A: Receiving my midterm grades fall of freshman year. That was almost a welcome-back-home moment. Everything turned out alright, though.
Q: Greatest highlight of your sports career?
A: I would say becoming an All-American for the first time my junior year of high school. It was at that point I realized that track and field was going to be something I could do at the Division I level.
Q: What is the funniest story you can tell about a coach, either at Princeton or earlier?
A: Just the fact that it’s been 25 years since Coach [Fred] Samara last competed in track and field, but he’s still a better athlete than every one of us on the team.
Q: Who would you say is your quirkiest teammate? Why?
A: [Senior] Bud Grote. No contest.
Q: What was your most embarrassing moment at Princeton?
A: Freshman year of college. During the first week of practice I sprained my ankle pretty badly goofing around before my coach got there. I had thought it would take a little longer than three days for my coaches to realize I was an idiot, but I was wrong.
Q: What is the best part about being an athlete on campus?
A: The traveling we do at Princeton for track. I would even go out on a limb to say that there are less than a half dozen schools in the country that bring the amount of kids we do to the amount of places we compete. Going to China last year with the team for two weeks was an amazing experience that I know I wouldn’t have been able to have at any other university. That, and our team masseuse that comes twice a week. She’s awesome.
Q: Conversely, what is the worst/hardest part about being an athlete on campus?
A: NCAA regulations forbidding gambling on the Super Bowl, March Madness, etc.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do when not practicing?
A: I enjoy sleeping.
Q: If you didn’t throw, what other sport you would play?
A: Probably lacrosse [because] the amount of gear those guys get is ridiculous. Plus, their locker room is nicer than my house.
Q: If you were the head coach for a day, what changes would you make (if any)?
A: I would let everyone try an event they have never done before. I think every thrower you meet wants to try the pole vault. No company is able to make poles for people over 200 pounds, so we’re never allowed to go near it. Also, I would make the distance runners throw the shot put. They talk a big game, but I doubt half of them could pick it up off the ground.
Q: What has been your favorite class taken at Princeton?
A: SOC 224. The precept is 90 percent athletes that all know each other. Hearing seniors Bill Foran and Dan Cocoziello talk about anything makes for entertainment.
Q: Who gets the most guys/girls on the team? Who has the most game off the field?
A: In his mind, there isn’t a girl [sophomore] Joel Karacozoff can’t win over. In reality though, I have no idea.
Q: What is your normal pre-game routine? Do you listen to any particular music to get yourself pumped up?
A: I don’t like to eat at all before I compete the day of the meet, which is odd because that’s my favorite thing to do at any other time.
Q: What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod (Britney Spears, N’Sync, etc.)?
A: Cyndi Lauper “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Actually, I’m going to delete it, that’s ridiculous.
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