Randy Jimenez
Liberty Center, Iowa
Class of 2025
Why did you choose Central?
I chose Central for a couple of reasons. The atmosphere was very welcoming and inviting, and it felt like a good fit for me. It also had a good running program, which gave me a good balance in pursuing my academic and athletic interests. I also chose Central on somewhat of an instinctual basis. It just felt like the right decision with the people I met in my visits.
Favorite professor and why?
My favorite professor is my economics professor and advisor named Tuan Nguyen. One of the first classes I had was with him, and he quickly showed why he is a favorite on campus. His ability to joke in class, flexibility with sports, and interest in student activities make him an outstanding professor even among the many other high-quality professors of Central. He also has a hilarious Twitter account that you should go check out if you have the chance.
You’re majoring in Business Management because?
I enjoy the field and the classes fit my mindset. Every time I take a business class it tends to just make sense more naturally than other classes I’ve taken. It also allows for a lot of flexibility in the working world so I can explore different career paths even after I graduate.
Besides athletics, what else are you involved in on campus?
I've been a participant of campus ministries here and there, and I've also helped run a cross country camp here during the summertime at Central for a couple years now. I am frequently found supporting the plays, choir concerts, or school dances. When I'm not doing that, you can probably find me in a lounge somewhere studying or playing ping pong with friends (of which I am a master).
Who are your go-to musical artists?
I listen to a wide variety of musical artists, but a couple of my personal favorites are artists called Stellar and The Score. They're songs feel very original and unique to them, which is something I look for in songs. They also have a faster tempo so I can listen to them when I'm running. Recently I’ve been listening to some of Kanye’s older stuff as well.
How has attending Central and playing a sport impacted your life?
Attending and playing a sport at Central has had a strong positive impact on my life. It has given me great friends, new experiences, and challenged me to become a more well-rounded, mature individual. Central has helped push me to my goals with a balanced and meaningful approach in both academics and athletics. Training everyday and competing with my teammates is usually the highlight of my day, and my professors are great at working with me to help facilitate such an experience.
What made you want to start a podcast?
I started a podcast with a couple of my friends because we were always having such good conversations in our dorm room. We spent a lot of time just having discussions about life and one day someone brought up the idea that we should start a podcast with how much talking we did. We have a lot of opinions about certain things, and I think it’s a valuable use of our time to both promote the team in a meaningful way while also allowing us to hang out as friends together. We also knew that there hadn’t been a ton of consistent student run podcasts on campus in the past, and we figured that we might be able to be the guys that had a breakthrough. Here we are a solid year later going strong as ever so it’s been great.
If you had to sing karaoke, what is the song you would choose?
If I had to sing a karaoke song I’m singing “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” by Cage The Elephant because it’s an absolute classic on my playlist and I can guarantee, I’ll know all of the lyrics. Plus, I’ve done karaoke of that song more than once.
What is your favorite joke?
I don’t necessarily have a favorite, but here’s one I’ve told in the past: “What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common? Same middle name.”
Would you rather live on the beach or in a cabin in the woods?
It’s a close call, but I’d probably choose to live on the beach because I love the water. No shame on those that chose the cabin though, it’s definitely a close second.
Favorite TV Show
One that’s definitely near the top of the list is Peaky Blinders (it probably could be the top of the list if I'm being real). It’s A masterpiece of a story that has you on the edge of your seat wondering how things are going to turn out all the way up to the end of each episode
What’s it like to compete for Coach Dunham?
Running for Coach Dunham is great. He's an amazing coach and pushes his athletes to strive for success both in sports and in life in general. He manages to maintain a relationship with every one of his athletes and places more value on you as a person than the times you're running. Having only spent two years with him he's already become one of my mentors and I'm excited to see what the next couple of years bring.
What’s your favorite part about being a member of the Central men’s track and field team?
My favorite part of being on the men's track and field team is the culture. You get to be with a lot of like-minded individuals who share similar interests with you as a byproduct of being in the same sport. This makes for a lot of great teammates and friends that you quickly gain by being on the team. Being on the track and field team always provides a very close-knit culture since we always spend so much time together, which I thoroughly enjoy. It’s always nice to have a group of friends that like to challenge themselves to get better in the same ways you do.
What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
In 10 years I'm going to be graduated, so the plan is to have a successful career path in business thus far while building my personal life as well. And of course, I'll still be running and competing in my free moments at local 5ks and maybe the occasional marathon when I have the chance.
Favorite food from Central Market
My favorite food at The Market is probably going to be Mongolian Fridays that they have every week. It's a classic among the Central students and has never done me wrong. For me it stands right up there with other heavyweight favorites on campus like the legendary Fresh Cookie Tuesday. They also occasionally do fried rice now for Mongolian Fridays which I have found to be one of my favorites as well.
Bucket list
Run a half marathon, a marathon, and an ultra-marathon
Climb Mt. Everest
Visit another country
Learn the optimum amount of time to put Ramen noodles in the microwave
Become a master juggler
