JUCO Transfer Having Same Success at Division 1 Level
10/8/2008 12:00:00 AM
Oct. 8, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Tyson David competed at a junior college in Arizona called Central Arizona College before being recruited to come to Alabama and eventually ending up here. Before coming to the United States though, running is a like a way of life for young children in Kenya because they have to run to school and back every day. Most everybody knows that if you are a good runner, you can earn a scholarship and get a free education overseas. That is exactly what he did.
While at Central Arizona, he was a three-time National Champion, twice in cross country, and an eight-time All-American, six times in track. David's track All-American and National Champion honors all came in outdoor track which makes it even more impressive because he was only there for two years.
David transferred to Alabama in spring of 2008 after being recruited by most successful programs in that nation. Head track coach Harvey Glance and cross country coach Joe Walker traveled out to Arizona to meet with David and in turn got him to enroll and compete for the Crimson Tide.
Since that spring, just 10 months ago, David has accumulated many honors including his first individual SEC Championship in the 5,000 meters. He then added a second SEC Championship when he won the 10,000 meter race outdoors smashing the SEC and Alabama record at that distance. David is also a three-time All-SEC performer, as well as an All-Mideast Region runner and an All-American in the 10,000m outdoors.
"I think it's good to hold the record, but I don't look at only the SEC and Alabama," David said. "I consider what other college guys are running at the same distance and also what professional guys are running."
David had aspirations of competing in the 10,000 meters for his country Kenya in the Olympics but he did not run the standard in time for the Olympics.
"My time of 28:23:01 is not very fast," David said. "I wanted to go under 28 minutes last year since it was an Olympic year. In fact, I was disappointed because I could not attain the A standard to go to the trials in Kenya."
The 10,000 meter race is obviously David's fastest and favorite race to compete in and he believes it suits his style of running. It includes both endurance and speed.
"I love it when I see there are six laps to go and we are in a group of three or four guys," David said. "Everyone starts trying to break the resistance of the other."
As for this season, he is competing with the cross country team which is ranked No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the SEC and South Region. The squad has goals of winning all three titles this year. David himself would like to be an SEC Champion in cross country and top three at nationals. After graduation, David intends to run professionally.
"My running career goal at the college level is to win at least three individual national titles," David said. "After college I will try to run professional in track if I am competitive enough to do so. If not, I will try my luck in road racing."
The No. 6 Crimson Tide cross country team and David will try to improve that ranking when they run at the Pre-NCAA Invitational in two weeks on Oct. 18. It is the same course the Tide finished a school best sixth in 2007 at the NCAA Championships.
