@NHPreps Q&A: Mentor cross country runner Jake Carlson

Mentor cross country runner Jake Carlson placed 14th at the district level and 64th at regional last season, and he now looks to go out as well as he possibly can in his senior year.

Carlson has run times in the mid-17s all season, recently posting a 17:14 at the Fleet Feet Strongsville Invitational, and will be counted on to place well as one of the Cardinals’ top five runners in postseason meets.

For this week’s NH Preps Q&A, Carlson went under the spotlight to answer a few questions about himself on and off the course.

Question: Describe yourself as a runner in five words or less.
Answer: Slower version of (2016 N-H boys track and field first-team all-star) Joe Polakowski.

Q: What is your earliest memory of running? What is your best cross country memory so far?
A: Summer running with my friends before my eighth-grade season. My favorite memory is definitely all the team trips like Slippery Rock and Nike nationals.

Q:What motivates you as a runner?
A: Knowing that what I do in practice directly affects how I perform.

Q: What is the most difficult thing about cross country people don’t know about?
A: The dedication it takes outside of practice.

Q: Cross country at Mentor appears to be a bigger deal than it is at most schools. What’s your favorite thing about being a part of the program?
A: Having such an awesome team atmosphere and getting to spend so much time with my teammates who have become family.

Q: Do you have a pre-race ritual or superstition?
A: I drink one Powerade the night before and one the morning before the race.

Q: What’s the most interesting thing about Mentor cross country coach Bill Dennison that most people don’t know?
A: No matter how loud he screams during the race, he actually cares.

Q: Besides the race itself, what’s your favorite part of race day?
A: Eating Uncrustables peanut butter and jelly when I’m done.

Q: What are your goals for the rest of this cross country season?
A: For the team to qualify for and place well in the state meet.

Q: If you weren’t a cross country runner, what other sport would you be playing?
A: Definitely soccer.

Q: Who is your favorite athlete? Is there any professional/Olympic runner you look up to or follow?
A: Chad Ochocinco is definitely my favorite player of all time, but when it comes to the Olympics I love (British distance star and four-time Olympic gold medalist) Mo Farah.

Q: If you could solve any issue in the world, what would it be and why?
A: World hunger, because people deserve to eat.

Q: What is your dream vacation destination?
A: Europe.

Q: What’s the one form of social media that you just can’t live without?
A: Twitter.

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Buffalo chicken.

Q: What’s your favorite TV show to binge watch on Netflix?
A: “Family Guy.” I watch it every night.

Q: What is the last movie you saw in theaters?
A: The new purge movie.

Q: Who is your dream celebrity date?
A: Betty White.