First of all, thank you for taking the time to do this interview. It's a chance for people very familiar with your athletic performances to get to know you a little better personally.
No problem James, anytime.
After a great junior season, capped off with two state wins in the 110m and
300m hurdles and the 5A team trophy, you sat out basketball season for the
first time. Did the decision not to play basketball have to do with
concentrating on track?
Yes, even though I am ok at basketball, all I could really do is jump. I
didn't see any future in basketball whereas my track future looked bright.
With the speed you showed in indoor (first in the 5A 55m hurdles, second in
the 55m sprint), it doesn't seem like the time off the court hurt your
running any. Did you do anything to stay in shape through the summer and
winter months?
Indoor really helped me keep in shape, and I ran SOME during the summer so
as to not loose what I had gained last season. But laziness set in not too
long after summer started and I pretty much stopped running.
Last year, your Scottsboro team swept the team championships in indoor and
outdoor track. This year, if you win the outdoor championship, Coach
Esslinger and the distance runners will complete the triple crown. Does
this add special meaning to you even though you weren't part of the cross
country win?
Yes definitely, I want this for Coach Esslinger as well as the rest of the
team. I know we've worked hard to obtain our goals, and winning a triple
crown would be an awesome way to end my high school track career.
Your time of 37.98 in the 300 hurdles last year was one of the state's top
performances in any event. Though you've run consistently at that time this season, what was it like to break 38 seconds that first time, and what
came together to make that race as fast as it was?
I was at home, had great weather to run in, my steps fell into place where
they needed to (eliminating that evil stutter-step). And most importantly I
felt really good about the race going into it, I wasn't really nervous or
anything I was just trying to run my best.
With the 5A mark standing at 37.95, the 300m record is well within your
reach. Will that time be a focus of yours this season, or will you go for
the all-class time of 36.78?
Well the 5A record is definitely what I'm shooting for, but if I get faster,
the all-class time wouldn't be a bad achievement either.
You've run some very fast 300m hurdle times with a lot of extra steps
(stuttering). Why doesn't this slow you down as much as it does other
people?
I think that the speed I have between the hurdles helps with that problem.
I try not to think about stuttering though, not that it helps.
Though you won the 5A 110m hurdles last year, your time wasn't as fast in
comparison to the 6A runners, whereas your 300 time stood tops in all
classifications. For instance, Tuscaloosa County's Kevin Sewell defeated
you at last year's Cullman Invitational. This year, you've battled Kevin a
lot closer in the 110's, even beating him in your rematch at Cullman. What
has been the difference in the shorter hurdles for you this year?
I've gotten a good bit faster and my form has improved since last season
which in effect makes me faster on the shorter hurdles.
How do you regard Kevin Sewell in terms of a rivalry? How do your strategies,
techniques, and strengths match up or differ?
Well, I always have to run my best race when I'm on the line with Kevin because
he's so fast out of the blocks. I know that if I can hang with him I'll run
a good time. I try to stay with him out of the blocks, then run MY race.
That's really the only strategy I have when running against Kevin.
You've been successful on the track since the moment you first set foot on
it, even qualifying for state in the 200m as a freshman. Has your
athletcism always been strong? When did it first become apparent to you, or
your parents, that you had special physical abilities?
I've always been pretty athletic, I used to play the 3 main sports Baseball,
Football, and Basketball. It was probably first appearent when I started
playing baseball and I could get around the bases faster than everyone else
on the field.
Of the many sports you participated in before focusing on track, which do
you think you would have stayed with if track hadn't been an option?
Hands down, basketball.
You are one of the best athletes in the state, most likely the best athlete
in your school. Do your schoolmates recognize this even though you don't
compete in one of the "Big Three" sports-- football, basketball, baseball?
I was recently voted Most Athletic by my peers in the Senior
Class, so I would say they recognize it.
Your younger sister Savannah competes for the Scottsboro girls team and has
been a key part to their track success in recent years. Did you compete
against each other much at home as children, strengthening each other's
abilities, or have your talents developed separately?
We've always been really close and enjoyed spending time together, but
overall my hurdling experiences may have helped her some.
Has having a sibling on the team increased your accountability at track
functions-- do you behave better with her around, either to be a good role
model or just out of fear that she may report back to your parents?
I could care less what she runs and tells mom.
110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, long jump, 55m, 200m, 400m, 4x400m, 4x100m... you've had a lot
of success with your legs in all of these events. But you've also had
success with your thumbs. Which event would you drop if video gaming
counted toward your team's point total?
LONG JUMP, not a question. I would throw in some EarthBound and play til I couldn't move my hands,
all whilst sippin' a cold Dr. Thunder (cause the generic's always better).
As a strong athlete in childhood, do you remember any exceptional times in
the Presidential Fitness testing?
I ran a pretty quick mile back in the day, and my shuttle time was really
quick too. But I always had trouble with that dang V-sit reach.
This time next yearyou'll be running 400m hurdle races in the
collegiate ranks for Mississippi state. Have you thought about this distance much yet or tried it
in practice? How will the longer distance be different for you?
I think that I'll be able to cope with 400m hurdles, because at the end of the
season after I get finished running 300m hurdles I've still got tons of
energy left.
Thanks again for your time Daniel. We all look forward to seeing you at state.
Thanks, James.
Daniel Nolan accepts his MVP award after scoring 42 points
for Scottsboro. (photo: Steve Bedsole)
(photo: Tommy McGee)
He'd rather be playing Earthbound.
(photo: Steve Bedsole)