Alalbama Track & Field Q&A: Keitavious Walter
2/13/2018 3:06:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Keitavious Walter is in his first season as a member of the Alabama track & field team. The junior from Ruston, La., was a two-time NJCAA 60- and 200-meter champion as well as running on a junior college national championship 4x100-meter relay at Hinds Community College. He ran a UA-season best 6.66 at the New Mexico Classic on Feb. 3, which equals the 10th-fastest time in school history. Â
How does your mental approach change from in relays to individual events?
Keitavious Walter: "Well in individual events, I'm trying to PR in every meet. It's different in relays – I really just go out and help the team to the best of my abilities. Basically I just want to be the best that I can be – not be the next someone else. I want to be the next me when I step out on the track."
Why did you chose Alabama?
KW: "Coach (Dion) Miller is a lot like my high school coach. My high school coach was like a father figure because he believed in me. He had a plan for me to get out and graduate high school, and I stuck with that plan. Coach Miller is just a straightforward person, he's someone I can trust and that really reminds me of my high school coach."
What are the differences between running in junior college and running at Alabama?
KW: "The training is mainly the same but the team is bigger, so it's split up in more groups and it's more intense. Every one is good, no one is slow. We make each other better in the end."
What are your goals for this season?
KW: "My goal for this season is to win the 60 meter title and prove I can run at this level. That's my motivation. I know it's going to be hard getting there, and I'm willing, I'm up for the task for it."
What motivates you?
KW: "My mom motivates me because she's the one who really believed in me."
What is your favorite event?
KW: "I look forward to running the 60 meter because that's the event I specialize in, and I'm more critiqued in that than in the other events. I'm still learning and still trying to get my technique right, but the 60 meters is my event."
Players Mentioned
