Will Russell
MALE
Will Russell // Columbus North senior track athlete
Russell ran a 4-minute, 15.9-second 1,600-meter anchor split Saturday to give the Bull Dogs a win in the distance medley relay at the Hoosier State Relays, the unofficial state indoor track and field meet.
His performance last week: “I was really happy with my performance, and really, our team performance as a whole was really good. I’m happy with my time, and overall, we were able to work together and come out with the win.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I just make sure to have noodles a couple nights beforehand and make sure I’m getting enough sleep and enough Power Water.”
Favorite drink: “Power Water”
Favorite food: “Steak”
Favorite class: “Economics”
Favorite sports team: “Xavier”
Favorite athlete: “(Olympic distance runner) Craig Engels”
Role model: “My parents (Brian and Erin Russell)”
Best advice: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Athletics goal: “I want to win the 4×800 state title, and I want to make it to state in the 1,600 and 3,200.”
If you could travel anywhere: “I would want to go to Antarctica because not a lot people get to go there, and I think it would be a cool experience.”
FEMALE
MacKenzie Bieker // Edinburgh junior softball player
MacKenzie Bieker
Bieker threw a three-hitter with no earned runs and 15 strikeouts and hit a three-run home run in a 4-1 win against Hilltop (Ohio) on Saturday. She then went 1 for 1 in a 16-4 loss at Batavia (Ohio).
Her performance last week: “I think for it being the first game, it was pretty good, but it could have been better.”
Do you do anything special to prepare? “I usually just try to listen to music and calm down before I start pitching.”
Favorite drink: “Lemondae”
Favorite food: “Pasta”
Favorite class: “Math”
Favorite sports team: “Oregon”
Favorite athlete: “(Alabama softball pitcher) Montana Fouts”
Role model: “My dad (Columbus North boys golf coach Doug Bieker).”
Best advice: “Let go what’s already happened and just move forward.”
Athletics goal: “To win state either this year or next year.”
If you could travel anywhere: “Probably Hawaii, because it looks so pretty there.”
