Ferguson will be one of the favorites in the 400 hurdles as a freshman (Prettysporty.com) |
1. Your time of 49.38 won a silver medal in the 400 hurdles at the 2002 World Junior Championships which also set a new American high-school record. Now that breaking 49 seconds is upon the horizon, how do you rate your chances of pulling off the NCAA title as a freshman?
I dont really dwell on what I'm going to place at the national meet as I just want to run the best race I know I can do. But dont get me wrong, I do want to win and that would be a great accomplishment for me as a freshman.
2. Now that you're into the heart of the outdoor season under head coach Curtis Frye, how much different and challenging have your workouts been compared to last year when you were a senior in high school?
It's quite different getting adjusted from High shcool to College workouts. I did a lot of hurdle work in high school and now I do a lot of running and conditioning workouts with hurdles too. Something I didn't do in high school was lift weights. I do that a lot now which I have to do if I want to be the best in the country.
3. Speaking of the workouts, at what point of the season will you begin to fall back on the amount of meters you run and then focus more on general speed work?
We have actually started already as I've been doing sprint workouts lately to be quciker for the short hurdles. The 400 hurdles come quite natural because I can run the open 400 well and of course I'm on the 4x400 relay, so that's great work too.
4. Hailing from Detroit's Mumford High School, how often do you get to go back home and keep in touch with all of your old teammates, friends and family?
I dont get to see my family and friends that often. Im not going to see them until after Junior National's as I have too much work to take care of down here so they understand. But I do talk to them a lot on the phone almost everyday.
5. Now that you have some international experience under your belt, have you given any thought on if you would like to participate and challenge the World Outdoor Championships this summer?
Most defintely I intend to run at the World Championship trials this summer. I think I have a good chance plus it would be good learning experience. It's going to be tough to run both Jr an Sr Nationals, but I'll be prepared by then.
6. What are some of the most important hurdle techniques and drills you work on during each week?
My teammates and I always work on tightness an quickness over the hurdles. Our coach tells us to go through the hurdle and not to float the hurdle. It helps that I get to practice with Terrence Trammell too!
7. You'll most likely first face the NCAA defending champion Ricky Harris of Florida in the 400 hurdles at the Penn Relays. Is there any kind of statement you would like to make or does it not matter until the SEC Championships?
I dont really have nothing to say to him in particular, I just hope he bring his "A" game to Penn or SEC's. But to all my competitors, I hope you all watch your backs, because I'm on a mission to upset the top three place finishers from last year.
8. What's the most difficult transition you have had to make so far on and off the track during your freshman year at South Carolina?
I had to face the reality of losing. By that I mean that your going to lose sometimes in your life. I came in here thinking I was going to just dominate, but my time is coming down very fast. As far as school, it's very different from high school. You are on your own and being independent so you have to be ready for the responsibility.
9. As a part of the 4x400 meter relay which also won the title last year, you helped lead the Gamecocks to break 3:04 already this season at the Florida Relays. How fast do you think you and your teammates can go and what will the general order be on the relay?
There is no limit in what we can run. My teammates are experienced at this now and I'm learning a lot from Otis, OT and Jon. With Jon on anchor, there is no telling what we can run and I just want to do my part to help the team.
10. People often like to criticize you and other athletes around the country based on the workouts, performance or anything they can think of to bring you down. Knowing that they are not even there beside you every day going through the ups and downs, does this affect you in any way what other people may have to say?
I do not let that bother me at all, because I know what I'm doing at practice every single day. I have no reason to cheat my workouts in any way. Why would I cheat my workouts if I'm trying to be the best in the country? I pay no attention to it at all as it's just talk and I actually find it funny.
11. As a spectator and fan, what's the one performance or record you have witnessed that will never be broken again?
The best performance I ever seen it would have to be that 19.32 clocking by Michael Johnson at the Olympic Games in the 200 meters. I still have that on tape and it's ridiculous. I mean, I still can't believe it, that record is never going to be broken.
12. Who were some of your idols and role models growing up?
My role models are my parents. I love them so dearly, I would give them the world if I could as they have done so much for me on and off the track. As for my idols, they are Allen Johnson and Terrence Trammell. They are so cool in person and it's fun training with them all the time.