Faith Washington Reynoldsburg 2012
Personal Bests
- 100 Meter Hurdles 14.26
- 200 Meter Dash 25.55
- 300 Meter Hurdles 42.88
- 400 Meter Dash 58.34
- 55 Meter Hurdles 8.75
- 60 Meter Hurdles 8.97
- Long Jump 17-5.75
OHRunners: You are probably one of the most overlooked runners in Ohio. You won the Middle School 100H in 2007 and in 2008 and are the Middle School record holder in the Long Jump @ 17 feet 1 ½”. However, you have not won an individual OHSAA State title thus far. What are your thoughts on not having gotten that individual title yet?
Faith: Over the past few seasons we’ve had a small girl’s track team at Reynoldsburg. It was important to me to help the team out anyway I could. So rather than concentrating on one or two events, I would run in two individual events and on two relays at each meet. The one silver lining in that is that I’ve been All-State 11 times and our team has won championships. I consider that a pretty significant accomplishment. Believe me, this year I am training for an individual title.
OHRunners: As we look back in your Senior year at your accomplishments, other than not having that individual title, I can think of only one other girl at this time who has accomplishments that rival yours, and that is your teammate, Destinee Gause.
2009 OATCCC Ohio State Indoor Track & Field Long Jump Finalist
2009 OATCCC Ohio State Indoor Track & Field member of Championship 4x200 (meet record 1:40.62) and 4x400 (3:52) relay teams
2009 State Division 1 Finalist, 300 meter hurdles, 4th Place
2009 Division 1 State Champion, State Meet and Stadium Record Holder 4x200 meter relay 1:37.02
2009 Division 1 State Champion, State Meet, and Stadium Record Holder 4x400 meter relay 3:43.8
2010 OATCCC Indoor finalist 60 meter hurdles, 3rd place
2010 State Division 1 finalist, 300 hurdles, 2nd place.
2010 State Division 1 Finalist, 100 hurdles, 4th place.
2010 Division 1 State Champion 4x400 relay
2010 All American member 4x100 46.4 New Balance Nationals
2011 OATCCC Indoor finalist 60 meter hurdles, 4th place
2011 OATCCC Indoor Finalist 200m dash, 5th
2011 State Division 1 Finalist 100 hurdles, 4th place
2011 State Division 1 Finalist 300 hurdles, 3rd place
2011 State Division 1 Finalist 4x200 meter relay, 3rd place
2011 State Division 1 Finalist 4x400 meter relay, 2nd place
2012 OATCCC Indoor finalist 60 meter hurdles, 8th place
Member of State Division 1 Girls Team Champions 2009, 2010 and 2011
Faith, of all of your accomplishments, which are you most proud of?
Faith: I am most proud of being All-State 11 times and having won 3 straight team championships.
OHRunners: You obviously have very good speed, but have concentrated on the hurdles? One, when did you start running and two, when did you make the decision to concentrate on the hurdles.
Faith: There was a youth track meet at Jesse Owens track that my dad took me to many years back. We were there strictly to watch the meet. I was so eager to try something that day so I asked him if I could participate in the long jump and the shot put. Although I didn’t have running shoes on, the officials let me participate barefooted. I remember winning the long jump on my first jump. I also remember tying my hair into a cap to compete in the boy’s shot put. I ended up winning that event too! I’ve been interested in track ever since. Seventh grade was the year my father (Christopher Washington) taught me how to hurdle. (:
OHRunners: Which hurdles’ race is your favorite, the indoor 60, the 100 or the 300? Why?
Faith: The 100h. That race, by goodness, it requires me to step outside of myself and get angry! It’s stressful until you cross that finish line. Super fun, super challenging!
OHRunners: Which is the most difficult for you? Why?
Faith: Honestly, I think I’ll have to say the 300m Hurdles. It’s 101% mental! Even when I know I am physically prepared for the race, the only thing that runs through my mind is “Dagon-it! This is a 300! – With hurdles in front!! Why me?” However, I still admire the challenge and I have a healthy respect for the event.
OHRunners: Which of the relay events is your favorite? Why?
Faith: If preference were the question, I would go with the 4x100m relay. It’s short, point blank. Instead, what I prefer is not what has made me a better athlete. I absolutely appreciate what the 4x400m relay has done for me. That is my favorite by far.
OHRunners: Describe your thoughts as a Freshman going into Jesse Owens Stadium? What were your expectations?
Faith: I did NOT expect to see a stadium so full that it resembled the great Roman Coliseum! That took me by surprise for sure. Then, there were an overwhelming number of events left and right. At that point, I wanted to be a fan in the crowd and not a runner on the track.
OHRunners: What were your thoughts when you won the 4x200 in 2009 and set the new State record?
Faith: Winning the 4x200m relay in 2009 was a reminder to our team that we were a part of the show and were there to perform. That day was so exciting my only thoughts were on how to stay focused. After that race, our team went on to win a lot of other events.
OHRunners: After winning the 4x200 in record time, as you prepared for the 4x400 what was you and your teammates mood? Did you think you could win? What were your thoughts watching Azia Walker on the anchor leg and realizing that you would win?
Tired but confident. The 300m hurdle finals was an energy wipe out. Confidence came from knowing that Azia Walker (anchor leg) who had just won the 400m dash, Taniesha Cordell (third leg) who had just won the 800m dash, and Destinee Gause (second leg) who had just won the 200m dash, were all a part of this relay.
OHRunners: How much time do you spend in practice on hurdle technique? On starts? On relay exchanges? On speed work?
Faith: Our practices consist of all of the above in some balance. The time we spend on these maneuvers are entirely dependent on where we need more work.
OHRunners: What would you think is the most important consideration in regards to technique in hurdling?
Faith: Working on hurdle techniques is like having to walk across a thousand needles with rhythm. Precision is the most important aspect to consider with hurdle technique. Your timed results are dependent upon every thrust of your arms and aggressiveness in your steps. When you feel that your practice is really helping your timed results, your race becomes a game you want to play every weekend!
OHRunners: What is a typical week of practice for you? Monday through Friday with an Invitational on Saturday.
Faith: Practice times are set by Coach Hammond or Coach Noble depending on whether we have a meet on Friday or Saturday. Just the same as any other team, we are training both endurance and sprint work all throughout the week. There's never a set workout to be specific. Workouts vary where there is more work needed. Our times and pace vary the same.
OHRunners: How would you describe Faith as an athlete?
Faith: As an athlete, I try to embody discipline, physical flexibility (covering a wide range of events), and friendliness to other athletes. I would feel guilty if I forgot to mention that a great amount of inspiration came from talking with nice athletes like Cassandra Lloyd and Brittany Cheese. I will forever be grateful for their willingness to throw a few positive words my way. Also, big supporters from the media like Larry Larson who recently retired, and coaches from other teams like Ms. Lori Baldwin who shares her wisdom of the sport with many athletes. Consequently, I feel like it is important to give positive energy back to the track community.
OHRunners: You and Destinee have been teammates for four years at the high school level. You have run together on two outdoor D1 State record relay teams and one indoor State record relay team. If the Reynoldsburg girl’s repeat as the D1 State Team Champions this Spring, you both will have been very instrumental members of these teams. What is your relationship with Destinee?
Faith: Oh my. Explaining the relationship between us two has got to be the hardest thing to do. Calling Destinee a friend is an understatement. Calling her family is just too slight. Track and field is only a fraction of how I can relate to that Destinee. If I have to describe her in one sentence, she is miraculously adventurous, blindly-the most patient person I know, and stubbornly-motivated—the most dangerous and most success-driven type of motivation there is out there. Knowing and running with a teammate like her has got to be one of the most enjoyable things about life and track. Heck, Destinee Gause, Diamond Gause and Cherese Nimmons should know they’re all like family. (;
OHRunners: What are your expectations for this year? What are your goals?
Faith: My expectation this year is to drop my hurdle times by a lot in anticipation of competing at the next level. There are a lot of good hurdlers in the SEC. I want to be an early contributor to my college team.