Daniel Green is a four-year track runner and a captain for the 2014-2015 men’s squad. A graduate of Clifton High School in New Jersey, Dan has contributed in cross country, indoor and outdoor track. A mid-distance specialist, Dan is a member of the 4×800 team that took second place in the Atlantic 10 Championship last spring.
The Fordham Ram: Coming out of high school, what made you decide to go to Fordham?
Dan Green: I wanted to go to a school that was not too far from home and I wanted to go somewhere with a good business school, so Fordham fit that mold nicely. I really decided on it once I talked to coach Dewey about running here and got a look at the campus.
TFR: Which events are you most competitive in?
DG: My best event is the 800m. Indoors we also run the 1000m and I’ve run some fast times in that too.
TFR: As a guy who runs distance, you are competing in the fall, winter and spring. Do you have a favorite season between cross country, indoor and outdoor?
DG: Cross country is a lot of fun, but I prefer track because I’m more competitive over the shorter distances. Outdoor is my favorite season. The weather is way better for training, and I’ll run faster times outdoors than I would indoors.
TFR: You must not get much of a break in between seasons. How do you spend the limited breaks you have?
DG: Most of the breaks I get I’ll spend back at home. Every once in a while I’ll have time to visit a friend but it’s rare that I’ll get more than a couple days without a formal practice. I’ll usually use my breaks as time to relax.
TFR: As captain of a competitive team in Division I competition, what type of role do you take on? What type of responsibilities does that give you during the season?
DG: I use my role as captain as a way to be a role model. When I was a freshman, I learned a lot from my captains, so I try to pass along the knowledge I have to the younger guys on the team. As far as responsibilities go, captains will run practice on Sundays and give their input to the coaches on what meet lineups should be and how workouts are going.
TFR: Are there any events you think the men’s team can really compete in during A-10’s, IC4A’s, and other upcoming championship events?
DG: The guys’ team this year is going to be really competitive in the mid-distance and distance events. From the 800m to the 5000m we have people that can score at A-10s. I also think our throwers are going to score some important points.
TFR: Do you have any favorite track memories from your time at Fordham?
DG: My favorite memories are mostly traveling with the team. My freshman year at indoor A-10s I originally wasn’t on our 4×800 relay, but at the last minute Coach made a switch and put me on it. It was the first time Coach had put me on a stacked relay, and we ended up winning in a meet record time. It was a crazy experience for my first conference meet.
TFR: The weather is still cold, but I’m sure lots of Fordham students are going to be running outside as it gets warmer. Where’s your favorite place to run in the Bronx?
DG: My favorite place in to run in the Bronx is Van Cortlandt Park and the surrounding trails. I always like running through the woods, and some of the trails there get so scenic that you can’t even tell you’re still in the city. When the weather is warmer, we go there for practice all the time.
TFR: A lot of people were affected by the sudden passing of Michael Walsh last month. What were your thoughts on him and his sudden passing?
DG: Mike Walsh was on the team my freshman year. I used to eat dinner with him all the time. He always made hilarious movies for Campus Moviefest and performed standup comedy at Rodriguies.
During open mic nights, the track team would pack into the small room to watch him, and he killed every time. He also acted as a mentor to all the freshmen on the team. He would show us new runs, or tutor us in math or science classes.He meant a lot to the team. We took a bus up to Connecticut for his wake, and a lot of alumni who ran with him stayed for the funeral.
TFR: What are your plans after your time at Fordham?
DG: I’m still on the job hunt right now, but ideally after I graduate I’ll stay in the city.I won’t run competitive track, but I’ll probably hop in some road races here and there and may try to run a marathon while I’m still in some kind of running shape.
