Jan. 27, 2011

ARLINGTON, Tex. - Senior sprinter Cordero Gray is the fastest man on the UT Arlington campus. By the end of the season, it would be a surprise to nobody if it turns out Gray is the fastest man in the Southland Conference.

UTAMavs.com caught up with Gray on Thursday before the team heads to Houston for the Houston Indoor Invitational this weekend. Here's what Gray had to say:

UTAMavs.com: With this being your last year, do you find yourself looking at record books and trying to see where you can finish in all-time history here at UTA?
Cordero Gray: Yeah, I do. That's my goal: To break all the records here and hopefully bring another national championship here. We've got to win conference this year. I think we can this year - indoor and outdoor - if everybody stays healthy.

UTAMavs.com: You guys get so close to winning championships every year and you did it individually as a sophomore, but you guys haven't quite been able to get over the hump? Is this the year?
Gray: Yeah, I think this year we can. My sophomore year we lost by half a point. That was heart-breaking. I think we can this year because we have shot putters this year - Casey (Keeter) and Branko (Petrovic) - and we have a javelin thrower (Ivan Storic). We didn't have that when I was a sophomore. And we still have good runners. We have everything coming together this year, so it's looking pretty good.

UTAMavs.com: What's it been like to go from one of the new guys on the block to trying to help coach guys like Clayton Vaughn and Lionel Mungwari?
Gray: It's been pretty fun because we're all basically trying to learn. I've been teaching them little things that I've learned like how to stay relaxed and not think too much. They have told me they were having trouble getting out of the blocks and I just tell them to relax and let it come to you. They've already put in all the work, so they need to just not think about it.

UTAMavs.com: What is sprints coach Jordan Durham like to work with?
Gray: She's pretty intense. When they first meet her, everybody probably thinks, since she's a lady, that she's all relaxed and everything, but that's not the case. She's a really good coach. She'll be one of the best in the world one day.

UTAMavs.com: One of your goals is to qualify for the USA team. How close are you to doing that right now?
Gray: Right now? I think I still have some work to do right now, but I'm getting there. I think outdoor I can make it to the finals of the USAs and almost make the team, but I have some work to do.

UTAMavs.com: What's your favorite event?
Gray: Probably the 4x100.

UTAMavs.com: The 4x100?
Gray: Yeah.

UTAMavs.com: Not an individual?
Gray: Nah.

UTAMavs.com: How come?
Gray: Well I guess it's because it's a team thing. I like the team part of track.

UTAMavs.com: Do you want to be the one crossing the finish line?
Gray: It doesn't matter to me. I don't like all the fame or anything.

UTAMavs.com: Do you have a preference which leg you want to run?
Gray: If I had a choice, I would like running first or third. I like running the curves. Right now I run second. But if I had a choice I would go first or third.

UTAMavs.com: What's it like being the fastest person when you walk into a meet and you know nobody is beating you?
Gray: It feels pretty good. But I don't necessarily think like that because I don't take anybody lightly. When you think like that, you lose.

UTAMavs.com: What about when you're walking on the street? Do you ever think to yourself, `If that guy tried to pickpocket me, I'd run him down in a second?'
Gray: Yeah, I always think like that. I watch Cops and stuff and I'm thinking to myself, `Yeah, I'd probably catch everybody.'

UTAMavs.com: When do you run out of gas? If someone gets 400 meters in front of you, are you running into trouble there?
Gray: Probably so - unless someone was chasing me. Then I would be scared. Then you've got that adrenaline. If someone was chasing me I don't think I would ever get tired.

UTAMavs.com: What's it like being the fastest person when you walk into a meet and you know nobody is beating you?
Gray: It feels pretty good. But I don't necessarily think like that because I don't take anybody lightly. When you think like that, you lose.

UTAMavs.com: What about when you're walking on the street? Do you ever think to yourself, `If that guy tried to pickpocket me, I'd run him down in a second?'
Gray: Yeah, I always think like that. I watch Cops and stuff and I'm thinking to myself, `Yeah, I'd probably catch everybody.' I would probably break the world record because I would just be so scared.

UTAMavs.com: That's where you have to get to at some point - pretending like people are going to catch you?
Gray: Yeah, I know. I'm trying. I think I can later on. I still have a lot to learn.

UTAMavs.com: What has it been like to watch some of these young women like Shannon Reynolds and Pamela Vinson come in and light the league on fire?
Gray: It's been pretty fun. They all work very, very hard.

UTAMavs.com: Former UTSA sprinter Teddy Williams got a tryout with the Cowboys this year...
Gray: I know. I was talking to the baseball coach (Darin Thomas). I need to get some base running in with the Rangers.

UTAMavs.com: Are you learning to catch the football a little bit? Or working on the glove for baseball?
Gray: No. I can't take any contact. I just need to get some base running in. I can get in there as a pinch-runner for the Rangers, though.

UTAMavs.com: Do you see yourself as a center fielder?
Gray: Yeah, if I can learn how to catch.

UTAMavs.com: Can you catch?
Gray: Yeah, I can catch.

UTAMavs.com: Can you throw?
Gray: No. I have to worry about that. I know I can't bat. I go over to the machines at the putt-putt that are throwing 80 mph and I miss every time.

UTAMavs.com: What about bunting? Can you put it down and just get to first really quick?
Gray: Yeah, I think I can. I don't think I can control where it's going yet. It might go foul or something. I'll have to learn that.

UTAMavs.com: If it weren't for track and field, what sports would you be most interested in?
Gray: Probably football. I had a scholarship out of high school to UTEP. But I decided to run track.

UTAMavs.com: Why did you decide to run track instead of playing football?
Gray: Because I just loved track more. I thought it would be better for me in the future.

UTAMavs.com: You also enjoy being able to move around.
Gray: Yeah, I thought about that, too. But mostly, I just love track more.

UTAMavs.com: What position did you play?
Gray: In high school, I played running back. UTEP wanted me to play cornerback. That's another reason I decided not to play. Everyone that wanted me thought I was too small, so they wanted me to play defense.

UTAMavs.com: Do you like tackling people?
Gray: No. I hate tackling people. I can't tackle to save my life. That's why I wanted to play offense

UTAMavs.com: See, that's a problem when you're running people down.
Gray: Yeah, I know. I would probably just try to trip them or something. You can't do that in football. You would get a flag.

UTAMavs.com: There we have it: We have a little bit of work to do before we can send you out to chase people down for the police.
Gray: Yeah, but if they gave me a taser I could take them down.

UTAMavs.com: There you go. You could run with that like you do with a baton.
Gray: Yeah, you're right. I hope I don't drop it.