Interview and photo provided
With the South Carolina High School League not having indoor track and field as a sanctioned sport what are you hoping to achieve this indoor season?
I am hoping to achieve a good base for the outdoor season and really improve my race experience which will play a big role at some of the major meets down the line.
How has indoor training been going so far these winter months?
Indoor training has been going very well this winter, coming off a rough football season at my high school, it is refreshing to work towards something new.
How is indoor training different from your high school season training?
Indoor training is more laid back than outdoor training in some aspects because unlike outdoor we do not have meets every weekend. Which plays a big role in our workouts throughout the week. We have more time to really focus on our flaws and become better sprinters all around.
How many meets do you have left this season?
I have two to three more meets left in my indoor campaign. I will be running at the JDL Fast Track on Jan. 14. I will also be running at the David Oliver meet the end of January and possibly the Kentucky High School Invitational on Feb. 18.
How would you rate your indoor campaign thus far?
I would rate my indoor season a solid 6.5 on a 10-point scale. I am not disappointed in my season but not satisfied. Knowing the times I have been hitting in practice, I would say I have not reached my potential yet.
What future goals do you have for your outdoor season? And how do you feel competing in indoor meets will prepare you what's to come during the spring.
My overall goal for this outdoor season is a state championship. Winning the 110 and 400 hurdles South Carolina Class AAAAA championship has always been a goal of mine. Indoor season has almost given me a head start into my training for the spring. It has given me additional time to work on my hurdle form which will be key if I want to win the 110 hurdles this year.
This is your second season competing in indoor meets. How have you seen the sport change in the state? Or what would you like to see change? Please explain.
Indoor track has come a long way in the state of South Carolina compared to the past season. Even though it is still not "sanctioned," I have seen many more athletes competing in meets outside the state representing South Carolina. I would love to see South Carolina make it an official high school sport. Going to North Carolina indoor meets and seeing the competition and learning that they have an official indoor season with a state championship to conclude it all really shows what our state (S.C.) is missing out on.
I began running track my freshman year of high school to get faster for football. The odd thing is, that track ending up becoming my number one sport. I began hurdling the last meet of my freshman year. I sat down with my coach (Coach Williams) and talked. He said that an average 400 runner can be turned into a solid 400-meter hurdler if they are willing to put in the work. So I gave hurdles shot. I began training for the 400 hurdles a week before the Berkeley County Meet my freshman season. I placed fifth at our region meet that year which was my first 400 hurdles race ever. I came back for my sophomore season with the aspirations of running the 110 hurdles. Since then I have been primarily training in hurdles.
What is your favorite indoor event? Why?
My favorite event indoors is the 60 hurdles. It's my favorite event because it's all speed and your natural reflex over the hurdle. It's an event where you really have to trust your training and run.
What is your motivation this year being it's your junior year?
My motivation this year will be making it to the State Championship. Last year, I missed out on competing at State as a sophomore by two spots. I ran the slowest time I had ran that season at State Qualifying, even slower than my season opener in March last season. Placing 10th in the 400 hurdles at state qualifier was really a tough pill to swallow.
You won your first individual indoor event this past weekend. How did that feel? Take us through your race.
This past weekend I won my first individual event at The Hoover Alumni Invitational in Birmingham, Ala. I won the 15-16 boys 60 meter hurdles with an 8.67. Winning did feel great but I knew I still didn't run up to my potential. My race felt good through hurdle 1-2 but still not to my coach's (Coach Williams) or my standards as a whole race. The race fueled me even more. It shows me that I have a lot more to bring to the table.
You competed in multiple individual events this past weekend? How did that feel? How where you able to bounce back after each event?
I ran four events this past weekend in Birmingham the 60 hurdles (8.67), 60 (7.29), 400 (54.46) and the 200 (23.39). It made out for a long day but it ended up being a good solid workout. I was able to go out there and put up satisfactory times in all my events. Granted, it took a toll on my body. The strategy was as soon as I get done running, take a cool down and then immediately get off my feet and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
When is your next meet? What will you be running? What are you looking to accomplish at the meet?
The next meet I am competing in is at JDL Fast Track in Winston Salem, N.C. on Jan. 14. I will be running the 500 and the 300. I would like to see at least a 1:07 in the 500 and then follow it up with a 36 mid to high in the 300, which will keep me on track for the outdoor season.
