VYPE spoke with Wichita South’s Jeremiah Jones about his life on the track.

VYPE: What are your personal goals for the year?

This year I want to finish my classes with most being an A, get a PR in the triple jump, and make a good distance to get top 6 in state championships, compete in a baking competition, earn at least one scholarship, and have lots of fun!

VYPE: What is the most fun you have had in the last year?

Probably last summer, when I was getting my government credit at Wichita State University with Upward Bound, I was living in the dorms at the Suites with 3 other friends, and even though I had to be in a classroom for 4 hours studying government, the rest of the time was me and a whole group living a life kind of like a college student, but without the stress of academics, mostly, and way more fun!

VYPE: Who is your favorite teacher from any grade, and why?

It’s either my history teacher from middle school, Mr. Birkhofer, or my Culinary Arts teacher, Mrs. Barret. These teachers are probably going to be the teachers I’ll remember in 20 years or so. Mr. Birkhofer made history something that I was looking forward to in my day back in middle school. Mrs. Barret is one of the only teachers I can actually talk to like we were friends, and that’s saying something.

VYPE: What is your favorite athletic memory?

Getting a new PR in the triple jump at the South High City championship meet last year, because this was what got me to regionals last year, and it was what really made me realize I have potential in Track & Field.

VYPE: What teammate has left the biggest impression on you and why?

His name is Serapis Artis, he is at Louisiana State University right now, but when he was a senior still at South High, he was the fastest sprinter in our track team that year, he and another guy was beating me on the track every practice. He was a rival and one of the people I want to beat in something. Now, he is running like a 10.3 second 100 meter I think, and can jump 24 feet in the long jump, I have my work cut out for me.

VYPE: What is your favorite part of being on this team?

Being able to jump most of every day because running is the devil to me and I hate workout days, where we do a workout that works us to the limit. Which Is not a bad thing, not at all, it’s just something I think is evil.

VYPE: You can pick any place for a summer vacation. Where do you go, and who do you take with you?

I would probably go to either Texas or California. Texas because of Galveston, Kemah, or Corpus Christi, these cities are what made times with family in the summer memorable. California, there are a lot of places there, like Cocoa Beach, Redwood, Glass Beach, etc., that make the perfect summer vacation. Now who to take with me, I don’t have friends that are down with me to take on a summer vacation, so it’s my family all the way.

VYPE: If we gave you $500 and you had to spend it in the next 24 hours, what would you spend it on?

Driving lessons, because I need to learn how to drive, and the only car my family has is a 2013 Dodge Charger, the risk of an accident increases the moment I push the gas pedal.

VYPE: Do you participate in any community service projects?

I participated in many community service projects with groups like AVID, Upward Bound, and the South High Culinary Arts program. The last one I did was with the culinary arts team, we cooked tortilla soup, cornbread, chocolate layer cups, and a really good cinnamon and sweet butter to go with the cornbread. We cooked for the staff for student-teacher conferences at South High School.

VYPE: What Clubs or Campus groups are you involved with and why?

There’s FCCLA, this club gives me the opportunity to compete in competitions for food, so basically, cooking competitions. There’s the South High Orchestra team, where I play the viola for the Sinfonietta Orchestra. There’s Rise Up for Youth, they support me with my ethnic diversity and my life as a kid who comes from a low-income background.

VYPE: Are you involved in academic excellence activities such as the National Honor Society, Student Council, or other academic clubs?

There’s Wichita Gear Up, where I can get support for high school and college readiness. There’s Upward Bound it is a lot like Gear Up, but they give me more opportunities to further my academic career and culture. Finally, there is BASSE, they’re a brotherhood that supports my academic career and develops my leadership.