After winning his first Big Ten title in the 200-meter at the 2013 Big Ten Indoor Championships, Ohio State sophomore sprinter and hurdler Timothy Faust feels he has come a long way since last track and field season.
Suffering from two pulled hamstrings and a pulled groin, Faust was not able to participate in the indoor championships in the 2012 season.
“I was in pain, and track is mentally tough already,” Faust said. “You already have to think about your strategy, how fast you have to get out, so with thinking about all of that and thinking about whether or not I’m going to snap my hamstring again, it was just a lot.”
Marking the very first season of his collegiate career, Faust said it was a mental hurdle overcoming the injury.
“It was really depressing not being able to run, not being able to compete especially with my team going to an indoor conference and me not being able to run,” Faust said. “It just really hurt me a lot.”
Faust, though, ultimately overcame his injury.
“When you get hurt, you get to a place where you feel like it’s not going to get any better and it’s not,” Faust said. “I am strong in my faith, and I feel everything happens for a reason because sometimes bad things happen to us so we can really appreciate things.”
As the only OSU male to receive a title at the Big Ten championships on Feb. 22 and 23, Faust is excelling despite the injury.
“Coming back and winning Big Ten was major for me,” Faust said. “The day before (the competition), coach (Ed Beathea) came up to me and said, ‘Are you the fastest guy in the 200?’ and in my mind, I felt like I was, so I went for it.”
Beathea said Faust is a stabilizing presence on the team.
“When good or bad things happen, Tim takes them in strides,” Beathea said. “He’s not going to fall off the deep end and he’s not going to get too big headed.”
His teammates, though, know Faust best for his sense of humor.
“He is definitely a funny guy,” said sophomore short sprinter Nick Batcha. “He loves to talk, and he is a great guy to be around.”
OSU men’s and women’s track and field teams are set for the NCAA Indoor Championships March 8 and 9 in Fayetteville, Ark. While Faust did not qualify for the championships, the OSU men’s team is set to send junior Demoye Bogle (sprinter/hurdler) and redshirt senior Chris Fallon (distance). The women’s team is set to send senior Alexis Thomas (throws) and sophomore Aisha Cavin (sprints).