Palisade Junior, Ian Shiao, is the Male Athlete of the Week brought to you by Palisade Dino Mart. Shiao runs cross country in the fall and swims in the spring. This is Shiao’s first year running cross country, as well as running for the varsity team. “Hank DeFord inspired me to start running with the high school team,” said Shiao. Hank Deford is a Junior at Palisade High School who has been running since his Freshman year. “He continues to be my biggest inspiration for the sport.” Alongside sports, Shiao is involved in many activities at Palisade that he enjoys just as much as running. “I love to participate in extracurricular activities, such as National Honors Society, StuCo, and Development of Great Students.”
Cross country is not only stressful physically but also mentally. It requires a positive mindset and attitude, which are characteristics that Shiao brings to the team. “I bring a lot of positive energy to the team,” said Shiao. His supportive and optimistic personality is not only beneficial to his teammates and peers, but also beneficial to his success. “My greatest accomplishment during cross country was podiuming during my second meet at Battle Mountain.” This was a huge accomplishment, especially for it to only have been Shiao’s second cross country meet. His personal growth is also a contributing factor to his love for the sport. “My favorite thing about cross country is PRing during meets, because it feels like I’ve grown as a runner.”
The dedication and commitment Shiao puts into cross country manifests his desire to be a better athlete, and not just a better athlete, but also a better encourager to his teammates and peers. Congratulations Ian Shiao for receiving Athlete of the Week!
