Know Your Dons: Asaundra Dalton
4/8/2015 9:30:00 AM | Track and Field
After excelling in her first year with the Dons' track and field program, Asaundra Dalton set high expectations entering her sophomore season. Through six meets, Dalton has continued to perform well against strong competition in the 100- and 200-meter sprints.
Early in the season she took first in the 200 m at the West Coast Quad, then followed that performance by taking first in the 100 m at the West Coast Relays.
She has continued to improve as the season's progressed. In her most recent meet, the Stanford Invitational on April 4, Dalton clocked in at 12.25 in the 100 m, the second best time of her career.
Assistant coach Laura Huarte says her progress has been the result of a steady determination she brings to each practice.
"Asaundra's season is off to a solid start as she continues to improve her times with each meet," Huarte says. "She has been working very hard on improving her running technique and block starts, which should definitely have an impact on her times as we get into the peak part of our season. I'm very excited to see what she can do when she puts everything together in one race."
As a freshman, Dalton, of Oak Park, Mich., displayed why her coaches hold her in such high regard.
She set the school records in the 100 m (12.05) and the 200 m (24.66) at the West Coast Last Chance meet. She was also a member of the 4x100 m and 4x400 m relay teams that set school-best marks at the West Coast Last Chance meet.
And today, as Dalton continues to take strides on the track, she has proven herself as an exceptional student, as well, says head coach Helen Lehman-Winters.
"Asaundra is representative of exactly the type of athlete we want in our program," she says of Dalton, who currently maintains a 3.8 GPA. "She is not only an inspirational team leader who is focused on competing at the highest level on the track, but she also excels in the classroom."
"Know Your Dons" is an ongoing feature on USFDons.com designed to personalize student-athletes at the University of San Francisco. Meet Asaundra Dalton.
Student Life
Favorite spot on campus (other than athletic facility): My room in lone mountain because I have a spectacular view of the entire city.
Favorite class (why): U.S. Inequalities and Social Justice, because I am passionate about elevating race consciousness and hope to one day change public policies that infuse discrimination and racism to make people feel inferior.
Hardest class: Philosophy
Favorite place to study on campus: Gleeson Library, 4th floor
Balancing the demands of school and your sport: It's very tough and causes for great time management skills, but it has definitely shaped much of who I am, allowing me to become more efficient in all areas.
The best thing about USF is: Its location, being right in the heart of San Francisco.
What does "Change the World From Here" mean to you: It means to act out what you speak. Simply saying you want change doesn't mean change will occur. "Change the world from here" means putting action to work to end any type of unfair/unjust treatment in the world.
Pop Culture
Favorite TV show: Scandal
Favorite movie: Rush Hour
Last book you read: "The Skin We Speak" by Lisa Delpit
Favorite singer or band: Beyonce
What's on your iPOD: R&B, gospel, hip hop, but mostly Beyonce
Team
Top skill: Sprinting/leading my team
One thing you are always working on: Staying positive no matter the situation
One skill of one of your teammates you wish you had: Nile's running form
Pre-game rituals or superstitions before events: Prayer! I also kiss the cross my grandfather left me when he passed away before every race.
Funniest teammate: Lupe Medina
Favorite (name of coach) saying: "Get after it" – Helen Lehman-Winters
Favorite bonding moment with your team: when we flew to Arizona last year for a meet at ASU (That is the most memorable/funniest meet I've ever been to.)
Sports
Sports teams I follow: (Favorite sports teams) Detroit Lions (NFL), Detroit Pistons/Miami Heat (NBA), Team USA (track and field), Detroit Tigers (MLB), Michigan Wolverines (college football and basketball).
Favorite athlete: Tied between Sanya Richards-Ross (track Olympian) and Calvin Johnson (wide receiver for Detroit Lions)
Favorite athletic memory: Winning the 400 at USATF Nationals in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Biggest sports thrill: 2004 NBA Championships when the Pistons won!
My second-best sport: Basketball (I played from 4th grade until senior year in high school).
Sport I'm the worst at: Tennis
Earliest sports memory: Scoring 16 points in my 8th grade basketball championship. I was MVP!
First sport you ever played: Basketball
Food and Travel
Favorite meal: soul food (fried chicken, greens, mac & cheese, rice & gravy, candied yams,etc.)
Favorite ethnic cuisine: Thai food
Favorite snack food: Ice cream
Guilty pleasure: I literally study Beyonce (I know, it's kind of sad)
Least favorite food: Brussel sprouts
If I had to cook all of my meals, I'd survive on: Beef stew
Who is the best cook on the team: I am
If stranded on an island, what would you bring with you: My track spikes
Most interesting place you've ever visited: San Francisco, Calif.
Place you'd most like to visit someday: Ethiopia
Favorite place in San Francisco: Union Square
Describe your perfect day in San Francisco: I'd wake up and go to twin peaks at sunrise. Then, I'd have breakfast at sweet maple. After breakfast, I'd go to Union Square to shop for hours; then, I'd have lunch at the cheesecake factory overlooking downtown sf. Next, I would go to Land's End for sunset and hike some trails. Then, I'd go to the museum of African Diaspora. After that, I'd have dinner at King of Thai on clement street and get dessert at Chili Pies. Lastly, I'd take a night stroll of one of the beaches to unwind.
This and That
Hobbies: Writing, speaking, studying Beyonce
Pick three words to describe yourself: Christian, assertive, go-getter
Early riser or night owl: Night owl
Something people would be surprised to know about me: I'm part Irish
Person I'd most like to meet: Beyonce
Talent I wish I had: Dunking
Role models: My mom, my sister, Michelle Obama, and my professor Monique Morris
My parents were right when they said: I would miss them in college
Moment in my life I'll always remember: My high school graduation
Things I collect: Pictures and socks
In 10 years, I'd like to be: a practicing lawyer with a beautiful family changing public policy, specifically in my hometown of Detroit, Mich.
If I could trade places with someone for a day, it would be: Michelle Obama
Three people from history you'd like to have dinner with: Thomas Jefferson, Maya Angelou, and Sarah Breedlove
Pet peeves: Slow walkers, bad drivers, and racism
Cats or dogs: Dogs
Best advice you've ever received and who was it from: "No matter how successful you get, you'll always have to work twice as hard as them" – Mom and Dad
Describe your perfect day: Winning the 200 meter dash at the Olympics
In your own words, describe the student-athlete experience at USF:
The student-athlete experience at USF is quite interesting. The workload is definitely doable with time management. I'm happy to be apart of the Black Student Union here to mingle with others who I feel are culturally inclined and cognizant of the battles we face on campus. As a Sociology major, I am very satisfied with my major classes and can't wait to be done with the core classes. USF does a great job at correlating events and putting on workshops to invest in our futures as well as to speak on current issues both in and outside of America. I love the close-knitted campus and the one-on-one time with my professors that I wouldn't otherwise get at another institution. Athletically, I like the direction our program is going in and the improvements I've seen so far in my collegiate career. Being a student athlete at USF, overall, has been a great experience and I hope it continues to get better.
Players Mentioned
