 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | The first year after of high school can be filled with new challenges, unexpected success, surprising disappointment, homesickness, bad dining hall food, new friends and late nights. Knowing the adjustment isn't always easy, we've asked ESPN RISE intern Hilary May, herself a high school standout at Corona del Mar CA and a collegiate runner at Harvard, to contact some of last year's top prep track and field athletes and find out how things are going...one year out.
| | | Toni Graham
"I didn't ever really get homesick...I missed my family but I was never in a real hurry to get home all year."
Toni Graham was a dominating force in the sprints in Illinois throughout high school - polishing her career off with 14 Conference Championship titles. Toni looked to continue her success on the track this past fall in her parent's home state at the University of Alabama.
Dyestat catches up with Toni to find out how her first year in Tuscaloosa went, and what it was like representing the Crimson Tide in the competitive SEC Conference.
How are you? Do you like Alabama and the track program there?
I am great! I'm blessed and happy. I had a great freshman year. Track and Field on the collegiate level is an all year round sport so I am ALWAYS training. I love the University of Alabama, it was the perfect fit for me. The Alabama program was an intense program, it will take some time for me to get acclimated.
My freshman year was...
...one of the best years of my life!
Have your goals changed after one year of college? What are your goals? Where do you see the Alabama program taking you?
My goals have definitely changed. I shortchanged myself initially with my goals because I didn't think I would go any further than conference when I actually made it to Regionals and close to Nationals. I want to contribute to the team in an individual event at conference and every meet for that matter. I want to make it to Nationals next year in an open or a relay. I want to eat a lot healthier and bring my grades up. I want to get down to the mid elevens in the hundred and break twenty-four in the two hundred. And with any program you only get out of it how much you put in, I plan on putting in as much as I can give and hopefully that takes me as far as God has planned for me.
 How rigorous is college training versus high school training? What are the major differences and similarities?
College training is hard! It is definitely hard work. I thought I had days in high school where I just didn't know if I was going to make it. College makes you think twice about it! But my friend and I always say this is what we signed up for!! Major differences for me were the amount of lifting and that breaks were few and far between. Also training in high school started in January; in college it starts in September and you go all year round. And in college everyone was the best where they came from, so even practice is competitive. The only thing similar is the expectations, and that's that you contribute and win!
What sort of strength and conditioning do you do? Is it much different than your high school regimen?
Strength and conditioning started off as my favorite part of the workout because I could lift pretty heavy for my size and I started out light simply because I was a freshman and our strength and conditioning coach was really entertaining. Later in the year it became harder because there were more lifts added and it would take me longer than a lot of people because my weight was heavier! In high school there really was no real schedule for lifting, and we barely lifted.
Academically, how hard did you find Alabama? How hard is it to balance schoolwork with running? What was your favorite class? What do you want to major in?
I didn't find any of my classes too academically challenging. My hardest classes were prerequisites for my major. It is hard to balance schoolwork and running. But there are things set in place to help make it easy, such as mandatory study hall, and places where athletes can go and get help in whatever subject they need. Also a lot of teachers try to work with athletes and their schedules, to help ease the stress of competing. My favorite class of the year was my public speaking class! I want to major in Public Relations. I chose to major in public relations because I love people and I love to talk and there are plenty of job opportunities in that field.
Is there time to party at Alabama? Are you even allowed to have a social life as a member of the track team? How do you balance your social life with academics and athletics?
 If you are good with time management then there is definitely time to party!! As far as social life, as an athlete you have two different social lives, one when you're in season and the other when you're out of season. In season social activities usually happened during the week because you're traveling and competing during the weekend. But when you're out of season as long as you get your work done, you can socialize during the week and on the weekends! The way I balance everything is I have a calendar where I write major dates for things that I have to do and then reminders leading up to the date so that I get everything done that I have to do so I can do what I want. A lot of my friends are athletes and socializing is easier because we tend to run on the same schedule each week. But when you do anything you have to be safe and be sure not to jeopardize your reputation and the school's reputation.
Do you go to the football games? What are the football games like as a student? What was your first Alabama/Auburn game like? Did you go to other Alabama sporting events? What is your favorite on-campus thing to do? Is there a lot of school spirit?
I went to most of the football games (student athletes get into other athletic events for free). Alabama is a football school so every game is truly an experience and you can't explain it until you've been to one. The stands are almost always full and it's exciting, probably more so because I know people who are down there playing and you want them to do well. The Alabama-Auburn game was at Auburn last year so I watched it on TV. I was expecting it to be intense because they are our biggest rivalry but we killed them so it wasn't as exciting, but the after game activities were great!! My favorite thing to do on campus would probably be hanging out in the apartment with my friends or going to the pool at the rec. There is a TON of school spirit! Everything is crimson and white, from businesses to handicap parking! It's unbelievable how much school spirit there is around town. You can't go into any establishment without seeing something about the Crimson Tide!
What is your typical Saturday night like?
I have two typical Saturday nights. In season: I'm finished competing and laying in the bed sore and beat or we're on the bus headed back to Tuscaloosa! Out of season: The football game is over and I'm at home with teammates preparing for the after game festivities!!
 What is your typical Monday night like?
A typical Monday is usually me sitting in study hall doing some homework and filling out my calendar for the week.
What is your favorite food in the dining hall?
My favorite food is the Cajun sautéed tilapia!
What are Alabama track athletes like? Are they different from other Alabama students? Are they different from your high school teammates?
The Alabama track and field team is an eclectic group for sure! We all come from different parts of the world but we mesh pretty well. We have plenty of laughs but there is a sense of team. We push each other and we understand that this process is something that we're all going through together. We want to see everyone on the team succeed. We are definitely different from other Alabama students! Simply put, our sport is the punishment for every other sport! We run, jump and throw in a never-ending oval that's something that only a specific group of people can do. We also have a lot more responsibility than the average college student because of meetings, practices, and traveling. We always have something on our plates. My college teammates are definitely different from my high school teammates and a lot of it is because we live, eat, and sleep in the same general vicinity. We depend on each other a lot, no matter what event someone else does. I feel like I fit in really well. The school fits me as well.
Was there a big transition moving from the Midwest to the South?
The transition was not big for me at all. Both of my parents are from the state of Alabama. My Dad is from Lisman, Alabama and my Mother is from Phenix City, Alabama. So I've visited more times than I can count and I'm familiar with the lifestyle.
What is the team dynamic like?
The team is very diverse but there are a lot of strong personalities and we are very opinionated young women.
Did you live with your teammates or with non-track athletes this year? What were your roommates like? What did you think of your living situation? Are you rooming with them all again next year?
I stayed with two of my teammates this year. My roommates were two sophomores so they helped me out during the course of the year. The living set up was great! I lived in the building with the basketball team and I got to know them really well. We stayed in an apartment community with other athletes. I had my own room with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and one and a half bathrooms. I had two roommates. No I won't be rooming with those teammates. I will be rooming with one of my other teammates. She and I became really close and she is my year. We're best friends and it was only obvious that we lived together.
What is it like competing in arguably the deepest and most competitive conference in the country (SEC Conference)? What is it like to represent Alabama in the SEC? What is it like to represent the SEC?
The SEC carries some of the best athletes in the world. So it was definitely a humbling experience competing with what seemed like professionals. The man who won the 100m Dash and the woman who won the 400m were both in the SEC! It was great to represent the University of Alabama at SEC's . It was even better to be considered a part of the rich tradition of the SEC. Competition is fierce, you can't underestimate anyone, and any one can run the fastest time in the nation at any time. It's definitely exciting to watch and be a part of.
At the outdoor SEC Championships, you were part of the 4x100m relay team and ran the open 100m. What was this experience at your first conference championships like? How were your performances?
 My first conference was a learning experience. As a team we were under a lot of pressure to perform and do well because we had a disappointing indoor season. In the 100m I ran a personal best for the season but it wasn't good enough to make finals. The 4x100 on the other hand was nerve-wracking because we had a real chance to do really well and we definitely performed. We placed 5th overall and I had a really good run.
You ran at the NCAA Mideast Regional in Kentucky in the 4x100m. How did it feel to already make Regionals as a freshman? What was it like competing at that level? How did the race turn out? What was your performance like?
It was truly a shock for me that I made it, and like I said I kind of shorted myself in my goals that I had for the season. I was definitely excited because we had a great opportunity to run well with some good competition. Our goal as a squad was to run under forty-five seconds and we almost made it but we had to bad exchanges. Competing at Regional's was so much fun though! The pressure was immense, but because of the sense of accomplishment of even making it to Regional's there was a sense of confidence that I didn't feel at Conference. I had a great run in the prelims and I ran a great leg. During the finals we PRed and ran a good race but we placed 6th and only top 3 are guaranteed a national spot.
What was the biggest shock about your freshman year?
The biggest shock of the year was that I didn't ever really get homesick; don't get me wrong I missed my family but I was never in a real hurry to get home all year.
What was the biggest disappointment?
The biggest disappointment of the year was how fast the year went by. I guess when there is almost always something to do, time flies. It all went by so fast.
What was the best part?
The best part of the year was the freedom and all the opportunities of being on your own.
What are you most looking forward to?
I'm most looking forward to just doing the whole year over again with a little more knowledge of the campus and what college life is about.
What is your favorite college meet?
Alabama Relays was my favorite meet of the year, simply because we got an opportunity to run in front of our peers and family. It was a great way to start the season off!
What do you miss most about high school?
I don't really miss high school at all. I'm pretty independent so the freedom of college is something that I truly enjoy.
What are your summer plans?
This summer I will be training harder, doing a lot of speed work and endurance work. I will also be working with other athletes and doing conditioning with them.
Do you have any words of wisdom for high schoolers?
A lot of students go to college and get caught up in the social aspect of college and lose focus and fail out of school. If anyone had as great a freshman year as myself, then they would never want to come back home. So I would say choose the right school for you and when you get there enjoy yourself but handle your business. Get your work done and keep your grades up. Only good things come from good grades. More importantly, choose your friends wisely, people who are moving in the same direction that you're going will ONLY help you. This is hard but it's best because you accomplish your goals a lot quicker. And always remember when you do what you have to do, then you have all the time in the world to do what YOU want to do!
Stats:
High School:
55m - 6.95; 100m - 11.90; 200m - 24.50
Notable High School Achievements: 14-time Conference Champion; 18-time All-Conference Honors; Conference record holder in 3 events; 3-time MSL Section Champion; 4-time All-State Honors; Holder of 7 Conant High School records and 1 Rockton Hononegah Community High School record; 3-time School District 211 Athletic Excellence Award Winner; 2-time Varsity letter winner in tennis, with an overall career record of 37 wins and 7 losses.
College:
Indoor: 60m - 7.65; 200m - 24.95; Outdoor: 100m - 11.80; 200m - 25.24
Notable college freshman achievements: All Regional 4x100; All SEC Conference 4x100 Relay; Top 3 100m and 200m Sprinters; 3rd Place 200m Nebraska Adidas Classic
Photos: headshot - rolltide.com; middle two, Donna Dye; bottom two, Beverly Graham | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
