INTRODUCTION: During the 2019-20 indoor track & field season, Kudzai Mbinda broke Rochester's school record for the 60 meter dash. He finished in the top eight runners in seven indoor meets. His strategy is to be as explosive and instinctively as technically sound as possible before the race. The preparation works - as he talks about here.
 

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When did you first become involved in track & field?
Grade 1 - it is mandatory for students at most schools in Zimbabwe.
 
What attracted you to it?
Initially, I did it because it was mandatory, then grew to appreciate the sport because I was able to make friends during the long periods of time I spent with teammates at meets and practice.
 
Why were the sprint races the most popular for you?
Sprints are shorter and less painful in my opinion. So when I started track because it was mandatory, sprints were attractive because if you excelled at them, you'd be exempt from mandatory cross country.
 
60 Meters is a very short race. Is there a strategy for success?
The race is so short that it is difficult to think of strategy during the race. Therefore, the best strategy is to be as explosive and instinctively technically sound as possible before the race. This means that the training sessions are focused on perfecting the best techniques and becoming more explosive.
 
In some of the other 'team' sports, coaches talk about first-years needing to "adapt to the college game". Is that a factor for a first-year in track, especially the shorter distances?
For me, it definitely was a factor because track in high school in Zimbabwe was different in many ways college track. The track season was 2 months long and in college it is more than 5 months long with training starting a few months before that. This meant that my body was not used to the physical demands of the sport which resulted in me getting several injuries in my first year. Another major adjustment was having to compete weekly compared to the widely spaced out schedule I had in high school. This means I have to be more deliberate about balancing track and all the other activities of a student which was much easier in high school. 
 
In Zimbabwe, you played rugby at St. George's College. That can be a rough sport. Is speed the biggest factor or is strength more important? Did you compete internationally?
Both speed and strength are equally important in rugby because there's different positions that require different skill sets. There are also numerous other aspects to consider such as strategy, team chemistry and coordination, and quick decision making, just to name a few. The art of balancing all these factors as a team is probably the most important part of the sport.
 
When you are home, do you work with any youth programs – coaching, counseling, serving as an official or a timer?  
I have only returned home once during the December holiday of 2018 so I have not had the opportunity to do something like this. 
 
What led you to the University of Rochester?
The strong engineering program and generous financial aid were the two main reasons. The relatively big and supportive African community was also an important factor in my decision.
 
Why did you choose Chemical Engineering as your major?
Growing up, I was always fascinated by how different raw materials are converted into useful products, and I enjoyed math and science classes. Chemical engineering allows me to merge these two interests in a captivating way.
 
Are you involved in any campus groups tied to your studies?
I am part of the Chem-E Car team: we research, design, and create a model car that is powered by chemical reactions.