Going the Distance With Bettie Wade
5/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Freshman Bettie Wade of the women's track and field team has demonstrated that she is more than capable of making an impact in her first year. During her first collegiate indoor season, Wade earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors in the pentathlon with a second place point total of 3,977, as well as finishing the indoor season leading the Wolverines in the long jump (19-6) and pentathlon (4,047).
While attending Farmington High School, the Northville, Mich., native excelled both academically and athletically, graduating Phi Betta Kappa (3.8 or higher in academic courses) and earning numerous track and field accomplishments. For the years of 2002, 2004-05, Wade was the Oakland County champion (400m, high jump, 100m, long jump), she was also the 2004-05 City Champion (100m, 200m, 400m, high jump, 4x400m).
Before preparing to leave for the 2006 Big Ten Outdoor Championships, Wade sat down with me to answer a few questions, such as why she chose to come to Michigan, how she's made the transition from high school to college and what she hopes to accomplish in the outdoor postseason.
On why she chose to come to Michigan
"To be honest, it was the family aspect of the team, because in high school the team was more about being an individual. When I came here, they showed me that track is a team sport and that you're doing things for your teammates and not yourself."
On the biggest transition she had to make from high school to college
"Not a lot changes, we had a fairly big school and when I came here I was in my comfort zone. On the team, you have everyone pushing you and motivating you, so it makes it easier to work hard and get better, as opposed to high school, where not many people were motivated."
On her thoughts about how she views her indoor season
"I think my indoor season went pretty well, it was kind of up and down throughout the season, but at Big Tens I think I did okay. I scored about 10 points for team, I wish I could've scored more, but I helped the team, and that was my goal."
On her expectations heading into the outdoor season
"My first outdoor meet went a lot better than what I thought; I expected my legs to be a little tired from the indoor season. I feel as if I got off to a good start, and now I'm starting to go down hill, as opposed to the indoor season, where I started slow and started to drop off at the end of the season; I just have to be more patient in my skills and abilities. I hope to begin to peak at Big Tens, and completely peak at Nationals, and the rest will be history."
On whether she likes the indoor or outdoor season the most
"I really love the outdoor season, so much more than the indoor season. I love being outside, I love the seeing the sunshine and the trees. The outside gets me extremely excited as opposed to the indoor season where you're inside of a building, there's no sun, and it's not as beautiful to me."
On how she's been able to handle the traveling and school work
"It's hard, but the support of the coaches, tutors and teachers really helps a lot. You also just have to keep a good line of communication with your teachers, and they're more than willing to help you."
On her favorite hobbies
"I've actually been watching television a lot, which is not a good thing, right now I'm trying to get back to reading more books. Right now I'm reading This Much I Know is True by Wally Lamb. I like to just relax and hangout, I'm a very relaxed person outside of track."
On any other sport she would play
"I would play basketball, and I'd want to be a power forward."
On the best advice she's received and from whom
"I can't really pick one person, but I've been told to just enjoy every single second and don't get disappointed when you don't do as good as you want because you got four years, so just do your best and work hard."
On her favorite food
"I love seafood, I can live off seafood. I love mussels, shrimp and lobster."
On one superhero strength she would like to posses
"I'd like to know what people are thinking."
On her most memorable moments in sports
"When I got first place at the Nike Outdoor meet during my senior year."
Contact: Joseph Conrad (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
