10 Questions With Two-Time A-Sun Track and Field MVP, Perrish Goggins
5/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
May 11, 2009
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Perrish Goggins has certainly made a strong name for himself as a member of the USC Upstate track and field squad. In just under two years, he has set several school records and received numerous conference awards and honors. Goggins, a sophomore computer science major, will look to help lead the Spartans this weekend as they travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to compete at the 2009 Outdoor Atlantic Sun Conference Championships.
For the 2007-08 indoor season, Goggins was recognized as the A-Sun Conference's Most Outstanding Freshman, as he posted 4,417 points (the second-best finish in A-Sun history) in the heptathalon en route to a second-place finish at the A-Sun Championships. In the 2008-09 indoor season, he garnered MVP honors again, being selected as the A-Sun Most Valuable Field Performer and was also named to the A-Sun Second-Team All Conference selection in the high jump and triple jump. Goggins currently holds the program's indoor records in the 55-meter dash (6.77 seconds), high jump (2.06m), long jump (6.94m), triple jump (14.30m) and heptathlon (4,417 points).
During last year's outdoor conference championships, Goggins led the decathlon after day one of competition. He took fourth in the high jump and sixth in the triple jump at conference, setting school records in six events including the 100m dash, high jump, long jump, triple jump, 110m-hurdles and the decathlon. He became the first Upstate track and field athlete to earn A-Sun Athlete of the Week honors for his dominant efforts, as he won the high jump, triple jump and long jump during the Wofford Dual Meet, took first in the long jump and second in the high jump at the Furman Invitational and won the high jump at the Western Carolina Invitational.
Goggins was recognized for his distinct talent and solid performances after his freshman year in being invited to many different competitions over the summer. He won the high jump at the USATF South Carolina Junior Olympics, finished ninth in the high jump at the prestigious USA Junior Nationals at Ohio State and finished fifth in the decathlon and fourth in the high jump at the USATF Region III Junior Olympics.
Goggins has returned for nothing less his sophomore year, already setting outdoor school records in the 100-meters (11.02 seconds), high jump (2m), long jump (7.02m) and triple jump (13.81m). He took the high jump title at the Furman Invitational and finished second in the long jump. He also took second in the high jump, third in the triple jump and fifth in the long jump at the Winthrop Invitational during the outdoor season.
The Colombia, S.C., native recently sat down with Sarah Hurd of upstatespartans.com and discussed his expectations for the upcoming 2009 outdoor conference championships on May 15-16 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Last year, you led in the decathlon after the first day of championships. What events can we expect to see you in this year and what are your overall expectations?
This year, I'll be competing in the 4X100m relay, the long jump, high jump and the triple jump. I expect to do my best in each and hopefully accomplish a personal record in each event. I'd like to finish in the top-three in each event and reach seven feet in the high jump if my tendon allows. My ultimate goal which I share with all of my teammates is to get a conference ring.
You were named the A-Sun's Most Outstanding Freshman at the 2008 Indoor Championships and the Most Valuable Field Performer for the 2009 Indoor Championships. What are some of the differences you encounter between indoor and outdoor track and field and what adjustments do you have to make?
In my opinion, indoor is an easier season because there are less events to focus on. There are 10 events in indoor, as opposed to 13 events in outdoor. Consciously, the events in the indoor season are easier for me to complete because I can focus more on my high jumping and long jumping. However, this year at the outdoor conference championships, I won't be partaking in the decathlon so I can put more focus on my main events, such as the long, triple and high jump.
Also, the weather can play a major factor in outdoor track and field, whereas in indoor it's not an issue. Jumping in the rain can be difficult and dangerous and affect your jumps, and even being out in the hot sun can put a damper on your body and attitude at times.
You compete in the high jump, long jump and triple jump consistently throughout the season. Which is your favorite to compete in and why and what do you think is your strongest event?
The high jump is pretty fun for me, although it brings the most aches and pain on the body. It's also my best event, in my opinion, so I enjoy it the most.
How would you compare last year's track and field team to this year's squad? How much of a difference has one year made for the program?
There's no doubt that this program has grown greatly in just one short year. This year, I think that we have the ability to really do something, score more points and place higher. We're a much deeper squad and we have more people to compete in a variety of events, compared to last season in our first outdoor championship.
Can you tell us about your experiences at the USA Junior Nationals at Ohio State and the USATF Region III Junior Olympics last summer?
It was a great experience and I had the opportunity to meet some awesome people and athletes, who acted as my motivation and helped me make it through the meet. I came in at a higher height at Junior Nationals, and although I wound up reaching no height, it was still a great experience for me to be there and see what else is out there and just how great some of these athletes are. It really has helped prepare me for the future.
Do you have any ultimate track and field related goals for the near and/or far future?
Primarily, I'd like to reach seven feet in the high jump, a new personal best for me. I have yet to attempt it this year, so it should be a challenging, but do-able goal for me. I also haven't reached 23 feet in the long jump since I PR'ed earlier in the season, so I'd like to reach that distance again. As far as future goals, I'd like to get into coaching after graduation.
Who is your athletic hero and why?
My athletic hero is my club track and field coach from home, Maurice Campbell of Columbia, who has trained me throughout my life and basically raised me since I started track at a very young age.
You also compete in cheerleading during the winter season and this year the team finished third at the CheerSport Nationals in Atlanta. What made you want to get involved in cheerleading?
I'm a person who likes to get involved in whatever I can. I competed in cheerleading in high school, and when I saw that they were starting a team here, I decided I would enjoy doing it again.
Where do you think you get your lively, enthusiastic and energetic personality from?
My mother. She taught me that I could always succeed in whatever I try to do and to never give up. She preached that if I really wanted something, I could get it and it's stuck with me throughout my life.
What other talents do you have that not many people know about?
Well, I'm very musically talented. I'm a violinist, I play percussions and I was in the high school band. I can also sing, rap and dance, and as a matter of fact, I'm trying to start my own dance crew here at Upstate. I'm an artist and poet and I write my own materials, and I'd consider myself somewhat of an activist as I try to induce peace. Furthermore, I'm a rifleman and can twirl a rifle and I enjoy cooking.
Speaking of cooking, Coach Stephens was making dinner consistently last week for the team in honor of final exams being over and to show his excitement for the upcoming championships. How is his cooking?
Well, it's something, let's just put it that way. It was necessary so it worked out.
