Seven Questions with Augustus Maiyo
9/2/2008 12:00:00 AM
Sept. 2, 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 first edition features senior Augustus Maiyo.
Rolltide.com: When and why did you start running?
Augustus Maiyo: I started running competitively when I graduated high school which was 2002. Actually, I started running because most of my friends ran so I just started training with them. In high school I just ran for fun.
Rolltide.com: What other schools recruited you?
Maiyo: I was recruited by The University of Arizona but I decided to come to Coach Walker's school.
Rolltide.com: What are your personal goals and what are the team goals for this year?
Maiyo: Of course my personal goal is to try to finish top 10 at nationals, but if I have a shot to win it then whatever comes will come. Our team would like to be top three at the NCAA Championships, but we would like to finish number one or two also.
Rolltide.com: What's your favorite workout?
Maiyo: My favorite is 1000-meter repeats because I can do ten and that is always a great day for me.
Rolltide.com: What was the biggest transition moving to Alabama from Kenya?
Maiyo: A lot of things were going on when I first came to Alabama. At first it was the weather because I first got here in January so it was cold. At the same time, the food I found here was different from what I was eating back home. So the only food I found that was similar was rice and peanuts. Everything was completely different and I didn't know what was going on.
Rolltide.com: Do you have a pre-race ritual?
Maiyo: I used to listen to music before the race but after some time it was just, I'm going to race. But yeah, my freshman year, I would listen to music.
Rolltide.com: Do people look up to you when you get to go home since you are so successful and running for The University of Alabama?
Maiyo: Yeah, everyone looks up to me. In my family, everyone is looking after me.
