Joe Brown is This Week's Whiz Kid

Stoneham Patch Whiz Kid of the Week

• Joe Brown, 16
• Accomplishment: Brown usually runs the 100m dash, 4x100 meter relay, 200m dash and participates in the triple jump. He has been improving each time out on his own personal records.

Key to Awesomeness: Brown is close to achieving his goals that he set out at the beginning of the season that includes a 40-foot jump in the triple jump.

“A couple of meets ago versus Burlington, I got 39 feet, 11.5 inches,” Brown said. “It was a bit of a disappointment, but I am continuing to strive for that goal and plan on beating it before the end of the season.”

The track season may be long and arduous at times, but Brown has been successful throughout the year and attributes his success to his coaches.

“The coaches are unbelievable,” Brown said. “Not only have they taught me and helped me to perform better, they have also changed me and my views altogether as an athlete and a student.”

Brown said that the new coaching staff has inspired him to grow as a person and not just as an athlete.

“I have loved everything about the new coaching staff, but if I had to specify I would say that I really like how they not only focus on helping us become better athletes, but they also prepare us for life and teach us life lessons,” Brown said. “What we learn at track makes us better athletes, but will in turn makes us more successful in life, better fathers and better husbands. I am really grateful for our coaching staff.”

Every day in practice Brown likes to work on his jumping and his sprinting to increase his endurance and stamina.

“While working on things like that for the 100m—which I love doing—helps me with triple jump because like the 100m, triple jump is short bursts of controlled speed and quickness explosion and such and I absolutely love triple jump,” Brown said. “It's probably my favorite event.”

Brown admitted that during the offseason it is tough to stay in shape for the track season, but once the season starts he said the participant will be in the best shape they can possibly be in.

“If you show up every day to track practice, I promise you will be the most in shape athlete,” Brown said. “Ask any track athlete and they will tell you.”

Brown’s strengths as a track athlete start from running short races. The shorter the race, the better off he is.

“My block start is the best on the team which makes it so I am the first one out when the gun goes off,” Brown said. “It’s like I am a car with high acceleration, but a low top speed and low endurance. The further the distance of the race, the worse I get at it.”

Brown isn't a superstition person, but before each meet he likes to listen to music to get in the right state of mind.

“It helps me focus and that is key because I get distracted very easily,” Brown said. “The littlest things will make me lose concentration.”