Motion blur / freezing motion - handheld D80

[Dodgeinart]

I missed the aperature priority part when I first read it, sorry. Glad the rest can read better.
Perhaps to frame better you might have him going over the camera, or closer in the frame. Crop in so he's not centered in the frame, but has more room to run.
As far as giving this more punch the bg seems all similar coloring so not a lot that will distract, or add to the contrast.
Is it required to be B&W? If not go ahead and get creative with some coloring.

[fletch]

Compositionally it may have been more pleasing if you had followed a few "rules".

The eye likes going from left to right so have the runner going that way also.
Leave some space for the runner to go into the frame.

Like this? (I'm sure the photography teacher will like the "rules"!)

[vkm]

Thanks Fletch. That IS definitely more pleasing. The left to right. I had not heard about that rule. Yet. . I was having trouble with overcast skies and running out of time to finish the assignment. I wanted something to demonstrate that I GOT the point of the assignment and was not quite thinking aesthetics. But I definitely see your point. Thanks again!

-Vinod

[Jim Bryant]

Higher the shutter speed will stop the action. if want to blur, use a slower shutter speed. Experiment with all the shutter speeds from your highest to lowest, the more you shoot, the more knowledge and experience you'll gain from learning how the camera operates.