Seven Questions with Tyson David
9/30/2008 12:00:00 AM
Sept. 30, 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 fifth edition features junior Tyson David.
Rolltide.com: When and why did you start running?
Tyson David: Running has been like a way of life to me since primary school in Kenya. I'm not sure of the exact distance where the school is located from my home but it can't be less than 6 miles. I had to run every morning from Monday to Friday to get there on time to avoid being late for classes. When I went to high school I developed a very strong interest in sports like volleyball, soccer and middle distances. But I knew most runners in Kenya were very successful compared to other sports, so I decided to take running serious and through running I got an athletic scholarship to come study in the United States.
Rolltide.com: What are your personal goals and what are the team goals for the season? Running career goals for college and further?
David: My personal goals this season are to help the team win the conference meet, and also finish in the top three at the nationals. We have talked as a team and agreed that we can win conference if we all stay healthy. My running career goal for the college is to win at least three individual national titles before I graduate. After college I will try to run professional in track if I will be competitive enough to do so, if not then I will try my luck in road racing.
Rolltide.com: What's your favorite race and why?
David: I like the 10k because it needs both endurance and some speed. I just love it when I see 6 laps to go and we are in a group of three or four guys everyone trying to break the resistance of the other. Honestly, that's the funniest part of a 10k.
Rolltide.com: Why did you choose to come to The University of Alabama?
David: I chose to come to Alabama because of the good program we have here for track and cross country. Also the coaches are great, when the head coach (Harvey Glance) and the distance coach (Joe Walker) came to visit me in Arizona when I was in junior college they were just amazing. I asked the right questions and when I came here for a visit I liked the team and the environment.
Rolltide.com: Other than running, what Olympic sport would you want to compete in and why?
David: I do also love to play volleyball and if I wasn't running that is what I would be doing. To me it's just fun when the ball is in your side and you have to think on how you should organize yourselves as a team to score.
Rolltide.com: What was the biggest transition moving to the United States from Kenya?
David: Everything was and still is different! First, the culture, food, and climate. When I arrived in Arizona it was just amazing to see the way of life here in America. That was my first time to see different people from different ethnic backgrounds living in the same society, Hispanic, whites, African Americans, Native Americans, and a few Asians, it was just wonderful! And everyone was friendly. About the food I first liked it, but it came to point where I could not eat it anymore up to now I don't understand why. The climate wasn't bad at first because it was January but when summer came the temperatures could go up 118 degree Fahrenheit it was just too hot since in Kenya temperature range from 60-79 degree Fahrenheit throughout the year.
Rolltide.com: You are the SEC and Alabama record holder in the 10,000m. How does it feel to be the fastest to ever run the event in the SEC and Alabama?
David: It feels okay. I think it's good to hold the record but I don't look only in the SEC and Alabama. I consider what other college guys have run in the same distance and also what professional guys are running. My time of 28:23:01 is not very fast I wanted to go under 28 minutes last year since it was an Olympic year. In fact I was disappointed since I could not attain the A standard to go to the trials in Kenya.
