Here's an interview with John Woods, notes how he only got serious interest from K-state and Air Force, wonder why?????
1. You finished eighth in the 200 meters and earned All-American honors at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a time of 20.85. How has your training and preparation been since the outdoor season with the indoor season right around the corner?
After the trials, I took about two months off from running, but jumped right back into lifting immediately. Knowing that my main focus needs to be on indoor, and not a long outdoor season, I have not done as much endurance training as I would typically. Instead, my focus has been on speed, power, and explosiveness.
2. Also placing sixth in the 60 meters at the 2004 NCAA Indoor Championships with a time of 6.71, you only have indoor eligibility remaining. What are your goals and expectations for this indoor season and what will your plans be for the outdoor season since you will not be able to compete for CSU?
I know that to finish as high as I did last season, 6.71 certainly won't cut it! I am expecting the competition to be fierce, with many fast newcomers as well as a great group of returning athletes. I believe that I am capable of running much faster than my 6.69 PR, and I would most like to do this when it really counts.
3. What are some of the more important exercises you focus on in the weight room that benefits you the most on the track?
A few years back, I had great strength but too much body weight to really benefit from it! Last season, my focus was on staying lean and dropping some weight, now I have kept the excess weight off but returned to my old strength levels. I believe some of the most beneficial lifts, which are also my favorites, include:
1. Cleans, for explosivness out of the blocks
2. Squats, for overall leg strength and power
3. Hip flexing/extending lifts, for stronger knee drive and leg cycle
4. Walking lunges, develop power in forward "similar to running" motion
5. Biceps, for the beach
4. Originally from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, what led you to enroll at CSU and were you recruited by other schools as well during your tenure in high school?
In high school, most of my recruiting came from football, Colorado, CSU, and a few smaller schools. The only "serious" track recruiting came from Kansas State and the Naval Academy. As the end of my senior year approached, I had not yet made a decision on where to go. It basically came down to a few schools that I had already applied and been accepted to, and which colors I thought looked better: Gold with green or gold with black? I really am not sure what made me choose CSU. I guess I like green!
5. Now that the NCAA Regional Championships have two years under its belt, what were your thoughts on the qualifying system in order to advance to the outdoor finals?
I love the regional qualifying system. Lots of people can run fast, but they can't do it head to head when it really matters. I like the idea of people really going at it to make it to nationals because I am a very competitive person, and thats when I run my best; in tough competition when it actually means something.
6. Does the Colorado State program focus much on fall testing and if so, what were some of your times and results?
Like most schools out there, we test periodically in the weight room and on the track. After our first weight cycle (guessing about 8 weeks) we maxed at one rep:
Squat - 410
Clean - 285
Bench - 280
New this year was a team-wide 400 meter time trial day. Everyone ran, with exception to the cross country team. It was great to take a break from the usual training and get a little competitive, despite the weather! 48.32h
7. Looking back on your collegiate career so far, what are some of the moments you will never forget as a student-athlete?
There is nothing like being with the team on a traveling weekend. I can't even recall all of the great times we have had together the last 4 years. Personally, I will never forget crashing over the finish line in the NCAA 200 final just to make the podium.
8. Describe a typical workout during the competition season and do you incorporate any longer sprints over 300 meters considering you are a short sprinter?
Under Coach (Tim) Cawley's workouts, I do not run over 300 meters all season. I do a lot of speed and power work all year, and incorporate some 200 speed endurance type workouts. For examples, 200-200-300-200, 200-200-150-200, and the infamous 32x100 that our team has grown to love!
9. You've been one of the regular posters on the Trackshark forums while discussing with some of the other athletes around the country. Do you consider yourself a big fan of the sport and does that feeling change when you are in the finals of a big meet such as the NCAA Championships?
I think that like many other people, during the long, difficult off-season training I often find myself questioning why I subject myself to so much pain? But, when it comes down to it, I love competing and there is no better sport than track to push yourself to the limits and battle against your competitors. I love that track is a great collection of individuals competing on their own for a common team goal.
10. Where would you like to be five years from now and do you see yourself still competing in the sport?
As much as I would enjoy to continue competing, I am battling a few injuries right now, one of which may be the deciding factor on whether I continue to compete. Another factor will be whether I can continue from a financial perspective. I know that to move to the next level will require full committment, and that can be very difficult after college. Hopefully, my first appeaance at the Olympic Trials will not be my last.
