In the wake of all that is happening in society today, the goal of Academy of Art Athletics remains the same: to help shine a light on our amazing student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. With that in mind, ART U brings to you the latest installment of the Knights Roundtable!

Next to join the roundtable is men's track & field sprinter Daquan Berry! This past year, an incredible series of performances came from Daquan on May 1 at the 2021 PacWest Conference Championships including career-best times to win the 100m and 200m titles plus top marks in the 4x100m and 4x400m, leading him to be named PacWest Most Outstanding Track Athlete. A nine-time All-Region honoree in his career, Daquan's name appears five times in various sprint events among ART U's top five all-time lists. He is approaching his fourth year within the School of Communications & Media Technologies. Without further delay, let's meet Daquan!

Sports Information: Can you talk a little bit about your hometown and where you grew up? What did you like to do when you were young?

Daquan: I grew up in Ajax, Ontario in Canada - which is just outside the city of Toronto. My favorite things to do when I was young was anything that involved playing sports outdoors. I never liked being inside. 

Sports Info: When did you first start developing a passion for track & field? What did you like about it?

Daquan: I would say after I quit basketball in the middle of grade 11. I started running competitively with a club and having the nerves before the gun goes was and is an amazing feeling for me.

Sports Info: If you could race against anyone, who would it be and why?

Daquan: I would like to race all the student-athletes at the top of the 'all-time' lists that came through ART U in the 100m and 200m.

Sports Info: What attracted you to your major and what do you love most about your major?

Daquan: My attraction is definitely how everything is hands on and the reduced written test/exams.

Sports Info: What is your dream job?

Daquan: My dream job is to own a sports talk show, speaking specifically about basketball and hockey.

Sports Info: If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

Daquan: I would be a lion for sure. They just have the killer instinct and that's the mentality I tried to bring out the second half of the season last year.

Sports Info: Who is one person you look up and why?

Daquan: I look up to my uncle a lot. He keeps me level-headed and seeing his amazing work ethic forces me to go harder.

Sports Info: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Daquan: I really want to visit Africa soon. I don't have a specific reason why; it's just been on my bucket list as of late.

Sports Info: What project during your time at Academy of Art are you most proud of?

Daquan: Finishing up my first year, I did a music video for one of my editing classes and I was shocked how well I executed all the things I learned in the class to create it.

Sports Info: Who are your favorite sports teams and why?

Daquan: I don't really have a favorite sports team, but I'm going to have to go with my hometown team Toronto Raptors and Chicago Blackhawks because I'm a big fan of Patrick Kane.