Final answer:
A student running at a top speed of 5 m/s possesses kinetic energy, which is the energy due to motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a student is running at their top speed of 5 m/s, the type of energy that the student possesses is kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses because of its motion. For example, a car moving on the highway, water flowing over a dam, and indeed a student running all have kinetic energy due to their motion. This is distinct from potential energy, which is the energy stored due to an object's position or configuration, such as water at the top of a dam before it flows down.