Spotlight Athlete of the Week

After a rocky start to her collegiate career, Tiffany Bigham changed her mindset and made track a No. 1 priority. Two years later she has become a force to be reckoned within the conference and has already picked up wins in discus and shot put throws.

The senior from Renton, Wash., has proven the clichéd phrase true, that practice and hard work lead to success. Although busy in preparation for the Big Sky Championships next week, the Vanguard sat down with Bigham for a few questions.

Daily Vanguard: Why did you come to Portland State?
Tiffany Bigham: I wanted to get out of Seattle and move to a new city. Portland State offered a scholarship, and I took it.

DV: What is your best moment on the field?
TB: My first two years, I kept getting my butt kicked in every single meet. Then, my junior year I made a conference qualifying mark and it was so emotional that it made me cry after the previous two seasons of frustration. I cut a lot of crap out of life and focused solely on track. It helped, and obviously it has paid off.

DV: What is your greatest strength?
TB: In terms of track, it would be doing what you have to do and making it count. I’ve learned how to stay focused and not get sidetracked.

DV: What is your favorite place to eat around campus?
TB: Chipotle! I live in Broadway and I get the salad about 3–4 times a week.

DV: That’s a clear favorite then huh?
TB: Obviously, yeah.

DV: What is your favorite thing to do around Portland?
TB: I love walking down in the Pearl when it is nice. I just love to shop … I love to shop. It’s so pretty, but it’s so expensive, but I work it out. I’m a big shoe fan.

DV: What is the first item that you would buy if you won the lottery?
TB: I would get a scooter, or Mini Cooper. I like the Mini Cooper—I saw a tight one the other day. I would buy it off of that person.

DV: What is your most embarrassing moment while competing?
TB: It was at the Vandal Indoor in Moscow, Idaho my sophomore year. We had these baby hurdles and I jumped over one, and tripped on another.
I fell flat on my face just like this [acts it out with her arms spread] in front of an entire stadium. It was all silent, and then everyone laughed. I just sat there, and didn’t want to get up and face everybody. It was really embarrassing, like really embarrassing.

DV: Do you have any hidden talents?
TB: I sing beautifully. No, I’m just kidding, I’m terrible. I’m pretty good at sign language. However, if I were to choose one, it would have to be acting. I’m a pretty good actor. No jokes aside, I’m a good actor, and I would love to do that as something on the side. I love acting, I like it a lot.

DV: If you could attend one sporting event or concert anywhere, what would it be?
TB: I want to go to the next Olympics and be one of those people who stands next to the athletes and holds all their gear. Right on the field, and have a nice little pass up close and feel the atmosphere of being in front of everyone.

DV: What has been your favorite class while attending PSU?
TB: My favorite and probably my hardest class happened my freshman year. It was my freshman inquiry class. It’s a Work of Art, and it was one of the tightest classes. I still see people from that class and that is all we talk about four years later. It was hard and fun, she challenged us. I think that was a pretty good entry coming into college.

DV: Do you read the Vanguard, if so how often?
TB: Yes, I do. I read it about once every two weeks. Something like that.