Details on running career: Ran at Springstead in Spring Hill, Fla. Team was twice state runner-up, I was runner-up my senior year in cross country. Ran for four years at USC-S where I won the Peach Belt conference my sophomore year. Since then, I have run several marathons and half marathons, including the Goofy Challenge which is a full and half on consecutive days.
Year started coaching: I was a volunteer coach at Byrnes in 1997 (student teaching).
Years involved with SCTCCCA: Since 1998
Number of children: Three boys. Alex-7, Luke-5, Jon-turns 3 Sept. 25
scrunners: When and where did you start to coach?
cummings: I started in 1997 at James F. Byrnes High School.
scrunners: What made you decide to coach?
cummings: I have always loved running and knew I wanted to do this in high school.
scrunners: Over the years, what have you seen change in the sports?
cummings: The sport has gotten more technical.
scrunners: What do you see as your key role as vice president with the SCTCCCA?
cummings: I view this as a position to try and better our sport, whether it means helping run off meets, helping set policy or just making cross country and track and field better.
scrunners: What do you feel as vice president you have made an impact on in the association?
cummings: I hope I have served in a positive manner and helped make meets like Coaches Classic and the state meet run off easier for the coaches.
scrunners: What kind of impact on the sport the association president has in the sport?
cummings: I hope to one day serve as association president, and to help bring cross country and track and field to an equal footing with the other sports in the state. This is something that will have to have the support of the AD's and principals throughout the state, and has to begin with the coaches at each school stating our concerns to their own AD's and principals. This goes into the number of kids we can practice with out of season, compared to other sports. If I am not mistaken, we serve 100-percent of the high schools in S.C. (cross country / track and field) and run off our own state championships.
scrunners: What do you feel Daniel Brooks has achieved as president for the past two terms?
cummings: Danny has been a positive influence and has helped cross country and track and field in the state.
scrunners: With the president election the association coming up in 2010, what do you see the association needs in a president?
cummings: Someone like Danny that loves the sport and is willing to go to bat for the coaches and the athletes.
cummings: My family loves coming to the meets and our pasta dinners. I help coach my son's soccer teams, basketball teams, and baseball teams, as well as being a den leader for my son's scouts. It is a hetic life, but one that we love.
scrunners: How do you see yourself fitting into the president position?
cummings: This would have to be a decision of the coaches in the association, but I would like the challenge that comes with the position. I have been around the sport since 1988 and a part of S.C. cross country and track and field since 1998.
scrunners: What kind of challenges do you see arriving as president and how do you see yourself handling challenges?
cummings: The main concern is bringing our sport to an equal footing with the other sports in the state, (No. of participants in off season workouts). Having coached at both the Class AAAA and AAA level will help in trying to keep an open mind in matters that are brought up.
scrunners: How is your team looking for 2009 and the future?
cummings: Both the Riverside boys and girls look very good for the 2009 season. This is our last go round in AAA and both my teams are looking good this season. We are very young on both squads and will be able to compete next year once we make the jump to AAAA.
scrunners: What kind of team goals and statewide goals do you hope to see this season and future?
cummings: We set our goals a few years back and last year our goal was to win our region. This year we are hoping to be on the podium at the state championships, if everything falls into place at the right time, maybe even on the top step.
scrunners: How do you feel crowd control and understanding of the sports at cross country and track and field meets can be enhanced, from meet setup to the process of posting of results?
cummings: Crowd control has never been too much of a problem until this past Saturday at the Eye Opener where the crowd shrunk parts of the course to almost three feet wide. This is one of those things that coaches would have to stress to their parents.
scrunners: What kind of impact do you feel the Internet has on the sport?
cummings: As far as results and rankings go it is great. I personally could do without the chat part. but it keeps interest as well.
scrunners: How would you plan to enhance media coverage of major events?
cummings: I think this is best left to the professionals, like scrunners.