TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

You were one of the three finalists for the UB Male Athlete of the Year award at the recent athletics award banquet. What did it mean to be considered for such an honor?
It was actually pretty incredible. I was sitting at my table, depressed during the banquet because I was hoping to get one of the senior leadership awards that were given out. Those who received those awards unquestionably deserved them, but then bam... I saw my name pop up on the screen as one of the Male Athlete of the Year finalists and it almost knocked me off my seat. It just gives me a real nice feeling that all the hard work and perseverance has paid off.

Your head coach, Dick Barry, has announced that he will retire at the conclusion of this season after 17 years at the helm of UB’s track and field program. Discuss what he meant to you personally and what he meant to the UB track program as a whole.
As for the program, Coach Barry was here and led the program from Division III to Division I. He loves to tell us the story about when he started, that the whole budget for our team was something like $12,000 for the entire year. I don’t know if that is enough money to pay for all the chocolate chip cookies that he eats now!

Actually, the team has come a long way with his leadership. Through all the struggles and successes our team has endured through the five years I've been here, Coach Barry has led us not as a dictator, but taken into account what the athletes think. Watching him lead our team has helped me to grow just as much as a person as I have as an athlete.

What are your team and individual goals for the Mid-American Conference Championships, which run from May 9th-11th?
Our team goals can only be accomplished through strong individual performances. My main focus for the MAC Championships is the 1500 meters (one mile). Our conference is very deep at that distance, but the goal is to run strong and relaxed in the trials, make it to the finals, and take it from there. Our goal as a team is to get out there and show the other teams that the Bulls won’t just lay down.

You are considered a ‘middle distance’ runner. What events does that mean you compete in?
I compete in any event from 800 meters to 10,000 meters in cross country (half-mile to 6.2 miles). As a middle distance runner, you need to possess a combination of foot speed with strong endurance. My main event right now is the 1500 meters (one mile), but I go both up and down in my race distances to work on different aspects that will make me stronger in the mile.

Describe the training that you partake in for the events that you run.
As a miler, I have a wide variety of training. Right now I am running in the vicinity of 60 miles per week. So in an average week, we do two speed workouts on the track where we run intervals at or near race pace, three easy days where we generally run at least 50 minutes, race day and then one long day when I run between 75 and 85 minutes. On top of that, we weight train 2-to-3 times per week so that we look good when we run with our shirts off!

With a mile time of 4:16.26, you hold the school record. What are the keys to running such a fast mile?
My key is not trusting in myself to get it done. I rely on God to give me the strength to get through every race I'm in. Confidence is the key to running fast. Believing that each new race is an opportunity to make that one your best is a driving force to push yourself beyond your former limits.

You earned a spot on the MAC Honor Roll with a 3.7 grade point average during the fall semester. How do you balance your athletic commitments with your studies?
I’ve truly been blessed in that area – school has come fairly easy to me. It helps being an exercise science major. I know what I learn in the classroom can help me to become a better runner, so it’s an extra incentive to pay attention in class and pick my professors’ brains.

Do you have any plans to continue running competitively after you graduate from Buffalo?
I’m still not sure if I will continue running at such a high level after I graduate. The dedication you need to put in as a Division I-athlete has stopped me from doing so many other activities that I truly enjoy and miss. But there is also that drive to see just how good you can get. That decision is still up in the air, but in any case I need to be at least a recreational jogger.

As a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School in Cheektowaga, UB afforded you the opportunity to compete at the highest level at a nearby location. For you, what was the significance in being able to do that?
Initially I wanted to get away –what graduating high school student doesn't want to? But having a top-notch university with a strong track and field program right here in my backyard has been great. Staying at home meant that I had all the support I could have ever needed from a loving family and some truly great friends.

Talk about the outdoor facilities for a track athlete at UB.
After being to meets all over the country, our outdoor facility is definitely second to none. The only problem is that with the weather in the Northeast, we usually spend four-plus months training indoors.

-The ‘10 Questions with’ feature is compiled by Geoff Nason.