Photo by Christine Cao
by Celine Hoang and Katherine Reis, Staff Writers
Senior Nick Malone (’16) has run on varsity track for all four years of his high school career at FVHS.
His personal best in the 100m and his main event is 11.10 seconds. In the 200m, he runs an impressive 23.00 seconds and ran the fastest 200 time for freshmen at the Orange County Championships in 2013. This time helped him establish a spot in CIF, where track and field at Fountain Valley High School has received five Sunset League Championships in the past five years.
“Our great coach, you know, coach Bivens is the heart of the team. He keeps us all in shape and keeps us in check when we all need it, and he pushes us to levels that we didn’t know we could get to, he’s everything that an athlete needs,” said Malone.
One of his many goals is to be able to run in college and to become a doctor or a surgeon.
“The first priority is your education because, you know, it’s not a given that you’re going to have the same athleticism and the same physicalities that you have today, so you really need to have your plan A, B and C, and that’s basically what I’m going for,” said Malone. “Hard work pays off and I can definitely see it happening. It’s going to be a long road, but I want to use this to pay for college and to be able to use my athleticism before I get a job and taxes.”
Malone’s initial reaction to track was excitement for a new sport and new opportunities, but he soon realized the extreme training and work that goes into the sport. His perspective on track has changed drastically since freshman year.
“I used to want to go to the Olympics, but clearly I’m not Usain Bolt, and I am [only] 5’3,” said Malone.
Malone also emphasized that academics are his priority, and how important it was to realize that his sport is his hobby.
“My perspective has changed in the idea that this sport could end at high school and I might not be able to go to college and that last year was the turning point for me because I just finished an injury year,” said Malone. “Every year I’ve been injured and it forces me to get a preview of how life’s going to be.”
Malone advises anyone in athletics or in any sort of activity to go all out everyday because no one can tell what limiting factors will happen in a season, or in real life. He advises to get a support system to help in times of need or trouble.
“Don’t limit yourself to a certain sport or activity, always try something new. If you’re a freshman, you should definitely play two sports because it’s been psychologically proven that it’s better to play two sports,” said Malone. “But I would just say to enjoy the ride and high school’s only four years. Stay in school, study hard, be with one another, and enjoy the ride.”
To learn more about Nick:
