GETTING TO KNOW ....

Greg Decker

Name: Greg Decker

Favorite Food: Anything on the dessert table

Favorite Movie: SuperBad

Favorite Television Show: South Park

Favorite Musical Artist: O.A.R.

A word to describe me when I am competing: Focused

A word to describe me when I am not competing: Relaxed

My most memorable athletic moment was: Getting the baton in first place during the state championship for the 2nd leg of my high school 4 x 800 meter relay.  I was matched up against the state champ in the open 800 2 years in a row.  I held on for about 600 meters and then uhhhh got owned.  But it was quite the opportunity.

My most memorable Emory athletic moment:  When I finished my first cross country race at Emory.  Hopefully there will be more exciting ones to come.

What I like most about Emory:  Great academics and a strong athletic department.  The weather is also a big plus.

I would like to switch places for the day with: Alan Webb

My favorite place on the Emory campus: Emory Ultimate Dining at the DUC

Favorite athlete:  Lance Armstrong

The sports teams I followed when I was younger: Washington Redskins, Baltimore Orioles, Maryland Terps

My favorite class at Emory and why: Ecology.  When making campfires and eating s'mores is a mandatory field trip.

The people who have helped me most at Emory are and why: Coach Carl Leivers has helped me through a lot of tough workouts and helped me improve my times through smarter training.

Any pre-meet/competition rituals:  Nope, but I do eat a lot of granola the night before a race.

The sports I would be playing if I wasn't running/on the track and field team: Anything; they are all so much more fun than running.  Basketball, squash, football, ping-pong, lacrosse, hockey, snowboarding, soccer, Frisbee, wiffle ball

If I could have dinner with only three people in history, they would be: Cal Ripken Jr., Abe Lincoln, and Daffy Duck.

Ten years from now I see myself: Out of shape.

The best advice I have ever been given and who gave it to you:  "Learn from it and move on" - My family

I've encountered a few tough obstacles in my life so far, but I've found ways to overcome them and become a stronger person.

What is something that very few, if any, people know about you: I am a fat kid at heart.  In middle school I could have been confused with a bear, but as soon as high school cross country and track came along, I immediately conformed to the scrawny runner build. 

Greg is a sophomore from Rockville, Maryland. He would love to answer e-mail questions from Emory recruits and fans.