[Editor’s note: “Take Five” is a recurring feature designed to offer a quick look at some of Oregon’s most interesting high school sports standouts. This spring, Take Five will focus exclusively on seniors, whose final high school seasons have been canceled by the coronavirus. Today, let’s get to know Lakeridge hurdler Luke Neville, a hurdler and sprinter who placed fifth at state last year in the 300-meter hurdles. Neville broke the school record in the event last spring at the state meet, crossing the finish line in 38.66 seconds. We gave Neville 25 questions from which to choose five. Here’s what he had to say…]
OSAAtoday: What was your first big success as an athlete and how did it impact you?
Luke Neville: Towards the end of my junior season, I finally broke 40 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles one week before the Three Rivers League meet. I got a personal record (“PR”) of 39.8 seconds. It was a huge moment as I finally began to imagine myself competing at a higher level. The next week, at TRL, I crushed my previous PR by 1.2 seconds. That massively improved my confidence as an athlete.
OSAAtoday: What's the single funniest thing you've seen in track & field?
Neville: The funniest moment of my track career happened in my sophomore year when one of my friends came out to watch my race. She asked me if I wanted anything to eat because she was going to the store before she came. I told her to "surprise me" and I when I won my 300-meter hurdle race and walked over to my team tent, she was standing there with a bottle of spicy barbecue sauce. I proceeded to drink it.
OSAAtoday: You can blink and be transported to any place in Oregon for a day. Where do you go and why?
Neville: If I could spend anywhere in Oregon for a day, it would be atop Tom Dick and Harry Mountain overlooking Government Camp and Mirror Lake. There is a beautiful view of Mount Hood and the sunset. When I backpacked there and spent the night last summer, I was at absolute peace.
OSAAtoday: If you find yourself stranded on a desert island and can only have one movie that you're able to watch, what movie do you choose and why?
Neville: I would choose Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure because it is by far the most bodacious and triumphant film of all time. No matter how many times I watch it, it is always as good as the first time.
OSAAtoday: Would you rather be famous on Instagram, YouTube or Twitter? Why and what would you be famous for?
Neville: I would like to be famous on Instagram for traveling the world and documenting my trips. I love film photography so I would like to have a successful page dedicated to simple and minimal film photographs of exotic places, especially the outdoors.
Read other Take Five articles published in connection with the 2020 spring season:
Monroe softball pitcher Tyler Warden
North Salem sprinter Maliyah Thompson
La Grande catcher Logan Paustian
Lake Oswego thrower Parker Williams
Lakeridge netter Nicole Rogers
Westside Christian sprinter Alvin Lai
Stayton softballer Emma Heuberger
Westview outfielder Maddie Curaming
Central Catholic utility Brianna Perkins
East Linn Christian hurdler Jacob Johns
La Salle Prep sprinter Mary Gach
Brookings-Harbor baseball player Jason Vanginderen
osaatoday@osaa.org
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