Seven Questions with Andrew Kirwa
9/16/2008 12:00:00 AM
Sept. 16, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Rolltide.com and the Alabama men's cross country team have started a new weekly segment called Seven Questions. Select players and coaches will check in weekly on Rolltide.com and answer questions pertaining to things on and off the field. The third edition features sophomore Andrew Kirwa.
Rolltide.com: When and why did you start running?
Andrew Kirwa: I was running in high school and even in elementary school. Back in Kenya, a lot of people run, running is like a national uniform. You run because you see other people running as a profession and you want to be like them.
Rolltide.com: What are your personal goals and what are the team goals for the season?
Kirwa: For this year, I've set my goals to break 14:00 in the 5k and 29:00 in the 10k. Last year I ran 14:02 and 29:09. I've improved a lot since I've been here. The first thing for the team is to win the conference. We were planning on winning last year and winning by a big margin but unfortunately we had some setbacks just before the meet. We are set to win the conference this year. At the national level, our goal is to be top three.
Rolltide.com: What was the biggest transition moving to the United States from Kenya?
Kirwa: The first thing is the climate change. I came here last fall and it was too hot, it was difficult to adapt to the climate. In Kenya, it is cold to medium, it's not that hot. The second thing is that here you run and study. Most people in Kenya just run but here you have to study and you have to run. One more thing, here you have to responsible for yourself.
Rolltide.com: What's your favorite race and why?
Kirwa: My favorite is the 5k and 10k but I am going to run the steeple next year. I like the longer distances because it's how I trained in Kenya and I like the long distance training. One of my family members was a distance runner and my dad ran steeple.
Rolltide.com: Why did you choose to come to The University of Alabama?
Kirwa: Some other schools came to see me in Kenya and I was asked to come to New York. Most of the guys I run with here I grew up with in Kenya. When you ask who is a good coach back home, everybody knows Coach Walker thinks he is a good distance coach. Also, in Kenya you hear that Alabama is a big school.
Rolltide.com: You finished second out of the entire freshman field at last year's NCAA Championships. What was it like to be so successful as a freshman?
Kirwa: Actually, my plan was to be the first freshman to finish but I fell down over a large group that had fallen already. I was monitoring the other guy who was from Northern Arizona and I don't know how he slipped away, haha. I think I did well. My goal was to be the first freshman to earn All-American at Alabama but I will try to be an All-American this year.
Rolltide.com: Other than running, what Olympic sport would you want to compete in and why?
Kirwa: Handball
