Samantha Gonzalez is a well known athlete both in Texas and nationally. She is one of the top hurdles in the country both in the shorter distance 60/100H, and the longer 300/400H where she really shines. Gonzalez. She's had a solid start to her season, running well at the handfull of indoor meets in Texas. She's an athlete to watch in the 2015 outdoor season as she looks to permanently leave her mark in the Texas record book.
Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions. You come from a hurdle background. Having raced just about every hurdle distance outside of the steeple. From the 60H up to the 400H, which is your favorite hurdle race, which is your least favorite, and why?
My favorite is definitely the 400h, I mean my first hurdle race was the 400 hurdles, so I guess I'm kind of partial to the 4's they're my babies, I don't think I have a least favorite, The 60h are the hardest but they are fun. People just tell me i'm weird because I just love running but honestly it's true.
You ran in a few indoor meets these past few weeks, talk about your first experience running indoors and on a banked track.
The first time I ran on a banked track, I guess I forgot that he 400 was two laps, and I went out like crazy, the first lap like all out and then died so bad on the second lap. It sucked when it happened but thinking back now it's pretty funny.
At Arkansas, you ran an outstanding open 400m. Clocking a 55.53 in the prelims, which is still holding up in the US Top-5. Coming into that meet, were you training with that kind of result on your mind, or were you surprised to hit a time that good at this point in the season?
I have been training speed heavy, so I would say it was a surprise that I ran fast, my coach kind of prepared me for the time, I was really just surprised at how smooth I felt. I would say that on my team we are always training for fast times.
An athlete has to be incredibly focused to succeed in the short hurdle races where every single step counts. What do you do to get rid of distractions leading up to the gun going off, and what are the final thoughts running through your head?
Yes, It is really technical, and I struggle with overthinking things sometimes, so it makes execution in the short race more difficult. I basically just have to remember to trust my training and I tell myself Let go and let God, and that usually works. Honestly if I am thinking anything before a race I can't remember it, I usually just let my thoughts go before the race.
Hurdling is a very technical track event. What aspect of hurdling has proven most difficult? And what have you done to improve it?
The most difficult part of hurdling for me is myself, and trusting my training. It has been a stressful and hard process of learning to trust myself, and I'm still working at it, but I have started to learn more about the event, and myself and that has made running so much better, and easier.
With so many great hurdlers in Texas right now, does that competition and pressure make racing more difficult, or do you prefer to be competing against the best?
Texas is definitely proving to have some of, if not all, the best hurdlers in the nation, I train with one of them. I like running at the top level of competition, because it forces me to step up to the plate, and really compete at that higher level. I'm a competitive person, so when I run with the other fast ladies, I feel like the intensity shoots through the roof
Looking back at your outdoor results, and now seeing the kind of shape you've been in through indoor, what goals are you targeting for the 2015 outdoor track season? Will we see you running more open 400s?
My goal every season is to improve on the times I ran the season before, along with that, this year I am trying to get my name in the record books. And as far as outdoor, my coaches and I have decided to go ahead and run some open events, which I am excited about.
Once you get to a meet, walk us through what you're pre-race routine looks like, and do you have a specific music playlist? Any superstitions? etc
Well It's kind of weird but every morning before a track meet I eat peanut butter toast and a banana, and my mom braids my hair. Then at the meet I listen to Lecrae, and Beyoncé. And I always put my shoes on left first and then right... I guess that's my superstition
Give a bit of insight into a person you look up to that has been a positive influence on your running.
I have a few people that really inspire me, My family being some of my biggest inspirations, they do so much for me, and they just inspire me to my best at all times. And also my coaches, I would be no where if I didn't have those three amazing people in my life.
What has been the most meaningful result of your running career so far?
The most meaningful result from running is the look of joy and excitement in my coaches eyes after a successful race. I have had three coaches and I have seen that happen in all three of them. It's kind of an indescribable feeling knowing that you have done exactly what you were supposed to and you have made your coach proud.
Random question to wrap it up: if you were given the opportunity to race in the spikes of any current or past track athlete, whose spikes would you pick?
I would probably pick Allyson Felix, Georganne Moline, Or Kori Carter. I mean Allyson Felix, is Allyson Felix. And Georganne, and Kori are hurdle beasts and I just think they are powerful, and awesome women.
