Q&A with Senior Cross Country Runner Catherine Wanyoike
November 21, 2003
Q: So for once and for all…what is it about Kenyans and long distance running?
A: There isn’t anything extraordinary about Kenyans. I think they are just born with it. We don’t train or do anything to make us different from the other people who run long distance. There are some tribes in Kenya that have good long distance runners. I am the only person in my family that runs.
Q: Who is your hero?
A: Coach Fox and my coach from home - Coach Ngata. He [Ngata] is the one that helped me to become a long distance runner and get to this point. I was a short distance runner and he helped change me into a long distance runner.
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest running achievement so far?
A: Qualifying for the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2002 and 2003. I haven’t been running all that good this season but it just happened and last weekend I qualified. It was just amazing. I wasn’t expecting it but had been looking forward to it. This is my last season and I really wanted it to happen and it did.
Q: What has been your favorite class at Auburn?
A: My Health and Human Performance class that I am taking right now called Exercise and Technology 2. It has been a good experience because it has helped me prepare for what I want to do after I graduate.
Q: How important is it that you have experience running in the NCAA Championships going into the meet on Monday?
A: It is going to help me because I can say I am a veteran. I am ready for the competition. I am not scared or nervous about Monday. I am not worried about it being cold or the course being hard because it will be cold and the ground will be hard for everyone.
Q: What do you like most about Auburn?
A: I like the way that Auburn is a family. It is just amazing how people come out and support the athletes and cheer you on. Just like last weekend at Regionals, there were people out there I had never seen who were cheering for me and calling out my name. It is just amazing and it encourages me a lot.
Q: What do you plan on doing after Auburn?
A: If I get a job I am going to stay here, which I am looking forward too. If I don’t get a job in the United States then I am going to go back to Kenya and get a job there.
Q: What is your ultimate goal is a runner?
A: I have been dreaming about running in the Olympics. After the cross country season I am going to train and see what happens. I will keep training with the team but not competing with the track & field team.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: “Desperado”. I don’t know why I like that movie but I think I have watched it a hundred times. I also like “Cool Runnings”.
Q: Where do you like to eat?
A: I like to eat Kenyan food so I cook for myself.
Q: Have you become a football fan since you have been here at Auburn?
A: Yes I have. When I got here I didn’t know about football, I expected them to be playing soccer because that is what we call football at home.
Q: What is the biggest difference between running in the United States and running in Kenya?
A: The weather. When I got here it was cold because I got here in December, so I noticed a big difference. I wasn’t use to that cold of weather. It doesn’t get as cold or hot in Kenya as it does here. The thing that makes the difference is the humidity because back home there is no humidity.
Q: If you could run anywhere in the world, where would it be?
A: The USA. I like running here at Auburn. I also like running in Kansas even though it is cold. You can experience running in both cold and hot weather in the United States.