A-K Valley athletes of the week: Valley’s Darius Johnson, Deer Lakes’ Kiera Cutright

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, May 23, 2018 | 10:36 PM

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Darius Johnson

School: Valley

Class: Senior

Sport: Track and field

Report card: Johnson will make his third straight trip to the PIAA Class 2A track and field championships Friday and Saturday in Shippensburg. Johnson earned a gold medal last week at the WPIAL meet in the high jump after clearing 6 feet, 4 inches. As a junior, he finished second (6-5) in the WPIAL and fourth (6-5) in the state. He made his first trip to the PIAAs as a sophomore when he was member of the Vikings 400-meter relay team. Johnson, an IUP football commit, also played wide receiver on the Vikings' football team and started at the small/power forward position on the basketball team.

How did you find your way to competing in the long jump?

I saw one of my brother's friends (come over) and do the high jump, and I thought it was a little interesting. My brother (D'Aundre) talked me into doing track.

How did it feel to finish first at WPIALs?

I really didn't think that I was going to overcome my ankle injury. Getting to the top of the podium with an injury like this, I have a lot going on.

How's the ankle?

It's healing. I'm at about 90 percent.

Did you know right away that the 6-5 jump was going to win it?

Yeah. It felt like I sprung off a trampoline. I had mad bunnies.

How do you feel about your chances at states?

I'm not really worried about anybody else but myself. You just got to go in and get the job done.

What kind of advice would you give to your freshman self?

Never give up on your dreams, don't ever let anybody knock your hustle, and hard work beats talent.

How does track and field help you in all your of other sports?

It helps my stamina, my jumping ability, and my competitive nature.

What is your favorite Pittsburgh area restaurant?

I like to go to Ichiban.

What do you order?

Calamari teriyaki.

What are you going to miss about Valley?

I'm going to miss the football field, the basketball court and the track.

What three words best describe you?

Competitive. Hard-working. Funny.

What's your favorite subject at school?

Math. I'm in college prep.

What is something interesting about you that nobody knows?

I'm a rare person. You'll never find somebody else like me. I'm too caring, and not a lot of people around here are too caring.

What are you going to study at IUP?

I'm going to go up there for sports management.

Kiera Cutright

School: Deer Lakes

Class: Junior

Sport: Track and field

Report card: Cutright sliced through the competition at last week's WPIAL Class AA track and field championships. She earned a gold medal in the 300-meter hurdles in 45.94 seconds to punch her first ticket to the PIAA Class AA championships. As a sophomore, she finished sixth in the WPIAL in the hurdles. Cutright started at wing for the Lancers' girls soccer team and also is a cheerleader.

How long have you been running track and how did you end up competing in hurdles?

This is my fifth year. I started in seventh grade. I just wanted to try it.

How did it feel to finish first in the 300-meter hurdles?

It (didn't) set in until a couple minutes after that I had come in first.

What are you doing to prepare for states?

I'm doing a lot of block work, a lot of conditioning and a lot of run throughs.

Has anyone offered up any advice on how to handle states?

Not really. My friend (Emily Mischen), who went last year but unfortunately didn't make it this year, told me to cherish the experience and enjoy it.

How do you prepare yourself before an event?

Honestly, I'm friends with a lot of hurdlers. We get together, talk and it helps calm my nerves a lot.

What is your favorite Pittsburgh area restaurant?

I really enjoy Caliente's Pizza.

What do you order?

They have really good pizza and wings.

What's your favorite flavor of wings?

I love season salt rub and mild wings.

What three words best describe you?

Dedicated. Passionate. Athletic.

What's your favorite subject at school?

I enjoy physics, solely because my hurdles coach is the physics teacher, and he makes the class fun.

What is something interesting about you nobody knows?

I'm really into fashion. I also play the cello and I participate in chorus and the musical.

— William Whalen