Feb. 25, 2009
IOWA CITY, IA – “The hardest part of being a student-athlete?” University of Iowa junior Rhonda-Kaye Trusty thinks about the question for a moment. “The hardest part is dealing with the stereotypes of being a student-athlete. People think that we’re handed everything and that we don’t ever have to work hard. You have to put in a lot of time and effort into everything you do. For all the time you put in though, you get recognized and it does pay off.”
All of Trusty’s work has certainly paid off. Trusty is a two-time letterwinner at Iowa and has a 60-meter time that ranks sixth (7.61) and a 200-meter time that ranks eighth (24.55) all-time in Iowa indoor track and field. This season, her fastest 60-meter time (7.61) and 200-meter time (24.44) are among the top-ten in the conference. Approaching the Big Ten Indoor Championships this weekend, Trusty says her goal is simply to fulfill her potential and help the team do better.
When Trusty isn’t making her mark on the track, she likes to just hang out with her roommates and talk on the phone with friends. As a biology pre-med major, she does her fair share of studying, as well.
“In addition to the athletics, the biology program was what really attracted me to Iowa,” Trusty says. “It’s a nationally ranked program and that was important to me.”
For all the areas in which Trusty excels, she does have her occasional slip-up.
“My most embarrassing moment would be at the Canadian junior trials.” Trusty reflects. “I was running the 200 meters and they put me in lane one and I wasn’t used to running in close. I set up my blocks wrong and when I took off, I drifted off the track into the infield grass. I had to jump back on the track and I tried to catch up, but I was already way too far behind at that point.”
With all the success Trusty has found, both on-and-off the track, it’s easy to forgive her for the occasional diversion.
The Bio
Name: Rhonda-Kaye Trusty
Birthday: January 10, 1988
Major(s)/Minors(s): Biology, Pre-med
Hometown: Brampton, Toronto
Pre-meet rituals: Eating ribs, pray
Favorite TV show: Law and Order, House
Best concert I’ve ever been to: Stephen Marley, Musiq Soulchild
Food I couldn’t live without: Fried Dumplings, Chinese Food
Most embarrassing movie I own: Entire Disney collection