The News-Press selects athletes that stood out the week before based on a combination of coach reports and school nominations sent to sports@news-press.com and our coverage. Those athletes are put in a poll each Monday on news-press.com and you, our readers, vote on who you think did it best. The winners of The News-Press Athlete of the Week poll sponsored by Elevate Home Services receive a T-shirt from BSN Sports and a tote bag from the USA Today High School Sports Awards. To get to know our winners better, The News-Press will have a question-and-answer session with each athlete.
The News-Press Athlete of the Week sponsored by Elevate Home Services winner for March 10-22 with 45% of the votes is Dunbar track athlete Kobe Johnson. The junior swept the hurdling events, setting PRs in both the 110 and 400 meter races, in a loaded field at the Guy Thomas Memorial Classic on March 22.
Question: How did it feel to sweep the hurdling events at the Guy Thomas Memorial Classic last week?
Johnson: It felt good. I've been working for this. It was just something I knew that was coming.
What to key to getting those wins?
Johnson: Really just practicing and working and putting in the extra time to drop my times and then get better.
How did you get into track, and hurdling in particular?
Johnson: I started when I was 10. I was just running out with Olympia Track Club, and the coach saw me doing hurdles and then just started helping me with it.
What's the hardest part about hurdles?
Johnson: Definitely the form. And just trying to get over and down as fast as you can.
What are some of your goals for this season?
Johnson: Qualify for Outdoor New Balance (Nationals) and really just make states.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press:
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