Jan. 14, 2005
Jan. 14, 2005
A weekly Q&A with Baylor's student-athletes
BEAR FACTS Archive
LaKadron Ivery
Track
Junior- 100, Long Jump
When did you start playing your sport? "I started running track when I was in the 7th grade so I was like 13."
Who has had the greatest impact on your career? "My high school coach, Barbara Collins and my coach here at Baylor, Michael Ford and Clyde Hart and Stacy Bowers, they had the greatest impact on track because they believe in me."
What is the best part of being a college athlete? "Winning is the best part. Training and conditioning is not. Performing is just the best part all around because I hate working out but it's just something that you've got to do."
If you weren't playing the sport you are now, which sport would you want to play? " I would be a 400 runner maybe but I never have thought about it. If I wasn't running track my first love is basketball and then I would play volleyball and maybe soccer."
What is your nickname on the team and why? " My nickname is KK because LaKadron is sometimes hard to pronounce for people."
What is the craziest pre-game ritual you or a teammate has used? "I tried to drink 7 glasses of water when I really was nervous that my body was going to run out of fluids and I was going to fall-out out there or just having to be quiet for a long time because I get very nervous."
What is the most unique item in your locker? " I don't really use my locker but I keep lip chap all the time. That's something I've got to have."
Who are your favorite sports heroes? " Michael Jordan and right now LeBron James because he's young and I like what he does."
Where is your favorite place to go after a game/event? " Just back on the bus so I can think. I don't rush to get back to the hotel but really just to be done with the meet is my favorite."
What is the best venue you have ever played in? "The trials and in Canada"
What is the highlight of your sports career? To run professional at least until I'm 32 will be the highlight of my career. To make this my job."
What is your most embarrassing sports moment? "One time when I was running with Baylor, I was running the 4 X 1 and I was waiting on the stick and I ran off and left the girl so I had to turn around and go back and get the stick and then come home to the finish line. We still got, like, second place I think."
What opposing school do you most look forward to competing against? "All the schools in the Big 12, the other schools I really don't too much care about."
Why did you choose to attend Baylor? "They were patient with me. I was having problems with my test scores and I just started praying. I had so many options and I felt like God led me here. It fell right into place. They had so many great athletes and it's like they were a family. No one was cocky and if they were cocky it was because they were confident so I chose Baylor because it felt really great."
What has been your favorite class at Baylor? "Writing classes and speech and Swahili right now because I'm learning something new."
What single thing will you most miss about Baylor when you leave? "Not taking track as seriously. Not thinking I have to wake up and make money but when I leave here that's what I'm going to have to think. Like, OK I have to get up and do this if I want to eat, so, no responsibility is what I'll miss."
Who is your all-time favorite Baylor athlete? "Probably Barb( Barbara Petrahn), before I knew I could beat her, she was strong to me. She was the strongest person I had ever met."
What CD is in your player right now? " Destiny's Child, the new Destiny's Child and I listen to Jay-Z every morning because I have this big thing about him. I mean, I need to come down to reality because I keep saying I'm going to sign with Reebok so he can be in the backgroud of my commercials. I'm going to make it happen too. I am so in love with him that it affects my real-life relationship with my boyfriend. I am dangerously in love with that guy."
What is the last movie you watched? "Dodgeball"
Name one television series you won't miss. "I will not miss My Wife and Kids. I love that show."
What is one thing you must pack when traveling? "Like seven pairs of different tennis shoes. I'm a tennis shoe fanatic."
Who is your favorite Sportscenter announcer? " I don't really have a favorite. I use to like Michael Irving when he was on but as long as they give me the news, I'm good with it."
As a role model to young athletes, what advice can you give? "Everything will happen if you want it to happen and if you believe in yourself. When I say believe in yourself I mean you have to actually know in your mind that it can happen."
What is your favorite fast food? " I love cheeseburgers"
What is the biggest challenge you have had to overcome? "Here at Baylor I'm a record holder and ranked in the nation but I have been injured so long, so the biggest challenge I have to this day is just to stay healthy because I can compete against anyone I just have to stay healthy."
Name one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you. "Most people would be intimidated by me because they think my attitude is ,man, she's not going to talk to you, but I'm cool and calm and collected and I'm a good friend. Most people know that I'm cool but they would be surprised at how open I am."
Name one thing you can't go a week without. "Rice."
If you had to perform karaoke, what song would you sing? " Any song that I was asked because I love to sing."
What is your dream job? "I want to own lots of beauty shops and I want to be able to go into my beauty shops and just ask how you are doing. I want to own houses and land and just be a good business person."
What's your most valued possession? "My engagement ring"
Playstation 2 or Xbox? "I like my nephew's Xbox"
Movies or TV? "Movies"
MTV or ESPN? "BET"
Apprentice or Fear Factor? "Fear Factor"
Inflatable Judge or Bruiser? "Bruiser"
Burger or Pizza? "Pizza"
Penland or Memorial? "Memorial"
Sandals or Shoes? "Tennis Shoes"
Smoothie or Shake? "Smoothie"
compiled by Tami Becton, Athletic Media Relations student assistant
