University of Minnesota Athletics
Warm-Up Lap: Q&A with Kimberly Golding
2/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
By Jordyn Anderson, Athletic Communications Student Intern
MINNEAPOLIS -- Portmore, Jamaica native Kimberly Golding is gearing up to participate in her third Big Ten Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship this week.
Golding will be racing the 60m hurdles, where she has placed fourth in each of the last two years. A year ago at the B1G Championship, she ran a career-best time of 8.18 seconds, which was good for a new program record. Golding has already improved on that record earlier this season at the Music City Challenge where she finished in 8.16 seconds. In her healthiest season yet, free from injuries, Golding is ready to lay it all out on the track.
GopherSports.com sat down with the senior to talk about her time here at the University of Minnesota, what her preparation for Big Tens has been like, and what she plans to do after graduation.
Gopher Sports: How have you been preparing for the Big Ten indoor championships?
Kimberly Golding: Just doing the right stuff, eating healthy, working close with the trainers, and communicating well with my coach. I pray a lot too, sometimes I reflect back on the past and look at things that I could have done differently.
GS: What's it like being a senior on the team?
KG: I just look at it as it being my last year, so I need to try to do everything the right way. I just try to have fun while doing it since it is my last year, but it is kind-of hard at the same time because this is the end of it. As for the younger girls, I want to show them that you can have fun in this sport and let them know that I will always be there for them, even when I am an alum.
GS: What are your goals for the Big Ten Championships as well as for the outdoor season?
KG: It was very competitive my first year here when I transferred. I had about a month of practice before my first Big Ten indoor championships. In my second go-around, I was battling a few injuries. The three other girls I competed against were also other islanders, so that was fun. I will admit that they were faster than me. Right now I'm ranked third in the Big Ten, so I just want to go into this and have some fun. I don't want to think about the past, I just want to focus on the present.
GS: How do you mentally prepare yourself for your race when it is so short?
KG: Sometimes I will have some anxiety, and I won't be sure if I can do it. My coach always says to take the first run as the final, even though you may have two or three runs after it. On the bus, I listen to music. First I listen to my Gospel music to help me relax, and then I listen to music that pumps me. On the starting line, I think to myself, 'Kim, this is just a one shot, you got to go,' and when the gun goes off I just try to do the best I can.
GS: What are your post-graduation plans?
KG: I think I am going to stay in the States because I do see my future living here instead of going back home. It would be hard for me to get a job there because I want to be a coach and that field is difficult to get in back home. I'm going to try and work around here for a little bit and see how far it takes me.
GS: Do you want to coach college or high school?
KG: I'm still thinking about it, I think I might want to coach college. There are some cultural differences when it comes to coaching young kids here versus back home, so I think I would like to do college.
GS: What has your experience been like as a Gopher, especially with being in a different country and away from your family?
KG: It was a hard and a bit challenging, but after my first year here I felt really safe. It was a really good fit for me. The energy, the connection between everyone on the team, and the communication lines with the coaching staff were all great. I came on a recruiting trip, and I was observing the environment because I'm a pretty observant person and I saw how the girls were working together in the weight room. When it came to choosing the school I wanted to go to, I wanted a place that would feel like a home away from home and Minnesota gave that to me.
GS: What are you most looking forward to as you head into your last outdoor track & field season?
KG: I'm looking at both my indoor and outdoor season to see how far I can take my career here. I want to make the World University games so I can represent my country and Minnesota. I also want to go home for the trials for the world championships.
GS: How are you and the team feeling heading into Big Tens this week?
KG: I think we are in a good place as a team right now. We are going to go into Big Tens and do the best we can.
GS: You've talked about finding yourself as a young black female athlete. What has that journey been like for you?
KG: I never had to really look at it when I was home like I have since I came to the States. Being a young black female athlete here gave me the extra drive to go for what I want in life and continue to do what I want.
GS: You have also mentioned your faith. How has that helped you in your time here at Minnesota?
KG: Since I have been in the States, I have faced a lot of injuries back and forth every year. This year is probably the healthiest I have been. There were moments where I wanted to quit because of it, and I would call my mom and talk to her about it. She would remind me to pray and have faith, and to remind myself that I am not in this alone. I joined the AIA here at the university, and it was a reminder of why I am doing this; I'm doing it for my team, family, myself, and the Lord.
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Players Mentioned
