The Daily Iowan: Do you prefer indoor or outdoor track and field season?

Nick O’Connor: I would say outdoor. Coming into college, I liked indoor a lot because we didn’t really have much of an indoor season in high school. It was just new to me. I also tend to get injured during indoor season more than outdoor.

Did you play any other sports in high school?

Early on in high school I played baseball. Throughout high school, I ran cross country and track, and then I also played basketball.

Other than track, which sport was your favorite?

Definitely basketball. Growing up, it was always my favorite sport and what I thought I was going to do after high school.

What made you choose to pursue track?

It started out with my high school coach. He was the middle school cross country coach, and he pushed me to run track in middle school. Once we got into high school, he pushed me to run cross country too because I was a football kid in middle school. I just gradually progressed.

What is on the top of your bucket list?

Our team hasn’t won Big Tens in a few seasons now, so I would say that is the overall team goal. We want to win Big Tens during outdoors.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Basketball was my favorite sport like I mentioned. So probably just playing basketball in college or something. I feel like every little kid had a dream of playing in the NBA.

What are you majoring in right now?

Sports Recreation Management.

What made you decide that [major]?

I would say being around sports my whole life. I’m also just interested in the whole behind the scenes of college and professional sporting events along the lines of event management or athletic administration.

Who has supported you the most throughout your career as a Hawkeye?

Definitely my coach from day one. I went to a junior college my first two years of being a collegiate athlete, and I feel like he took a bit of a gamble on me. He’s always had confidence in me and told me I can do it.