Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Sports / Writer’s Block: senior runner sets sights on season

Writer’s Block: senior runner sets sights on season

September 11, 2014 by Collin Thompson

Originally from Dalmeny, Saskatchewan, Canada, Daniel Block is a senior journalism major who writes for The Optimist and runs cross country and track.

After transferring from the University of Saskatchewan before the 2013-2014 school year, Block has been one of ACU’s best runners and looks to improve his skills as cross country season progresses and track and field season begins in the spring.

“Last year, I still ran well, but I didn’t run as well as I would have liked and as well as I think I could have,” Block said. “Coming into this year, I’m already feeling faster. I’m not only looking forward to the rest of cross country season, but track season especially, which is what I specialize in, and really seeing what I can do this year.”

Block said he does his best to help lead the younger runners in the right direction since his recent adjustment to the NCAA atmosphere last year.

“I think the biggest thing I can do is lead by example,” Block said. “I’ve noticed a lot of guys coming in are so wrapped up in the college athletics aspect of it, and they have everything down to a science. I’ve found over the years that, the more I let things happen around me and just take care of what I can take care of, I’m going to have more success than if I’m stressing over every little thing. So, hopefully guys will be able to see that you can’t control everything, and the only thing you can control is what you do, and the rest of it, just relax and let it happen.”

Coming from the Great White North, Block was involved with hockey, one of Canada’s two national sports, for 18 years. But, after playing hockey and running track his first year of university, he decided to devote all his attention to running.

“If I was as good at hockey as I was at track, I’d be doing that, but I’ve come to really love track and just the fact that you control your own destiny in track and field,” Block said. “As hard as you work, you’re gonna get the results and you’re pushing your body to the limit and seeing what your body is capable of which is something I find interesting, and you find a real sense of achievement once you’re done.”

Regardless of how his collegiate career turns out, Block wants to use his running skills to bring honor to his home country.

“Really, my goal has always been to represent Canada at some international competition,” Block said. “Whether it’s Olympics, World Championships, World University Games, something like that. And there are three national teams this summer, so my goal is to make it on to one of them and then hopefully build up for the Olympics and at least see how close I can get.”

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Cross Country, Sports feature

Other Sports:

  • ACU wins nail-biter at home against Southeastern Louisiana

  • Wildcats force 30 turnovers in fourth-straight win

  • ACU to join Western Athletic Conference in July

Avatar

About Collin Thompson

You are here: Home / Sports / Writer’s Block: senior runner sets sights on season

Other Sports:

  • ACU wins nail-biter at home against Southeastern Louisiana

  • Wildcats force 30 turnovers in fourth-straight win

  • ACU to join Western Athletic Conference in July

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
16 Jan

Active COVID-19 cases dropped for the fifth-consecutive day at ACU Friday. There are currently 30 active cases and 86 quarantines.

Reply on Twitter 1350232273191395336Retweet on Twitter 1350232273191395336Like on Twitter 135023227319139533610Twitter 1350232273191395336
acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
15 Jan

Yu Zhong, a psychology major from Lijiang, China, was arrested Friday at his University Park apartment on child porn charges, according to police. This is a developing story. Read more below:
https://acuoptimist.com/2021/01/student-arrested-on-child-porn-charge/

Reply on Twitter 1350203450064297984Retweet on Twitter 1350203450064297984Like on Twitter 1350203450064297984Twitter 1350203450064297984

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

2 days ago

The Optimist
Active COVID-19 cases dropped for the fifth- consecutive day at ACU Friday. There are currently 30 active cases and 86 quarantines. Taylor County continues to see increased numbers with over 2500 active cases. ...

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 days ago

The Optimist
Yu Zhong, a freshman psychology major from Lijiang, China, was arrested Friday at his University Park apartment on child porn charges, according to police. This is a developing story. Read more below: ...

Student arrested on child porn charge - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Yu Zhong, a freshman psychology major from Lijiang, China, was arrested Friday at his University Park apartment on child porn charges, according to police. Zhong, 23, was arrested after he was flagged by software that detects child porn. “While no corner of our society is immune from these challen...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Praise Day Fridays return to campus

Video by Allie Jones. https://youtu.be/4F0D1oNzGjM   ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast – Nov. 5, 2020
  • ACUTV, Optimist preparing for live election show
  • Earliest snowfall recorded in Abilene

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2021 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved