2020 Salute to Seniors: Tenth Edition


Name: Jonathan Velasquez

School: Grandview High School


Q: What does your training look like right now given the current situation?

A: So far I've been doing a few exercises at home and running on the treadmill to stay in shape for when the college season starts.


Q: What are you doing to stay busy other than run right now?

A: With everything going on I've been working on all of my online classwork I get sent and applying for colleges.


Q: What was your most memorable race/moment?

A: My most memorable moment was during sectionals last year running the 4x800m with my friends/teammates Angel, Rayvon, and Reggie and how Reggie clutched at the very end of the race and qualified us for State. The look on all our coaches and teammates was something I will never forget.

Q: What was the funniest thing that happened during your running career?

A: The funniest thing that happened I would say was the bus rides and road runs I got to experience with my friends.

Q: Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?

A: My biggest competition I would say was my friend Angel because since we started track it was always a competition between us two every season and he pushed me to get better each race.

Q: What was your greatest accomplishment?

A: My greatest accomplishment was beating all of my personal records and qualifying for state. That has always been my goal since freshman year.

Q: If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?

A: Honestly I would've changed the things I would eat and push myself even harder so I could've succeded more.

Q: What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

A: The most difficult obstacles for me were the times I got injured in between the season and it would affect me but I couldn't let it stop me from racing.

Q: What will you miss the most?

A: I'm going to miss all the practices and memories I shared with my friends and with Coach Linhart, no matter what he would never give up on me and would always push me to try my best and I will forever be thankful to have had him as my coach.

Q: What advice would you give to younger athletes?

A: Don't give up no matter what, even if it seems like you will never be as good as other people use it as motivation to push yourself to get better.

Q: What kind of an impact has your coach had on you and your team?

A: Coach Linhart was everything you could ask for he was a leader, he never gives up on you, and he can be a good friend and a fun guy once you get to know him well, and he was my motivation to try my best in every race.

Q:What are your college plans?

A: I plan on running cross country and track for KCC and hopefully do some big things on the team.

Q:Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?

A: I would like to say thank to my friends/teammates, my family, as well as my coach for helping me become who I am today.