Dannys Marrero started running cross-country to get out of doing chores for his mom.

He could have picked any sport, but found a home on the race course.

“I realized that this sport is different because you determine how good you are,” Marrero said. “Whatever I put in is what I’m going to get out of it.”

The freshman political science major was born in Puerto Rico where his mom worked as a police officer. When Marrero entered third grade, his mother joined the army in order to better support Marrero and his older brother Bories.

Growing up on military bases, Marrero has lived in Texas, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Long Island and New York City.

During his senior year of high school, Marrero lived in Florida and ran cross-country. He went to states with his team, competing in the 5k in addition to qualifying at regionals in the 1600.

When he was accepted to Point Park, Marrero saw a new opportunity in Pittsburgh – he hadn’t lived there before.

“I picked this school without even coming here for a visit,” Marrero admitted. “The first day I was here was move-in day.”

It was on that day that Marrero met Alexis Sherman, a junior political science major, who helped him move in to his dorm.

“I didn’t know that there were any more of us [political science majors], especially on the team,” Sherman said. “He and I just clicked, and I think we stood outside just talking for two hours.”

Although Marerro’s focus is on cross country, during the indoor season he runs distance events ranging from the 400 meters to the 5k race.

“During indoor track I specialize in the mile and run any other event coach decides to put me in,” Marrero said.

Training for this sport requires a lot of individual work, but Marrero was also quick to admit the importance of his team members in his success.

“Obviously, you can improve by yourself,” Marrero said. “But there’s going to be a limit that you are going to hit by yourself, and you need other people to get beyond that.”

One fond memory Sherman has with Marrero is going with him to get his first tattoo — a list of the coordinates for all the places in the country in which he has lived. Unique experiences like these that make the team so close.

“Our cross country team is strangely close,” Sherman said. “It’s all a big team environment.”

Each member brings something to the team, but it is Marrero’s diverse interests and big personality that make him stand out.

“The things that he has interests in are not something that you would think of in a runner,” Sherman said.

Marrero produced his own television show with the student-run station U-View last semester. His politics-themed show was aptly titled “On Point With Politics.” Marrero will continue producing the show this semester.

“Not only am I learning how politics work, but also I’m informing other people,” Marrero said. “I really want to be a political analyst.”

Although only a freshman, Marrero was named “River State Conference Runner of the Week” by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) twice last semester. He was also named “Newcomer of the Year” by men and women’s head track and field coach Kelly Parsley.

“He exceeded mine and his own expectations,” Parsley said.

Parsley watched Marrero shine on the course early last semester when Western Pennsylvania weather made conditions less than ideal. The Pioneers competed on a muddy course at the Penn State-Beherend Invitational in the second meet of the season.

“It was a nightmare,” Parsley said. “He emerged as our number one runner that week. It was probably the worst conditions in all my years of coaching in terms of running a cross country meet, and he finished top five overall.”

Marrero hopes to translate his success on the cross country course to track and field during indoor season, while he continues producing his television show. His goal is to make it to nationals with the team.

“I have 11 more seasons in front of me,” Marrero said. “As cliché as it is, I look forward to getting better with them [the team].”