Meet WB-ND distance runner Anthony Moad, the high school athlete of the week
The West Burlington-Notre Dame high school track and field teams have had many great athletes through the years, multiple Drake Relays and state champions lining the West Burlington trophy case just outside the gymnasium.
West Burlington High School sophomore Anthony Moad doesn't claim to be the best runner in Falcons history. But he sure aspires to be like them.
Moad, in his first year on the WB-ND boys varsity track and field team, already is making his presence felt.
Whether in practice or meets, Moad is giving everything he has to make himself better and score points for his team.
Moad has begun to reap some of the rewards of his hard work.
Last week, Moad picked up a victory in the 3,200-meter run at the Pankoke Relays in Winfield, running a personal-best 11 minutes, 51.30 seconds.
For the season, Moad has run the 400 in 56.85 seconds, the 800 in 2:16.09 and the 1,600 in 5:19.82. He has run the 4x400 relay with Dylan Kipp, Levi Fletcher-Bates and Jace Figuereo in 3:46.92. Moad ran the leadoff leg on the 4x800 relay with Kipp, Caden Schwenker and Alex AbouAssaly in 9:07.45 and anchored the distance medley relay team of Gedi Boal, Fletcher-Bates and Lance Steinhoff in 4:09.00.
As the season turns toward the stretch run, Moad is rounding in his best form.
The Hawk Eye recently caught up to Moad, The Hawk Eye's High School Athlete of the Week, to learn a little more about him.
What is your favorite sport besides track and field?
"My favorite sport besides track and field is basketball."
What is it that you like about track and field?
"I love about track, that I can run my races, be competitive and get my best times while still having so much fun with my friends."
What is your best memory in track and field?
"Although this is my first year in track I've had many fun memories. My favorite is probably competing with my friend and fellow runner Sage Eggar in the two-mile."
What are three reasons you like being part of a team sport?
"I love team sports because everyone on the team is your friend and it's an opportunity to have so much fun, there's another layer of competition when you want to beat your friends in races and beat their times, and just being able to do my favorite things with the people I love hanging out with."
What is the best part about competing?
"The best part about competing is the satisfaction of when you accomplish what you've been aiming for, whether it's a time you want or somebody you want to beat during a race it's always so satisfying."
How do you and your teammates make practice fun?
"My teammates and I make practice fun by having freedom. When we have our practices of running around town, it's so much fun to just hang out with my friends while still doing what we're supposed to do."
Who is your biggest role model and why?
"My biggest role models are the people who are good at what they do and are still humble about it. There's no specific person, but the people who are humble and good at what they do are always the best people."
What is your favorite subject in school and why?
"My favorite subject in school is math because I'm naturally good at it and can understand it very well and quickly."
What is your favorite meal?
"My favorite meal is pretty basic. I like to have pizza or pasta with some milk. Both of these foods are very good and are just what I grew up eating."
What is your favorite TV show?
"I don't really have a favorite TV show. I really just turn on the TV to watch sports. My favorite sports to watch are basketball, baseball, and football, but I'll really watch any sport on TV."
What do you enjoy doing in your free time and why?
"In my free time I enjoy playing video games, playing sports, and hanging out with friends. Playing sports and hanging out with friends are my priorities, I just play video games to fill the free time."
What is your favorite motivational slogan or quote?
"My favorite motivational quote is "in the midst of chaos there is also opportunity" because it means to me that even when things are going wrong there's still positive things to find."
What are your future plans for college and career?
"My future plans for college are still a little unclear. I've thought about teaching with both of my parents being teachers and I like the idea of it. I also like the idea of coaching and teaching would help me get into that."
What is something about yourself that would surprise people?
"Something about me that would surprise other people is that I am a very big basketball fan. The past few years I've gotten pretty into professional and college level basketball and I just love watching them."
This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: West Burlington-Notre Dame's Moad making his presence felt on track
