| 16 May 2011
Darian Brooks currently holds the second best time in the state in the 100 meter dash, clocking in at 10.69 seconds. The Kennedy Catholic senior will be running and jumping for Stanford University next fall. Brooks will be a threat to win the 100 meter dash, long jump, and triple jump at this year's 3A State Track and Field Championships. We got a chance to ask Brooks some questions about his track career and what his plans are for the future. Check out the interview after the jump.
SEATOWN SPORTS: How has your track season gone so far? Any disappointments or surprises?
DARIAN BROOKS: Well, instead of playing basketball this year, I decided to train for track and more importantly my sprinting. I ran indoor track to test out my sprinting skills and won the Simplot games this year with a 6.85. This result suprised me, so I pushed myself more to be more about sprinting. I've focused mostly on the triple and long jumps for the last three years, but I wanted to do more than just that. Running consistently under 11 seconds was pretty suprising at first, but I know I can run faster than what I have already ran. So far this year I have not hit any of my goals (10.6 for 100 the meter dash, 48' for the Triple Jump and 23' for the Long Jump), but I still have a few meets left in the high school season to accomplish them. I also have the summer season as well.
SS: What convinced you to drop basketball and focus on track?
DB: Being recruited to Stanford for track.
SS: The first time you ran the 100 meter dash as a freshman, you clocked in at 12.52 seconds, you now have the second best mark in the state as senior with a 10.69 time. How were you able to drop your time and improve so much?
DB: I'd say it was the training from my summer track coach. I never worked as hard on my sprinting as I did with him.
SS: What track club do you run with during the summer?
DB: SeaTown Express Track Club
SS: What other top track athletes compete for SeaTown Express?
DB: Whitney Diggs- Highline. Majarae Gates- Federal Way. Naivasha Sophusson Smith- Nathan Hale. Casey Burns- Kennedy.
SS: Do you have a preference between sprinting and jumping?
DB: I love to triple jump.
SS: How long have you been running track for?
DB: This will be my 12th summer season.
SS: Who's your favorite professional sprinter, past or present?
DB: Tyson Gay.
SS: Are you committed to Stanford?
DB: Yes. I will be attending Stanford in the fall.
SS: What made you choose Stanford?
DB: I chose Stanford because of the educational oppurtunities at the school. I hope to study Aeronautical Engineering and it is hard to find a school with a solid track team and Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering program. Stanford fits both of those and more.
SS: Interesting, do you want to be an astronaut?
DB: No, but flight has always interested me and hopefully I can get into plane design.
SS: Sounds like an exciting potential occupation. Is there anything else you'd like to say?
DB: That's about it for me. Thank you very much Kevin!
