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| Kohn set the Big East 60-meter record in February. (suathletics.com photo) |
kohn, jr.: It felt really good to capture the Big East 60-meter title. That was my goal all year. I was surprised that I broke the Carrier Dome and conference record. I was trying to win the race. My goals for the 2005 indoor season were to win the 60-meter Big East title, and to run faster times than I did last year.I was feeling very nervous going into the meet. The reason was because there was only a timed-final for the 60 meters. So it was like a one shot deal. There wasn't a second chance. For the whole indoor season, I told myself that no one was going to beat me in the 60-meters at the Big East Championship. Everyday at practice I told myself that I was going to win the 60-meter Big East title.
scrunners: What kind of goals are you setting for the rest of your career at Syracuse?
kohn, jr.: The goals that I have set for myself for the rest of my career at Syracuse University are to break the indoor 60 and 200 meters school record. To win a lot more Big East titles, to go to the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships, to come in the top five in the 60 and 100 meters at the NCAA Championships, and to make All-American in the 60 and 100.
scrunners: Who has been your biggest competitor at the collegiate level?
kohn, jr.: My biggest competitor at the collegiate level has been Rob Waters of Rutgers University. He is a great runner and competitor. He is currently a sophomore and the defending 100 and 200 meter Big East Champion.
scrunners: Did you have any family available at the meet when you set the record? How fast did the news get back to Beaufort?
kohn, jr.: Yes, My mom and my aunt came to the meet. My mom came from Beaufort, SC and my aunt flew in from Kansas City, KS. The news hit Beaufort pretty slowly. It was kind of hard for me to get in touch with one of the reporters at the local paper.
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Full Name: Aulton Kohn Jr. Academic Interest: To dual major in Marketing and Finance Date of Birth: January 15, 1985 Event Personal Bests: Indoor: 55 meters= 6.27; 60 meters= 6.73; 200 meters= 21.86; Outdoor: 100 meters= 10.21; 200 meters= 21.15 Brothers/Sisters/Names: William A. Kohn Hobbies: Collecting comics, playing basketball and football, playing video games |
scrunners: What kind of training have you done in college, compared to high school? How long did it take to adapt to the weather change from South Carolina to New York?
kohn, jr.: The training in college has been different but easier than it was in high school. In high school, I was trained as a 400 runner, so I did more endurance work. In college, there is more technical work involved. I spend a lot of time looking at tape and working the technical part of my race. Practice is a lot longer in college than high school. In high school, practice was about an hour and half to two hours long while in college practice last about four hours. I still haven't adapted to the weather in New York. The weather is still a challenge for me and a big difference from South Carolina.
scrunners: Have you met any runners while at Syracuse?
kohn, jr.: Yes, I have met many runners while at Syracuse. The runners I have met are Justin Frazier (200 and 400), Drew Holpuch (400H), and Martin Semenowicz (100 and 200). I have also met Josh Johnson (triple jumper), who was a graduate of Irmo High School in S. Carolina.
scrunners: What and whom got you invovled in track and field? When was your first meet and how did you do?
kohn, jr.: I started running when I was in sixth grade. I was inspired to run when I saw Michael Johnson run and when the 200 at the 1996 Olympics. So I went out for the Lady's Island Middle School track team. My first meet was in sixth grade. I can remember only running the 4X100. My team came in first, I believe. I can't remember since it's been so long ago.
scrunners: In 2003 when you captured state titles in the 100 and 200-meter events what kind of thoughts were going through your head? How did you train for the high school state meet in 2003? Who was your biggest competitor while at Beaufort?
kohn, jr.: The thoughts that were going through my head were that I finally won a state title. I been to the state championship three times before and the closest I came was second. It was one of the proudest moments of my track career. I trained for the high school meet, by doing a lot of starts/block work, doing a couple of 150s and just taking it easy for the week. My biggest competitor were Nathanial Breland of Waterboro my junior year and Brian Clinkscales of Westside my senior year.
scrunners: With a second place finish at the Golden West Invitational in 2003, in the 100, how was the experience to travel to California for a high school meet? Did you travel with family, a coach, and did you meet anyone professional or motivating at the meet?
kohn, jr.: The experience was really good for me. I learned that it took a lot of work and effort to compete at a national level. My mom traveled with me to the meet.
scrunners: Academically, your profile on suathletics.com says that you are majoring in Accounting. What would you like to do in the future with this degree?
kohn, jr.: I want to make a correction to my major. I am majoring in Marketing and Finance. With those degrees, I want to work for a sports team or be a sports agent.
scrunners: Have you ever thought to come back to South Carolina to coach the sports of track and field? How has the college level of the sport helped you grow in the sport and becoming knowledgeable in the sport?
kohn, jr.: I have thought about coming back and coaching the sport, but coaching isn't really for me. I don't think I could coach track and field, I would rather keep running and then when my time is up, I'll just leave the sport all together. The college level of the sport has helped me realize and learn that there is a lot of technique involved. I learned that from the first push off the blocks to crossing the finish lines, that there is a lot of technique.
scrunners: How were you told that you were the 2003 South Carolina Gatorade Boys Track Athlete of the Year?
kohn, jr.: I was told that I was the 2003 South Carolina Gatorade Boys Track Athlete of the Year by my mom. She was looking around on the internet and she went to the Gatorade website and found out that I was voted the 2003 South Carolina Gatorade Boys Track Athlete of the Year.
scrunners: As an alumnus of Beaufort and an individual that has made a big impact on the sport, what can you tell high school athletes that would like to become student-athletes at the collegiate level?
kohn, jr.: I would like to tell them that being a student-athlete at a collegiate level is hard work. They need to learn about time management and to do school work before they practice and after they practice. They should get tutors and talk to the teacher.
scrunners: What do you remember the most from attending Beaufort? What has been your biggest challenge in high school and college in the sport of track and field and life? How did you overcome these challenges?
kohn, jr.: What I remember most from attending Beaufort was the many principals the school had since I was there. The school went through three principals. I also remember how the teachers would help you do school work. How the track team was more like a team rather than split up into four groups. My biggest challenge is just trying to stay motivated for the sport. Sometimes it hard to still go out there and runner after you have won race after race. I overcome these challenges by telling myself that I still have to prove myself. Even though I won the Big East title, I still haven't won the NCAA title or run a time I want. I love the challenges and the competition that a waits.
scrunners: What keeps you motivated to get out the door on a daily basis for practice and life? What do you look for in a coach and what do you expect a coach to look for in you?
kohn, jr.: What keeps me motivated to get out the door on a daily basis for practice and life is the challenges I face everyday. I love to go out there in the world and compete. My motivation is my family. I want to represent my family to the fullest. What I look for in a coach, is a coach who talks to there athletes as an adult. The coach listens to his athletes and not just one group for opinions. The coach understands a little of the sport and trusts his athletes.
scrunners: Thanks Aulton. Best of luck with academics and track and field at Syracuse. You represent South Carolina very well.