Athlete of the Week: Darian Black, Dunbar High School

Grade: Junior

Age: 17

Sports: Cross-country, track

Claim to fame/honors: Member of state championship track team; runs 800, 1,600 and 4x800 relay; 4x800 relay was district qualifier; second-year cross-country runner; also runs indoor track

Bet you didn’t know … I can be a team leader and I’m a 4x800 record holder (for 9th and 10th grade)

Words you live by: Never give up

Toughest opponent: Myself because I continue to push myself

Biggest influence: Marquis Evans, our track and cross-country captain last year

Meet-day ritual: For indoor, we repeat same schedule; go to the school, get uniforms, pray, eat, then go to meet

What’s on your bedroom walls? Newspaper stories, medals, plaques

When I’m bored I like to … run on my own

Favorite movie: Fast Furious Tokyo Drift

Person who would play you in a movie: Quinton Aaron (played Michael Oher in Blind Side)

Favorite TV show: Wild and Out

Favorite musical artist: NBA YoungBoy

I can’t live without: Parents

I can live without: Drama

Event you’d like to attend: 4x800 at state meet

Favorite book: Othello (Shakespeare)

Favorite home-cooked meal: Chicken Alfredo

Favorite restaurant: Applebee’s

Favorite smell: The track

Favorite cereal: Cap’n Crunch

Store where you’d like a shopping spree: Foot Locker

Vegetable you won’t eat: Broccoli

I’d love to trade places for a day with … Clayton Murphy

Whose mind would you like to read? Clayton Murphy

Place where you’d love to travel? Puerto Rico

Talent you’d like to have? Reading minds

Favorite school subject: Language Arts

Favorite athlete: Clayton Murphy

Favorite team: Cincinnati Bengals

Favorite Olympic sport: 800

Something in the world I’d like to change: All the drama

Favorite sports moment: Winning state championship

Favorite junk food: Extreme Sours

Best thing about track: Winning

In 10 years, I hope to be … rich or running in the Olympics

Nominate an Athlete of the Week: Send an email to freelance writer Dave Lamb at d_lamb@msn.com. Please include the athlete's name, school, sport and a phone number or email address where we can reach that athlete. Please include Athlete of the Week in the subject line.