Katelin Barber was named 2014 Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the South Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

By Bart Moss

For the FCT

After qualifying for nationals in two events and setting three school records in two years at UAH, Katelin Barber was named 2014 Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the South Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Barber receives the honor after setting a provisional time in the 60m and helping the Chargers to a first-place ranking in the South Region.

The four-time 100-meter state champion from Belgreen High School qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships in the 60m this season. Barber holds the fastest time in the 60m (7.64) this season and ranks 19^th nationally in the event.

Barber was also named the Peach Belt Women’s Track Athlete of the Week recently. She finished second in the 100-meter dash at the Alabama Relays with a time of 11.96. Her team is ranked number one in the NCAA Division II South Region and she is ranked number one in the South Region in the 100-meter dash.

Sports writer Bart Moss conducted an interview with Barber through Facebook where they discussed her budding career, life as a college student-athlete, and more.

Bart Moss: Describe your typical day as a college student-athlete.

Katelin Barber: On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I lift weights in the morning, go observe classes at Chapman Middle School, go to practice, then to my classes. After my classes, I head to my dorm room to study and do homework until time for bed. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I am in classes from 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., have a two-hour lunch break and try to squeeze in practice where I can.

Bart Moss: How many hours of practice do you put in per week practicing your sport?

Katelin Barber:  I practice about 13 hours per week.

Bart Moss: What is your practice, or training regimen, like on a typical day?

Katelin Barber: Monday and Wednesday are usually the hard days mainly consisting of long sprint work for endurance. Tuesdays and Thursdays are a little lighter consisting of short sprint work and working on mechanics and we tweak what we can fix. On Fridays we get to work on block starts and end the week with dreadful ice baths.

Bart Moss: What is the biggest difference in high school track & field and college track & field?

Katelin Barber:  The biggest difference would be that we never practiced as a team at Belgreen. I was never taught the simple mechanics of sprinting. I just had to experiment and tweak things myself. We didn’t even have starting blocks. My track coaches during my 10^th and 11^th grade years had never been to a track meet before. I absolutely love sprinting. It is one of my passions. I appreciate that it is taken seriously.

Bart Moss: What advice would you give to young girls wanting to pursue a scholarship opportunity in track & field?

Katelin Barber:  Always keep God first in all you do and everything will fall into place. All things are possible to accomplish. However, in order to accomplish anything significant, you must work hard. It is not going to come easy. If you set goals that are too far out of reach, you will get discouraged easily. Rather, set small goals that will lead up to your overall goal. If you do that you will always be accomplishing something along the way.

Bart Moss: What is the hardest part about being a college student-athlete?

Katelin Barber: As a college athlete, you definitely have to have good time management skills. You cannot procrastinate and expect to do well in your classes. Sometimes the hardest part is just trying to find time to complete work and study for classes, along with going to practice and attending track meets. You also have a very limited social life outside track and classes.

Bart Moss: What are you majoring in and what career do you want to pursue?

Katelin Barber: I am majoring in Math Education. I want to be a math teacher and hopefully, one day, become a coach.

Bart Moss: What is your fondest memory about your time at Belgreen High School?

Katelin Barber: Overall, my favorite year was my 10^th grade year. As a team, we accomplished many things. That was a great year. We went to the Northwest Regionals at Wallace in basketball, we went to Huntsville for the regionals in softball, and went to Gulf Shores for the state track meet. I won the 100- and 200-meter dash. I also set the state record in the 100-meter dash.

Bart Moss: Who has been the biggest influence in your life and what have they taught you?

Katelin Barber:  My parents have been the biggest influence on my life. They have taught me to be myself, to dream big and to not let obstacles get in the way of my goals. They have also taught me to have respect for myself and others. They have helped make me the person I am today. Without them I would never be able to accomplish the things I have once only dreamed about. Although I do not live at home, I know my parents are only a phone call away. They are the ones I call whenever I need someone to lift me up, need some advice, or just want to chitchat. Somehow, they always know the right things to say. They have always believed in me, which has taught me to believe in myself. I know they will always be there to support me 110% in all that I do. As long as I give it my best, no matter the outcome, I know they will always be proud of me. Most importantly, they have taught me about our dear Lord, Jesus Christ. They have taught me to always put Him first in everything in life and to always keep my faith in Him. I still have a long ways to go to become the amazing people they are. Though, they are not perfect people, I could never ask for a better set of parents and two people who are my best friends.

Bart Moss:  What are some short-term goals you want to accomplish?

Katelin Barber: I hope to make it to nationals in the 100-meter dash and have a new personal best before the end of the season in the 100.