ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Jean D'Haiti

The boys and girls cross-country teams from Dr. Phillips High were off and running Saturday, Aug. 29, as the regular season got underway with the DeLand Invitational. Leading the way for the Panthers — whose boys team placed third and girls team placed second — was senior runner Jean D’Haiti. D’Haiti placed first in the boys race with a time of 16:48, getting his senior campaign with Dr. Phillips off to a great start.

What’s it like to start off your senior season by winning a race?

I built some confidence coming into my next race, and I just feel good about it.

What are your hopes for yourself and the team this season?

In the end, I want to go to state with my team and run well. Individually, I’m trying to be top-five at state and to just reach for the best I can this year.

Is there a meet, team or specific runner you’re really looking forward to competing against?

I’m looking at the No. 1 (runner in the state) right now. Trying to catch him.

How did you get started running cross-country?

I started cross-country when I was a sophomore, and I got into distance when I was a freshman. In middle school, I was a sprinter. My coach from freshman year had seen me run a couple miles and she was like, “Maybe you should try distance.” I ended up being good at it.

Were you receptive to running distance at first?

I learned to love it. In the past, I hated it because I always got hurt and all that, but I see that’s what I’m good at, and I’ve accepted it and try to make the best of it.

What’s your training schedule like with the team?

We have summer training, like we started June 6, I believe. Since then, we have been training six days a week.

Cross-country is a team sport that has a very individualistic form of competition. What’s involved with being a leader in a sport such as this? 

Every time I see a teammate having a bad day, I try to cheer them up. If I see my teammates are doing badly, I try to run with them. I just try to push them.

What do you think about when you are running?

I try not to think about pain, and I try not to think about being tired. I really just think that if I finish one mile, I think, “Oh, I did one mile, so I can do another mile.” That helps me out.

How much has working with your coaches, Jorge and Angie Fleitas, helped you?

Coach Fleitas is one heck of a coach. He has a lot of (championship) rings, and he’s just a good coach who supports me and looks out for me. He just wants to see me be good as a kid and grow.

Do you or have you played any other sports?

Not right now, but I might play soccer, I don’t know. Growing up, I always wanted to be a football player. I played quarterback my freshman year, but then I went into running.

What’s your favorite sport at Dr. Phillips to watch and support?

I would say track. I run in the (distance) events, but when I’m not I’m in the stadium cheering on my team. It’s really fun watching the 4x400 and all the relays. I played football (as a freshman), so I basically know all of (the sprinters).

What’s your favorite subject in school?

I would have to say history. History is really just remembering, and I really like looking back at history and seeing what happened in the past. I just really enjoy it.

Are you hoping to run cross-country in college?

Yeah, I’m hoping to go to college for running. I gained a couple (recruiting) letters, but as of right now, I’m just trying to stay healthy and run fast and then see what schools are looking at me.

What are you hoping to study and pursue in college?

I want to major in criminal justice. I would like to work for an agency like the FBI. It’s just, I really don’t like criminals, and (criminal justice) is something, since I was a kid, I’ve thought was cool.

What’s something about you most people don’t know?

I think one thing people don’t know I do is I listen to rock (music) sometimes before the race, really hyped music. Linkin Park.