Luke Dang - Cony HS

 

What was your most memorable races? Hmmm… That’s a good one! I’ll have to say states freshman year I was on the winning 4x100 team with my senior teammates, one of which was my brother. It was a lot of pressure going in because we were seeded #1 and the other members were all seniors. The most memorable race was KVACs junior year in the 55m dash! I finished second in the prelims to Mckenzie Gary and ended up coming out on top in the finals. The only other time I’ve beaten that time was states senior year.

Out of all of your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most? This answer doesn’t vary much from the one prior. Winning states freshman year was quite memorable for me. As a freshman, I had many hopes to continue such success as the years came, which I never quite came as close as I wished. Winning KVACs though, for me, was much more memorable because this one was solely on me. I didn’t have to rely on someone and someone didn’t have to rely on me. I think it showed more what I was capable of even though winning states was a “bigger” accomplishment.

If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?F OR ALL YOU INCOMING ATHLETES OR CURRENT ATHLETES: TRAIN LIKE YOU’VE NEVER WON. My biggest regret about leaving high school track in the past is not training as hard as I should have and could have. If I could do it all over I would definitely put more into my workouts and not taken them as lightly as I did. Listen to your coaches guys; they’re your coaches for a reason. Leave the track behind with absolutely zero regrets.

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?  I can say I’ve been pretty fortunate throughout my high school career! No major injuries happened until senior year. I injured my hamstring which set me back a few weeks and it was hard to sit on the sidelines. Coming back from an injury you want to get back to where you should be at whatever point in training you’re at. Don’t just get back to where you were when you got injured, that does no good.

What will I miss the most? That’s another good one, but I have some that come to mind. I will miss the pre-race jitters as well as that last corner of the 4x400 when everyone is lined up in the inside and outside making it a tunnel for you. I will also miss the feeling anyone gets after they run the dreaded 400. Pretty much anyone who leaves high school track behind will miss a lot of things. Don’t take it for granted guys!

What advice you would give to younger athletes? Advice for the younger ones would be to train like you’ve never won. I think coming off the state winning 4x100 team I became complacent with how I competed. Never become “okay” with how you’re competing, always try to achieve more! If you listen to your coaches, train like you’ve never won, and always want more I think you’ll leave the track with no regrets.

What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals? My coaches taught me discipline on the track and off the track. I believe with discipline comes hard work and being under such great coaches let me understand the meaning of hard work. Hard work is an essential life skill to carry with you and having track to teach me the value of it was a luxury because I learned while enjoying the sport.

What are your college plans?Go to UMO, studying accounting, and run.

Who would you like to say thank you to? My thanks go out to any one of my coaches. I wouldn’t be the runner I am today without the coaching you all have given me. Shout out to Taylor Harmon and Kevin Russell, the two best coaches I’ve had at any point in time and any sport. You two have given me enough coaching that I could probably start my own club! Ha, kidding, but seriously you guys stuck around even when I was rebellious to your workout plans. You two taught me every essential about sprinting so I’d like to thank you guys especially! Also my mom and family. Ma, thanks for carting me around to all those summer rec practices and meets.

 

 

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