Miami Student

Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: Sports

Unlike athletes who live on North Quad and eat at Martin, Michael Perry enjoys dining at Alexander on Western.

Name: Michael Perry
Sport: Cross Country
Hometown: Cincinnati

Katie Giovinale (KG): How did you get into running?

Michael Perry (MP): I started running in elementary school. I ran the (physical education class) mile in 5:56. I was the fastest in my class and I just kept running after that, in high school and then at Miami (University).

KG: How did you do in high school?

MP: I made it to state (competition) three years for cross country and two years for track ... where I ran the mile and the two-mile.

KG: How did you decide on Miami?

MP: I really liked the campus and the guys on the team, (plus) I got along really well with the coach.

KG: How did the 2007 season go for you?

MP: I ran in all six meets and I was usually fourth or fifth for us in most meets.

KG: What was your best time for the five-mile race?

MP: 25:38.

KG: So when you're not busy running, what do you do?

MP: I don't have a lot of hobbies. I like to watch movies and read. A typical day for me is waking up, eating, running, studying. There's not a lot of time for anything else.

KG: You also run track; is it common for the cross country guys to do track too?

MP: Yeah almost everyone does. We get a little time off after the cross country season, then in the winter we start getting ready for the track season which starts in March.

KG: Are you a big sports guy? Who are your teams?

MP: Being from Cincinnati I really like Bengals football, and college basketball.

KG: Do you have any pre-meet rituals?

MP: Actually yeah, before a meet I always eat a really big breakfast-yogurt, milk and eggs. I also have this outfit from seventh grade that I always wear before my meets. It's a cross country shirt from middle school and silver basketball shorts.

KG: Do you have a favorite type of shoes that you like to run in?

MP: I like Mizunos for training shoes, and our traveling squad gets Nike spikes from our coach, which is really nice.

KG: What's your major?

MP: Communication

KG: Any plans? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

MP: No real plans yet, I'd like to coach high school cross country. I'm really close with my high school cross country coach. I look up to him.

KG: Do you live with guys on the team?

MP: I actually live in Clawson on Western Campus (and) I love Alexander Dining Hall. I'm not a big Martin fan (on North Quad, where most athletes typically live). I used to always come here last year from North Quad, so it just made sense to live near Alexander!

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