-Athlete Name: Abel Flores
-School: Defiance High School
-Year of Graduation: 2013
-Best time in a 5K race and in which meet:
15:41 at the State Meet last year.
-Tell us how your summer training is going?
Training is going great, I'm finally healthy and our team is practicing like we've never done before.
-What are your goals for the upcoming season?
My main goal is to win State as an individual and as a team, also sub 15:10 for 5k and hopefully qualify for Footlocker or Nike Nationals.
-How long have you been running and how did you get started?
I first started running to lose weight and get in shape for boxing in the 5th grade and then I just began to love it and joined the xc team in 8th grade.
-Will you be competing anywhere out of state this season?
Yes, as a team we are going to the Michigan State University Spartan Invitational and I plan to do both Footlocker and Nike.
-What is your favorite course to run in Ohio?
My favorite course has to be Tiffin because the competition is always great.
-What is the toughest course to run in Ohio?
The toughest course is probably Ottawa-Glandorf's course because it is always so muddy.
-What meet during the regular season do you put extra emphasize on to compete well at?
I usually put a lot of emphasis on Tiffin but were not going there this year, so instead I will do it at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational where there are some great runners
-What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career?
My favorite race was last year's state meet because I was second and ran it on really no training since I was injured the whole season. Showing people that I could come back like that was great and this year nothing is holding me back.
-Favorite cross country memory?
My favorite memory was getting second last year at the state meet and my friends painting there bodies for me.
-When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?
When I'm not running I'm usually just hanging out with friends.
-Favorite quote?
"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." -Bruce Lee
-What's on your Ipod when you go out for runs?
I usually only listen to music on my long runs. It's typically Linkin Park, Avenged Sevenfold, and some other bands.
-What professional athlete would you most like to meet?
I would love to meet Galen Rupp because he's just the MAN!