Name: Dorian Jones
Hobbies: Running, basketball, spending time with my youth group, learning/experiencing new things.
Academic interest: Anything but math
Personal bests: 5K: 16:41, 1600: 4:40, 800: 2:05
What does it mean to be named to the Shrine Bowl Run team and helping the hospital?
It is an incredibly huge honor for me and I didn’t think I’d ever accomplish something like this in my first year in a sport, I owe it all to my Lord, my coach, and my teammates. When it comes to helping the hospital I think it’s awesome what we all are doing. A goal I have for my life is to make a difference in other lives and this is just another opportunity I have to do that.
What did you hear about the Shrine Bowl Run before this year?
I had no idea about the Shrine Bowl Run. I always knew about the football game but I never knew that a group of the best runners in the state brought the game ball to the game.
What do you hope to experience on Dec. 20?
I hope to meet new people and make new friends. And I hope to learn about the technology and different ways the patients there get the treatment they need.
How are you preparing to run with a football?
I haven’t practiced running with a football, but it shouldn’t be too difficult.
How would you rate your senior season?
On a scale of 1-10 I’d probably say a nine. I had a few races in the middle of the season where it seemed like I plateaued and I wasn’t happy with that but when Mid-State and State came around I ran the way I needed to and performed a lot better. I also accomplished some things I’m proud of which made it a lot better.
What future goals do you have?
My goals for the future are to be strong going into track season this spring and get faster throughout the season. I also have goals of majoring in the sports management field during college.
Have you made the decision to compete at the next level? Please explain.
Yes, I have made the decision that I will compete at the collegiate level. There are a few schools that are interested in me and I have already been on one official visit. I love competing on the track and I certainly fell in love with cross country and the sport of running overall and I cannot wait to compete at the next level.
How did you get involved with the sport and when?
I’ve been running track since the eighth grade and once I got to high school I had been asked to run cross country but I never did because I played football and honestly I didn’t think I could run that much or be good at it. But my senior year I decided not to play football and just focus on track because I had high goals for this season. Once my coach (Paul Drohemirecky) heard about that the first week of school he started convincing me to run. I asked him if it would make me better on the track and he replied, “it will make you stronger” and once he said that I started running cross country and I loved it.
Do you have any relation or know someone that has attended the Shriners Hospital?
As far as I know I do not know anybody who attended the Shriners Hospital.
How have you seen the sport change in the state? Please explain.
This being my first year in the sport I don’t have much prior knowledge of the sport. But looking at times from the past everyone is getting a lot faster and the bar seems to set higher and higher each year.
What was your motivation for your final XC season?
My motivation for my one and only year of XC was knowing how much better it would make me on the track. Another thing that kept me going were the people who doubted me or thought I wouldn’t accomplish anything in cross country, I wanted to prove them wrong. But a big motivation I had were my teammates (Cory Hook, Clayton Fertick, Jimmy Broughton, Michael Cook, and David Cook) and coach. We all wanted to accomplish the same thing, being one of the best teams in the state and to leave our mark at Airport and set a new standard for runners in the future. We all wanted to be a part of something great. And our coach believed we could do it and pushed us every day to get better.
If there is one thing in the world you could do, what would it be and why?
Be a role model to somebody or to many. I want to make an impact on a young child or teens life the way some of my coaches and teachers have made on mine and continue to today.