Jan. 8, 2005

Columbia, SC –
Q: After sitting out a year, what’s been the most difficult part of preparing for your return this season?

A: The most difficult part is probably getting my body back in top shape. It took a while to get back in shape, but I’m progressing.

Q: What do you look forward to the most about your return?

A: Just being back around the team and being able to build relationships with my team members, especially those who were freshmen last year. I also look forward to winning a championship, both individually and as a team.

Q: What are your personal goals and expectations for the season?

A: My personal goal is to win the 60m hurdles indoors (nationally) and win both the 100m and 400m hurdles outdoors and be a big contributor on the relays both indoors and outdoors.

Q: Do you feel like you’re in the best shape of your career?

A: Yes. It was hard getting back into shape, but now that I’m here I feel faster and stronger than I’ve ever been.

Q: Is there anything you’ve done differently?

A: I really sucked in a lot of advice Coach Frye gave me and did everything he said to do and I’m really more focused now. I have a lot of ambition.

Q: What are your career goals?

A: My career goals are to be a business owner and to be successful in track and field, where I can just ran and travel the world and make money doing it.

Q: What’s been the most exciting moment in your career so far?

A: Winning our NCAA championship my freshman year.

Q: How has your role changed now that you’re a team captain?

A: It’s a lot more responsibility. I think people are going to look up to us more because we’re team leaders and we basically try to support everything that the coaches relay to us and try to reinterate those things to the team. We have a lot more responsibility than the average student athlete.

Q: The women’s recruiting class was ranked No.2 in the nation, how do you expect the freshmen athletes to impact the team this season?

A: From me knowing them this year, I see that they are really mature and nationally ranked athletes. So I know they will be big contributors to the team. Natasha and Shalonda are leaders of the freshman class and I expect big things from them, along with the other girls.

Q: What kind of year do you expect to have as a team this season?

A: I expect us to be national champions outdoors and I also expect the men to finish really high.

Q: What do you love most about USC track and field?

A: I love that everyone is close. It’s not like you’re just on the team by yourself. I’ve just been able to build great friendships from being on this team. You can depend your teammates because they’re always there for you, no matter what.

Q: What can we expect to see from Tiffany Ross this season?

A: Just to be a team leader on and off the field, to do my best at the meets and help us break records.