Name: Dylan Bucior
High School: Jim Thorpe
Grade: Senior
Sport: Cross country
Age: 17
Hometown: Jim Thorpe
Family: Parents, Brian and Melissa; sister, Dianara
Accomplishments: Won individual championship earlier this season at Schuylkill Haven’s ’Canes Invitational. In past week, ran 17:00 to set course record at Pottsville, then ran 16:45 to capture individual gold at Pine Grove’s Cardinal Clash Invitational.
Athlete I admire: Steve Prefontaine (American middle- and long-distance runner who competed in the 1972 Olympics).
Favorite sports teams: Penn State University and University of Oregon football and track teams, Pittsburgh Steelers.
What age did you start running cross country?: 16
Talk about how you became a cross country runner: “Well, actually, some of the people on the team (last year) kept telling me, they were texting me, they just kept like, ‘Just come out and try it. You’re getting better at track.’ I was like, ‘All right, I’ll come to practice. I’ll get a physical and give it a shot.’
“I did, and I started liking it. After the first meet I really liked it so I was like, ‘Hey, I’ll stick with it and see where it gets me.’ ’’
(It got him to states, where Bucior finished 39th of 225 runners at the PIAA Class AA Cross Country Championships.)
What do you like most about cross country?: “I just love everyone’s support, and obviously I love the thrill of the racing. ... We’re just one huge family here. Everyone supports you, and I really like that about it.’’
What do you like least about cross country?: “There’s nothing I don’t like about it. (After quick pause), the hills. The hills, and when it gets very cold outside at leagues, districts and states. I don’t like running in that really cold weather.’’
Individual goals for the season: “I definitely want to be the Schuylkill League champion. I definitely want to try to get first at districts as well, and I want to medal at states (top 25). I actually want to try to get top 10 at states.’’
What are your plans after high school?: “I definitely want to attend college. I’m thinking of majoring in either environmental science and getting a minor in pre-law or majoring in marine science.”
Past winners
Sept. 16 — Cam Greenawalt, Blue Mountain, boys’ soccer
Sept. 23 — Abby Stankiewitch, Marian, girls’ volleyball