Bison athlete profile: Wilfred Samking, sprinter

In his third year at the University of Manitoba, Wilfred Samking has proven himself as one of the fastest sprinters in the CIS, and the fastest man on campus*.

Samking raced to a bronze medal with a time of 6.89 in the 60-metre sprint at the 2013 Canada West Track and Field Championships held in Regina Feb. 22 and 23. He was then seeded fourth in the nation in the men’s 60 for the 2013 CIS Track and Field National Championships, held March 7-9 at the University of Alberta. Having qualified to compete in both the 60m and as a member in the 4 x 200 metre relay, Samking finished sixth in the 60m final with a time of 6.94.

The Manitoban got an opportunity to sit down and talk with Samking, just days before the Bison Track and Field team took off to Edmonton for nationals.

 

The Manitoban:
When and how did you get involved in track and field?

Wilfred Samking:
From a very young age, I was one of the fast kids. In elementary school, before you play any ball sports—or stick sports in the case of hockey—[the] first thing you do is you run. There was always a lot of positive reinforcement from my friends. Through high school I was mostly a basketball player – then my coaches from Fort Richmond, Keith Redfern and Andre Favreau, they really pushed me and said, “you could be really special.” From there, my senior year in high school, I decided just to stick with track and so I left basketball. Since then I’ve been quite serious with [track and field].

 

M:
If you weren’t focused on track and field, would you be playing basketball instead?

WS:
You know, probably not, because I was good, but I wasn’t the greatest. With basketball, it can be a little bit political, unlike track. If you run a really good time, no one can really tell you anything – you’re just one of the best. With basketball, it’s a little bit harder to gauge that.

 

M:
What’s your favorite event to compete in?

WS:
Probably the 60 metre; it’s short and sweet. Then for outdoors, the 100 metre—once again because it’s short and sweet—but I’m also a hurdler. Some days I really enjoy hurdles. If you have a really great hurdle race it’s more rewarding than a really good sprinting race.

 

M:
What is your daily routine on a race day?

WS:
I usually wake up three or four hours before my race. That way, your body has a chance to wake up because when you wake up you’re pretty groggy. I don’t eat very much, actually; I usually bulk up the night prior to [the race] with pasta. So I usually eat something small like a banana or a little bit of cereal. But I can’t hold very much in my stomach. It might be nerves, but it might just be because I’ve done [the same routine] for such a long time.

 

M:
What sort of training do you go through to improve your speed as a sprinter?

WS:
We train six times a week. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday are your speed days. That’s speed endurance, and speed coming out of your blocks. Speed endurance is your [longer runs]. You need to work on your endurance, and then since I’m a sprinter everything is shorter but it’s higher intensity.

 

M:
When you’re not competing or training, what do you do to unwind?

WS:
I like dancing. There are a lot of people who like to go to the bar for other reasons, but generally when I go it’s to dance. I find it boring to stand around.

 

M:
Seems like you’ve always got to be on the move…

WS:
Not always. I do like to stay in as well, because sometimes I am very exhausted. But, if it is to do something that’s not track that’s enjoyable, it’s usually going out with friends and dancing.

 

M:
Do you have any idols, or people who give you inspiration to keep working hard?

WS:
Probably my mom—that’s probably the most immediate [inspiration]—and I always have support from god I feel, so those are my main two idols.

 

*Note: the claim that Wilfred Samking is the fastest man on campus is purely speculation on the part of the reporter, based on his impressive sprint times in competition. If anyone reading this is interested in challenging this claim, please contact the Manitoban’s sports department so we can test your sprinting ability.