“I am very excited about going to Eugene,” said Kim Laing, the University of Alabama (Alabama) graduate student. “I have never been to Oregon and I have a good chance of being an All-American if I can only finish in the top eight.” Eugene, Oregon is the site for the 2010 NCAA Championships that began yesterday and end June 12.
Now in her final year of eligibility, Kim has saved the best for last by capturing the SEC Conference 60m hurdles indoor title (8.23 secs) and the 100m hurdles outdoor title (13.32 secs). The Jamaican native punched her ticket to Oregon by running a lifetime best 12.92 secs for 5th place in the 100m hurdles, at the May 29 NCAA East Regional, dipping below 13 seconds for the first time in her career.
Commenting on her 12.92 secs run, the former Immaculate Conception High School (Jamaica) star said, “to go below 13 seconds is amazing, I set my goals coming into the season and this [performance] shows that my future prospects are very good.” For Kim, the season until now has been more than she expected.
CARIFTA Prepared Her Well
Kim, who represented her native Jamaica at the CARIFTA Games, Pan-American Junior Games and the CAC Games, said she was well-prepared going into Alabama. The high level of competition at CARIFTA, where she loved competing, prepared her mentally for college, she says, and that preparation now gives her a chance to shine.
The communication studies major gushed about the hurdles with which she has had lots of success after she was introduced to it in the 9th grade by her former coach Mark Prince. She further attributes her current success to Crimson Tide coaching staff, who she said, are very supportive and take good care of the athletes.
In expressing her love for and pride in things Jamaican, Kim says she enjoys running for her country because nothing beats being on the Jamaican team. She loves all Jamaican music (though she sometimes listens to R&B and rap) and will always enjoy a meal of curried chicken and rice and peas.
Looking ahead to the 2012 Olympics, Kim said, “It is on my calendar; it is on the calendar of everyone who competes. London 2012 is my biggest goal.”