McFadden was the top freshman 200 meter
runner in the SEC (MSU sports info) |
1. You had a standout freshman season in 2002 which included taking 7th in the 200 meter final at the SEC Outdoor Championships. Considering the SEC is loaded with some of the top sprinters in the country, where would you like to see yourself this season in the conference?
I hope to be up in the top three this season indoors and outdoors. I feel that I'm going to turn a lot of heads in track and field like I ones did in high school. This is a loaded year for the SEC as you said. Even with newcomers like Kelly Willie from LSU and Jonathan Wade of Tennessee, I feel like I'm going to rock the house.
2. One of the best high school races was when you finished just behind Bernard Christian in the 200 meters at the 2001 National Scholastic Indoor Championships. Both times of 21.02 and 21.05 broke the national high school indoor records. Reflect back on the race and what you remember out of the fast time.
All I could think of was WOW. We didn't know the time, or who won at the time. I knew that I didn't win. I wasn't disappointed at all -- we had ran the fastest time for high school runners in the history of the sport. Being rank number 1 for two years, not getting in the finals my junior year, or not being a national champion in 2000 or 2001 the year I was pick to win them, showed that track wasn't over for me. I believe this, "Good thing come to those who wait." So I'm just waiting my turn.
3. How much of an advantage does a 200 meter runner have when starting in lanes 5 and 6 on an indoor banked track compared to the inside lanes?
A 200-meter runner like me, 6' 3" ¾ need lanes 5 and 6 indoors in order to run a good race. A tall and small runner, like the way bank track turns, pushes us around the track.
4. As a part of both squads, what does Mississippi State hope to accomplish this season in both the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays?
We just want to get this team into the NCAA Championships this season. We want to win, but we understand what we need to do first, and that get those teams into the NCAA, then into the finals.
5. What is the most important technique that you work on during your drills or lifting in practice to prepare for sprinting?
The most important technique in practice isn't a drill at all, but I do favor the marching drill a lot. But it's the power clean that helps me the most.
6. Mississippi State was ranked 10th in the recent preseason Trackwire Top 25. With 8 of the top 10 teams ranked coming from the SEC alone, how much are the Bulldogs looking forward to the SEC and NCAA Championships for the team titles?
Were going to have fun this year. We know about the ranking. You know no one is going to like it if their not number one, but we'll just work our way up the food chain.
McFadden (4) and Christian (5) during the
200 meter final at the National Scholastic Championships in
2001 (Dyestat.com) |
7. Now that the NCAA Outdoor regionals are here, do you think it is a good idea for competition and qualifying for the NCAA Championships?
Good thing to have, because it gives every team hope, bad for me, because I will not see home until the end of June!
8. Besides the NCAA Championships, what meets are you looking forward to the most this season?
The SEC outdoor championships at Tennessee, Penn Relays, because it's like being home, the TCU meet, and this weekend (January 18) at the SEC West Challenge.
9. Do you see any collegiate sprinters breaking 10 seconds in the 100 meters and 20 seconds in the 200 meters this season?
Yes I do. My teammate from Canada (Pierre Browne) has done it this pass summer in the 100 meters by running 9.98. I feel that about three people in the 100 or 200 will break that 10 and 20 second mark this season.
10. What was the main reason you chose to enroll at Mississippi State and how have you enjoyed it so far?
I came way down here because my outdoors head coach in high school was a friend with the head coach here, and it's a good size college for me. I didn't like in at first, but I love it now. They help me here a lot! But nothing better then home!
11. Your fellow SEC competitor from last season, Justin Gatlin of Tennessee, made the early jump to the professional circuit. If you were in his shoes, would you have made that decision?
Well it all depends on what it really was that made him go pro. Why did he go so soon? I always said I wanted to end college before I go pro, but you never know these days.
12. What is most important to you in life and who do you look up to for motivation?
What is most important to me in my life is my family and the people around me. Helping other people, because someone helped me. My family is what motivates me. They are what keep's me going in life. I'm only here because of them. No matter what happens in track or school, I know that there is always love out there from my family. And that's better then any type of gold medal or ring! So I'll leave you with this: "For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks." Luke 11:10