When I was young I noticed that I was faster than most kids. I could outrun my cousins and my playmates any day. When I got into high school, I joined the track team. It was the first time I saw track and field equipment. I didn’t know how to use the starting blocks. I didn’t even know that track athletes use spike shoes to run.

My coach picked my events. I ran the 100, 200, 400 and both relays. I was decent in the 100 and 200 but I excelled in the 400. I continued track in college. In college, the university I was in had a very nice track program. Our track and field equipment was first class. During my sophomore year, my coach decided to put me in the 400m low hurdle. I was scared to jump the hurdle. It took me a couple of months to get used to “hurdling” instead of jumping.