Knight is one of the top freshman and overall sprinters in the nation (Texas sports photo)

1. First question, congrats on your performance at the Tyson invitational this past weekend. Looking back at your times of 7.21 in the sixty and 23.07 in the 200, can you describe how you felt running at Tyson for the first time as a college student?

I was a little nervous because we haven’t competed in very many meets this year. That was my third meet of the season and it was the biggest meet so far. I didn’t know how I was going to perform but I just put all that behind me. I know what I can do, and there was no pressure because even though I came out of high school ranked high in the nation, people are still expecting me to have a hard time transitioning from high school to college. I really didn’t feel any pressure to perform. For that being my third meet I think I did very well.

2. You mentioned in a recent interview that your starting to lift weights for the first time this season, it appears to be helping you a lot so far. How intense are the training sessions at Texas and what have you learned the most so far from your freshmen year?

It’s very intense because we have to get up at 6 a.m. in the morning, three days a week. That is very hard, especially being a freshman. I’m trying to learn how to balance the classes, practice and weights. At first the exercises and drills were confusing; I didn’t really know if they were going to help or not, and at times, I felt like some of the things we did, I really didn’t need to do them. It seems now that they’re working out for the best. I’m really getting used to it now and getting comfortable with it.

3. Is that something that you’ve had to adjust to?

Yes, that’s what I’ve learned being here, just go with the flow and all things are done for a reason. I just learn how to not question anything. The weights and training, they’re intense but I just go out and do them.

4. With your experience in the national scene, how do you think it’s helped you compete against the best in the world?

There’s no pressure, I feel like I’ve run against the best; I’ve won some and I’ve lost some. I know you can’t win them all. I just go out and perform to the best of my ability. I don’t really worry about who is on the line because when the gun shoots nobody cares about what they’re used to seeing you do, or what you did in high school. It is about what you are doing now, so I just focus on that and there is no pressure.

5. As one of the more talented sprinters to come out of high school, what led you to enroll at Texas, and have your friends and family in Mississippi had a chance to see you compete yet?

When I came on my visit, Texas was the most comfortable environment. It was where I felt the most comfortable, in terms of the weather and environment conditions. I didn’t want to go anywhere where it was going to get really cold and going to be hard to train.

My mom and my aunt came down to [The Tyson Invitational] so she got to watch me run, and everyone else got a chance to see me on television.

6. Not many females at your age are able to clock under 23 seconds in the 200. At what point during the event do you feel you’re strongest and what do you feel you need to work on the most?

I feel like my strongest point is the first 150-meters. Coach Bev [Kearney] always says that no coach can coach the last 50-meters and that you have to run from the heart and finish the race. I really think I need to work on my finish. That’s where the weights come in; they make me stronger so I can hold my first 150, however fast until I’m done.

7. The Big 12 Championships are less than two weeks away. How prepared are you for the meet and what are some goals that you would like to accomplish?

I’m pretty prepared for the meet. I feel like I can’t do any worse, I can only do better. I’m just looking forward to scoring. We’re going in with the mentality that we want to win Big 12 Championships and make a name for ourselves.

8. Just how important is it for you to score points for your team instead of focusing on chasing times at a championship meet?

If I can get first place with a time slower than 7.21 then that’s fine. Scoring a point is a point. As long as I make it to the finals I’m satisfied. If you are in the finals, you are going to score for the team.

9. Looking ahead to the outdoor season, the Olympic trials are a few weeks after the NCAA championships. Do you look at yourself as a dark horse for the event? Or someone people should be looking out for when it is time to put it all on the line?

I definitely that I’m a person that people need to look out for when it is time to put it all on the line because I’m going to do that. I have nothing to lose but everything to gain so I’m just going to go out, run hard to compete, and hopefully that will be enough for me to make the U.S. team.

10. With all your accolades and accomplishments, what still drives you to be the best you can be everyday?

I still remember where I came from. I didn’t grow up with much. I’m running for my family. They’ve done a lot for me to get me where I am. And of course people know that I’ve been a lot of places, which doesn’t come cheap. I just want to help out, and let people know that I’m thankful for what’s been done for me, in order for me to be where I am today.

11. Is it different a little bit because in high school it was a lot of individual, like you had a team, but a lot of the success you received was because of your individual accolades. Now you are here with people who can run and keep up with you, and you are working towards a team goal, does that change?

I think even when you have a team, track is still one of those sports where you have to focus on yourself. If you do what you’re supposed to do, it will definitely contribute to what the team is trying to do. I still make sure that I do what I have to do for me so that I can think about the team.  Focusing too much on the group can throw you off balance, and track is just one of those sports you really have to be in tune with yourself.

12. How did you enjoy your first semester on campus as a student?

It was fun. The classes are easier because they are spread out. Instead of going 8 straight hours, you go for two or three within the whole day. The classes are much better. I really like college.

13. Was the adjustment difficult as a student-athlete? 

As a student-athlete, yes the adjustment was hard. I am not used to getting up at 6 a.m., having class at 8 a.m., then study hall at 1 p.m. and then practice at 3:30. This semester I have a night class at 7:30, so it’s been very difficult to balance the two. The great thing about Texas is that they have staff members, tutors and mentors to help you with the adjustments. Plus my teammates have given me good advice that I’ve used along the way