Athlete of the Week: James Wigglesworth

senior James Wigglesworth is one of those people who just loves to run.

The 17-year-old was a member of the high school cross-country team this past fall, and also runs track during the winter and spring seasons - though he may mix things up by switching from running to badminton this winter.

“It’s just something I’d like to try, it seems interesting, I like a challenge and it looks like it would be fun,” Wigglesworth said.

A sporting coincidence, the New England Junior Badminton Open is being held this weekend at .

“I did cross-country in the fall, and I usually run the two-mile during the winter and spring track seasons,” James said. “I’m not the fastest guy around, but I need it to be over two miles to really get pumped up to run, the longer you race the better you start to feel.”

Wigglesworth lives on Cliffside Road with his mom and dad and two younger brothers, and enjoys being an athlete at Marblehead High School.

“The community is very supportive of the athletic programs and the athletes in town,” Wigglesworth said. “I did an interview with (Marblehead Patch) after I set the course record at , and so many people in town saw it and came up to me and said 'nice job,' afterwards, it was really gratifying.”

Wigglesworth posted some of the best times of his career this past fall, finishing in 16:04 against Lynn English earlier this season to set the cross-country record at Gatchell’s. He also turned in a career-best 10:04 in the two-mile at the Newburyport Clipper Relays this past September.

“James is a very dependable runner,” cross-country coach Brian Heenan said. “There’s never any doubt that James will give you a great effort when he runs, he competes hard, is unselfish, and is a good leader.”

"Coach (Heenan) is great," Wigglesworth said. "He runs with us and really makes running for Marblehead High a lot of fun."

Wigglesworth started running in middle school, and came in second in one of his earliest races, back in eighth grade, and thus began his love affair with distance running.

“It was probably that race in eighth grade, it was very exciting to try something new and do it well, I really started to focus on running more and more after that race,” Wigglesworth said.

“There are some mornings, some days, where it’s raining or it’s freezing cold and it’s kind of tough to think about training, but then you think of your competitors and how they’re going to go out and run, so I use that as motivation,” Wigglesworth said. “You’ve got to do what your competitors do, and then do more if you want to be successful.”

James’ favorite subject at MHS is physics and he would like to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and concentrate on a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

“There’s just a few schools that I’ve applied to, ones with solid engineering departments,” Wigglesworth said. “R. P. I. is my top choice, absolutely.”

During the fall semester, Wigglesworth has been Miss Landergan’s teaching assistant in Technical Drawing class, and has thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“I enjoy working on school projects, creating something new,” Wigglesworth said. “School and running are somewhat similar, if you don’t put the work in, you won’t get the results that you're looking for.”

The James Wigglesworth File:

Age – 17

Class – Senior at MHS

Favorite TV show – Adventure Time

Favorite movie – Star Wars (the originals)

Favorite athlete – Edward Chesereck

Favorite food – “I love pasta.”

Favorite artist – “I’m not a big music fan, I had an iPod, lost it and didn’t replace it.”

Dream – “Go to go to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, run track and study Mechanical Engineering.”

Biggest influences – “My parents have supported me, and my brothers, in everything we’ve been interested in.”