Name: Karléh Wilson
College: Saybrook ‘16
Intended Major: Sociology (with a political focus)
Hometown: Newport Beach California
If you don’t know Karléh Wilson from her extensive involvement in multiple groups on campus, then you might know her because of her most recent claim to fame as Yale’s new Shot Put record holder.
The first thing I noticed upon walking into her room for the interview was a big sign on the wall that read “BEAT HARVARD.” Just from seeing that sign, I could tell that when it comes to being a member of Yale Track and Field, Karléh means business….
HC: What events do you participate in and which is your favorite?
KW: I throw Shot Put, Discus, Hammer, Weight, and Javelin. But Shot Put is definitely my favorite.
HC: Why is it your favorite?
KW: Why? Well it comes naturally to me. It doesn’t take much coaching for me to understand it…and it is just so simple: you just get a ball and literally throw it in a straight line. Also I like it because it is the fastest way for me to get out my anger.
HC: Anger…so would you say you use Track and Field as an emotional outlet?
KW: Yes. When I was younger I used to have some anger problems, which led me to be very competitive on the basketball court (my other sport). But once I started throwing I was able to channel all of my negative emotions into the event, allowing me to emit positive energy during other activities of my life.
HC: How did you get into Track and Field?
KW: When I was younger I actually was a really girly-girl. I did pageants, I was a cheerleader, and I did gymnastics. My parents quickly realized, however, that I wasn’t making friends because the other girls were nice to each other and I wasn’t, since I was being super competitive with them instead. They realized that I had a “sports mindset,” or that I was “in it to win it,” and set me up with Track and Field. It was actually an easy transition because both of my parents worked, so I would go to school, go straight to practice at school, and then get a ride with a friend to club practice after.
HC: What was your high school sports career like?
KW: In high school I played basketball and was on the Track and Field team. I started basketball in middle school and was horrible – I was the girl that the coach let on the team, but actually only was there to tie the other girls shoes. I didn’t stay bad, because I got really good and almost played here at Yale. In terms of the Track and Field team, I began as a sprinter. I volunteered to be a thrower because my team really needed throwers. I really liked it so I continued and eventually stopped sprinting all together.
HC: What about your college career? What has that been like so far?
KW: Well, this coach Ana, who I really liked, recruited me. I was disappointed when I got to Yale because we found out she had stepped down as coach. I respected her decision, because she was balancing being a coach and a mom and a principal, yet I was still upset. Because of that I didn’t have a coach first semester. Instead the seniors on the team would coach me. It was frustrating to not have a coach who could teach me tips on technique, so I channeled my energy into the weight room. I got really strong to prepare for when my coach got here the first week after winter break. His name is John Ybarra. We really hit it off and he is just such a great coach. He reminds me of the first throwing coach I ever had, which is weird but is also nice because I feel really comfortable with both.
HC: So this year you also became the new Shot Put record holder, which is really exciting! And congratulations, by the way! Can you talk about your journey to the record?
KW: Yes and thank you. My PR (personal record) coming into Yale was 42 feet 7 inches. My first track meet here I threw right under 40 feet. My second track meet here I threw 42 feet 6 inches. My third track meet is when I broke the school record after I threw 45 feet. The day I broke the record was really strange. Not only was it my first tri-meet (Yale, Dartmouth, Columbia), it was also inside, which I was not used to. All I wanted to do was beat this Dartmouth girl who was throwing very far. I didn’t, however, know how far I was throwing because the officials were calling it in meters and centimeters instead of feet and inches. In the finals I ended up getting second, which I was happy about because it wasn’t third. The throw to get second place went pretty far, but it was the worst technique ever. My coach gave me a look like he didn’t approve of the throw, but still liked it because it went far. It turns out that after the event a good 15 to 20 minutes went by when I was annoyed I didn’t win and people were confused because they knew about the record break and didn’t understand why I was not rejoicing. My coach asked me how it felt to be the new school record holder and then I understood why I had been getting such strange looks. After I was so happy that I started crying and fell on the ground. I even hugged one of my friends and he was like “that’s one of the happiest hugs you have ever given me.” Later I texted my high school coach to tell him how excited I was because he also went to Yale. I felt really good because I feel like I am making him proud. He did so much to help me get here and it is awesome to be able to hold school records like he does (his name is James Driscoll and he holds the weight record and the hammer record).
HC: What has life been like since breaking the record?
KW: It is hard because it puts more pressure on me to keep doing really well. I am proud of myself, but it is just scary sometimes because I need to keep doing well. Also, I am not good with public attention so whenever I meet someone who knows that I have broken the record and wants to talk to me about it, I usually just try to change the subject.
HC: What else are you involved in on campus?
KW: I am involved in Athletes and Allies, Athletes in Action, the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and the Big Brother Big Sister Program.
Fun Facts:
Random Fact: “Beat every Harvard girl at shot put – and at the end of the day that’s all that matters”
Favorite kind of music: Reggae
Favorite activity outside of track: I like to sing and write music.
Animals: I don’t have any animals, but I am in love with them so I have a stuffed animal that is a dog named Lady.
Embarrassing moment: Basically every day of my life. I don’t get embarrassed easily because I just play it off; but everyday of my life I do something. So everything in my life is a running joke because I don’t take myself very seriously.