Ajee’ Wilson is the finest American women’s 800m runner of her generation. With silver medals at the 2016 and 2018 World Indoors, and a bronze at the 2017 World Outdoors, Ajee’ Wilson has run 1:55.61 AR outdoors and 1:58.60 Indoors, also an AR. Jeff Benjamin caught up with Ajee’, who is always a fun interview, with our series prior to the USATF Indoors!
Ajee’ Wilson, photo by PhotoRun.net
Updated February 20, 2019: Ajee’ Wilson will not run 600, but focus on 1000.
RunBlogRun, # 1) How did you get into the Sport?
Ajee’ Wilson: I got into the sport following behind my little sister Brietta. She started first and loved it – she’d come home gushing about how fun it was, and I started shortly after.
RunBlogRun, #2) Did you consider yourself a slow or fast developer?
Ajee’ Wilson: Hmmm. That’s tough. I’d say I was somewhere in between as a consistent developer.
RunBlogRun, # 3) Most memorable HS Race?
Ajee’ Wilson: My most memorable high school race may have been at the 2011 World Juniors. I’d sprained my ankle not too long before the race, and ended up running a new PR to win.
RunBlogRun, #4) How’s it different being a pro athlete from HS Collegiate?
Ajee’ Wilson: From high school to pro, track became a major priority and required so much more of me. In high school, I was in a bunch of clubs and activities, academics were my focus, and track was still just something I did for fun. As a professional, it meant a less variety and more focus on my running career.
Ajee’ Wilson, photo by PhotoRun.net
RunBlogRun, # 5) What Training philosophy are you following?
Ajee’ Wilson: Im following my coach, Derek Thompson’s training philosophy. I say that jokingly, but his approach is super unique and a mixture of a bunch of different things. He’s a student of the sport, always reading and learning, and then finding ways to implement that into training.
RunBlogRun, #6) Do you incorporate any cross training and/or Weight training?
Ajee’ Wilson: Derek incorporates weights in our training program. As the season kicks off and we get racing, we back off and primarily just do body weight and med ball exercises.
Ajee’ Wilson, photo by PhotoRun.net
RunBlogRun, # 7) Any Staten Island Connections?
Ajee’ Wilson: My sister Brietta, who got me into running, went to school and ran at Wagner College for Coach Joe Stasi in Staten Island.
The @runblogrun tour of the IAAF World Indoor Tour, aka Le Tour de Larry, is sponsored by USATF and Nike, reminding you that the 2019 Toyota USATF Indoor Championships are February 22, 23, and 24 at the Ocean Breeze AC, on Staten Island. To purchase tickets, please use this link:
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