ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: KARENE KING

Over the past week senior Karene King has not only broken her personal record in the 100 and 200-meter, but she also helped set new school records in both the 4×100 and the 4×400 women’s relay. King has already qualified for the Big Sky championships in both the 100 and 200-m races.

Vanguard: Why did you come to Portland State

Karene King: Back in 2005 or 2006 the old coach Kebba recruited me. After that I didn’t come to Portland State, I went to a junior college. Portland State was still interested in me, even though I wasn’t doing so well at the junior college, so I came to Portland State.

V: What is your favorite track memory?

KK:One that I will always remember is when I broke Portland State’s school record for indoor track 200-m and I also broke my home indoor record at the same time. But all my track memories are good, even the bad ones.

V: What is your greatest strength?

KK:My greatest strength is what you call here at Portland State as the underdog. I like to be someone who you do not expect to be good, because they always look at PSU as a lower

college. My greatest strength is being the underdog and being very determined.

V: What’s your favorite place to eat around campus?

KK:My two favorite places, because I cannot choose between the two of them, are Panda Express and Rock Bottom.

V: What are your favorite things to do around Portland?

KK:I’m not a very outgoing person, so to be honest, I really haven’t done much around Portland. My favorite thing to do in Portland is to hang out with the best teammates I have ever found. You know how they say you find friends of a lifetime? The Big Sky champion for indoor and outdoor 100 and 200-m, Geronne Black, I find time and I enjoy spending time with her. She is the opposite of me, so whatever I won’t do, she will do; she teaches me a lot. So hanging out with her is the best thing I do here.

V: What’s the first thing you would be if you won the lottery?

KK: This might sound cheesy, but to be honest, I have a soft heart. Whenever I see homeless people on the street I always want to help. So if I win the lottery, the first thing I would do is to help them. Secondly, I’d buy a boat.

V: Do you have any nicknames?

KK:My nickname is K.

V: What’s the last thing you just cooked?

KK:Good thing you asked me this because I love to cook! Yesterday I made baked salmon, potato salad and corn.

V: What is, or has been, your favorite class at PSU?

KK:Probably my favorite class is one that I’m in right now, family communications. It teaches real life situations, that we go through on the day-to-day basis. It’s really interactive.

V: What’s on your iPod right now?

KK:On my iPod right now is a lot of gospel, reggae and R&B.

V: If you could have dinner with any three people—alive, dead, real or fictitious—who would they be?

KK:I would have dinner with one, God, two, Allyson Felix, and three, my grandmother, because I don’t see her very often.

V: Do you read the Vanguard?

KK:Not often, but I do.

V: What song are you most likely to sing at karaoke?

KK:I think I am the greatest singer in the world, which I know isn’t true. But at karaoke I would probably start singing one of Michael Jackson’s songs, any one.

V: What is the last thing you read?

KK:Yesterday I finished reading A Child Called “It.”

V: What is your favorite superhero?

KK:I don’t have a favorite superhero, because to be honest I don’t believe in them, I’m more of a Godly person.  ?

* This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.