Pedigree: This week’s Pioneer Focus goes to sophomore thrower Duke Taylor for recently breaking an indoor track and field school record in the weight throw at 59’7.50 at the Spire Midwest Open, held at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio. In addition, Taylor’s school record breaking throw was also a provisional national qualifying mark for the NCAA Division II Indoor track and field championship.
Taylor is currently ranked 18th in the nation in the weight throw and is ranked 10th in the GLIAC conference. Taylor will be competing this weekend in the 2014 GLIAC conference indoor track and field championship at Hillsdale College.
Get to know the thrower from East Canton…
Nickname: DT
Q: Your hardest midterm test/project coming up this week?
A: Emergent and Early Reading Instruction
Q: Favorite class this semester and why?
A: Personal Wellness because Wirick is a great teacher and Michael Irwin is also in that class.
Q: Something you are good at besides throwing?
A: Making people laugh
Q: Baby pigs or baby pandas?
A: Baby pandas!!
Q: West coast or east coast?
A: East coast
Q: At what age did you start throwing?
A: 14
Q: How will you be spending your spring break?
A: In Florida with my awesome team training to dominate the outdoor season!
Q: Something you would like to accomplish before you leave Malone?
A: I would like to have a chance to compete for a national championship before it’s all said and done.
Q: What teammates inspire you?
A: Lyndsey Bates and Mike Irwin. There are a lot of frustrating days in throwing and without them it would be a lot worse.
Q: The best advice you have been given?
A: Don’t force it, let it happen.
Q: Who would play you in a movie? Why?
A: Channing Tatum. I could possibly get at least one date out of it.
Q: Celebrity crush?
A: Brooklyn Decker
Q: Favorite memory about your sport?
A: Throwing well this year coming off a bad injury last year. Thanks to all the support from my teammates and coaches.
Q: If you could switch lives with one person in the world, who would it be and why?
A: LeBron James. I would want to know what it would be like to be the greatest athlete in the world.
Q: A word that best describes you?
A: Driven
Q: Twitter or Facebook?
A: Facebook
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: Married with children and hopefully coaching at Malone with Coach McClure.
Tina Oprean is the sports editor for The Aviso AVW.
