Hicks appears to be one of the favorites for the 110 hurdles title (Ron Jones/insidetexastrack.com)

1. First of all, how do you like it at Ole Miss, and how did you end up in Mississippi from Hot Springs, Arkansas?

It started when I came here on a college visit, and I felt that Ole Miss had a good atmosphere and environment. I liked the coaches and the people on the team a lot. Also, I didn't want to be too far from home, and I wanted to stay in the SEC. Ole Miss was the only SEC school that strongly recruited me, and they showed the most interest. That had a big impact on my decision.

2. You focused mainly on the high jump in high school, getting all the way up to 7'1". How/When did you realize that the hurdles was really your event?

I realized that my best event was going to be the hurdles after I ran a NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 60-meter hurdles at my third meet as a freshman.

3. What was the transition like from the 39" hurdles in high school to the 42" hurdles in college?

It wasn't a problem because of my tall stature, which actually made the transition to the 42-inch hurdles easier.

4. Last July you really burst onto the scene with a gold medal performance in the 110-meter hurdles (13.42w) at the World Junior Championships in Jamaica. How do you think this international experience has helped you this year?

The international exposure has helped me to be more confident this year, and that confidence is helping me stay consistent.

5. You recently have had notable wins at the Texas Relays, where you topped a field of hurdlers including the likes of Michael Thomas and Chris Pinnock, and the Ole Miss Invite, where you ran a national-leading time of 13.49. Judging by these performances, what are you goals for the rest of the season?

Of course, I would like to be the NCAA champion like any other competitor. As far as times in the hurdles, I'm just going to run as fast as God will empower me to go.

6. You have been running on several relays as well as open sprints this season. How do you feel this helps you when it comes to the 110-meter hurdles?

I feel that it has helped my speed out dramatically. I don't have good open sprint speed, and that is something that I really need to improve if I want to run faster in the hurdles.

7. You had a pretty grueling summer last year because of NCAAs and world juniors. What are your plans for this summer?

After USAs, I just want to return to my hometown and relax for the summer. Even if I make one of the world teams, I probably will not want to participate in any international competition this summer.

8. How did you first get involved in the sport of track and field?

I got involved when I was eight years old when I competed for the local Boys & Girls Club. I fell in love with track and field after competing for a few years and receiving guidance from my AAU club coach Gary Canada, who molded me during my beginning years of track and field.

9. What other sports did you play while growing up?

I played several sports like basketball, football, soccer and martial arts, but track and field was my favorite.

10. You obviously have a bright future with the hurdles, but what are your plans in terms of the high jump?

As of right now, I don't have any future plans in the high jump. It seems as if I've fell out of sync in the high jump.

11. What one thing would you like to tell young, aspiring hurdlers?

I would tell them to work extremely hard on their technique. I feel that technique is a very important element in hurdling and should be thoroughly developed at a young age.