MALE
Paul Bean, Columbus East senior cross-country runner
Bean ran 16 minutes, 24.1 seconds for 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) Saturday to win the Hoosier Hills Conference race and lead the Olympians to a fourth-place team finish.
His performance last week: “I think I had a really solid race on Saturday. I was able to hold off those Jennings County boys. They ran a really good race, and they pushed me hard.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “Sleep is the most important thing, especially two nights before. Then, hydration and nutrition the night before.”
Favorite drink: “Water and chocolate milk”
Favorite food: “Mac ‘n cheese”
Favorite book: “Game of Thrones”
Favorite class: “Mathematics”
Role model: “My parents (John and Elizabeth) and family members. I’ve learned a lot from them growing up.”
Best advice: “Hard work, given time, will beat talent.”
Athletics goal: “Always give my best effort and make it to state.”
If you could travel anywhere: “I would say Australia. My sister (Sara) traveled there, and it looks pretty cool.”
FEMALE
Danbi Kim, Columbus North junior golfer
Kim fired back-to-back rounds of 75 Friday and Saturday to tie for fifth individually and help the Bull Dogs to a third-place team finish in the girls golf state finals.
Her performance last week: “A 75 is the best I’ve shot this season for an 18-hole round, so doing that at state is really amazing.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “We have this pillow massager at home, and I use that every night before a match.”
Favorite drink: “Orange cream soda.”
Favorite food: “Chicken”
Favorite book: “I like a lot of books. I probably read five books a month.”
Favorite class: “Ceramics”
Role model: “My parents (Icksoo and Hyonjoo) and my brother (Kyung Kim) is definitely one, too.”
Best advice: “My dad gives a ton of advice, and the one I can think of is to not worry about anyone else. Just worry about what you’re doing.”
Athletics goal: “Definitely to try to improve and try to beat my score next year at state, and hopefully, we’ll win state next year.”
If you could travel anywhere: “I think I would travel to Italy because Italian food is my favorite.”
