Derrick Peterson long list of accomplishment includes 2 time NCAA national champion, Olympian, American collegiate record holder, US Indoor Championship record holder and 7 times US team member. We had a chance to interview this full time athlete who just returned from the Milrose Games 2005

Height: 1.82m

Weight: 73kg

Personal Best: 1:45.08 (800m)

Website: http://www.derrickpeterson.com

1. How did athletics become a part of your life?

   At a young age I began running track in middle school and just stuck with it

2. Describe the greatest moment of your athletic career

   The greatest moment of my athletic career was making the 2004 US Olympic Team and representing my country at the Olympics. All my life I have dreamed of wearing the Red, White and Blue and forever having the title of Olympian.

3. How was your performance at the Milrose Games 2005?

   At Millrose 2005 I did not have the greatest meet , but it was fun to be in New York City and Perform in Front of a great group of track and field fans.

4. What’s your training like .. tell us an insight of your normal daily routine

   Well a normal day for me starts at 8:30am with a 10 minute morning run, then breakfast, coffee and reading the newspaper. Then I am off to work from 10am until 2pm. After that I return to practice at 3 pm until around 6pm, where i do the bulk of my running workouts with my training mates. After that it is home for dinner or out for dinner, and then spend the evening with my finacee,and then off to bed.

5. Tell us about some of your experiences and role models along the way

   My experience as a professional athlete has been a learning experience if nothing else. I’ve learn there are things you do and things you don’t do, but all in all it has been a great experience so far. Some of my role models are my Grandparents and Parents, Presidents Bill CLinton and Jimmy Carter are a few of my non athletic role models.

6. Who are your favorite athletes?

   As far as athletic role models I admire, Wilson Kipketer, Dave Wottle, Seb Coe, Steve Cram, Mike Vick, Michael Jordan, Venus and Serena Williams, The Boston Red Sox

7. What are you looking forward to right now? Your long term dream/goal?

   Right now I am preparing for this summers World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, and just looking forward to having a great 2005 season. Long term i hope to make the 2008 Olympic team and get to the medal round, as well as helping my Fiancee plan our wedding.

Without the determination and drive of these ‘wonder athletes’, there would be nothing to watch. No one is more dedicated to the sport of running than Derrick Peterson

Photos courtesy of Derrick Peterson