The Daily Iowan: What is your earliest track and field memory?
Sal Capaldo: We did a track and field day during middle school, where you kind of just go out there and do a few different events, just whatever you want to do. I think we only started doing track in like seventh grade, where I came from, so I never did much before then.
Who on the team challenges you to be your very best?
I think I would say coach Cameron Burrows, he pushes me to do my best in whatever event we’re doing, and he definitely expects the best quality work and the most effort from me. Every day, he expects me to crush whatever workout we got, or during competition to execute whatever we’ve been working on, and he holds me to a pretty high standard.
What about the decathlon is so appealing to you?
When I was getting recruited, they asked me if I wanted to do the decathlon, and I was kind of like, ” This is my only ticket to being a DI athlete,” so I kind of had to. But now that I’ve done it for four years, the appeal of it is just that no one does it. No one does as much training or competing as me. There’s just a certain pride in it that it’s difficult to do, and not everyone can do it at a high level.
Other than track and field, what is your favorite sport?
I’ve always been a big football guy, that was my main sport in high school. I don’t watch too many other sports, but I grew up a Hawkeye. My dad is a huge Hawkeye fan, so I grew up with my uncles at every tailgate every year, so I’ve been to a good amount of games at Kinnick. I’m pretty much a homegrown Hawkeye.
What is your favorite memory at Iowa?
It probably just has to be getting third place last year at Big Tens last year indoors. Coming from not being the best recruit out of high school, learning a lot of these events, to get third in a power four conference, it was pretty surreal.
What is your favorite music genre and artist?
I’ve been pretty big on the yacht rock recently. The biggest name on my playlist is probably just Steely Dan.
What are some of your favorite things to do outside of track?
I’m getting into golf here now, so playing a lot of golf. Video games with hometown friends. Frisbee golf once it starts getting nicer. Other than that, just hanging out.
Favorite place you’ve been to and why?
I’d say probably Arizona because obviously the weather is top-notch compared to Iowa. I’m a sucker for a mountain range, and Arizona’s got some cool mountains behind their track, and they have a really sweet college campus. My roommates and I, during our trip to Arizona one year, decided to take a loop around the campus, and it’s pretty sweet.
What are some of your biggest goals in life, and have you completed any?
Out of high school, I would have told you to be a D1 athlete. I’d like to win the Big Ten and the multi. I’d like to make nationals, indoor and outdoor, next year, or maybe even this year for outdoor. I’d like, at some point, to wear Team USA gear, whether that be a lower-level world meet or world championships, or way out there, a big goal is 2028 Olympics.
What is your go-to gas station snack?
Dr. Pepper is the beverage. I’m an Iowan, we’re going to Casey’s, I’m going to grab their breakfast pizza for the entrée. Then some Dots Pretzels, and then a little sweetness, the purple bag of Skittles. I’m not a big food getter, I’m a snack and drink getter at a gas station.