The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
2006 79th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays quotes: Day four
04.08.2006 | Texas Athletics
Brooke Upshaw, anchor for Southlake Carroll (High School Girls Distance Medley Relay)
We love coming here to Texas Relays. It definitely means a lot for us to win. During the third lap I just really made my move and turned it up a notch to win.
Duncan Phillips, anchor for A&M Consolidated (High School Boys Distance Medley Relay)
I am glad I could hold everybody off because when I got the baton, our team was not in the position we wanted to be in. It felt really good to pull up and win.
Jiovanna Martinez, PSJA North (High School Girls Discus)
It is awesome to get this win. This is my third time to compete at Texas Relays, and my goal was to get better each year. This was my second-best throw of the season. My goal was to get a personal record here, but I will definitely take the win.
Anthony Flemons, Childress (High School Boys Triple Jump)
I knew that I could have jumped farther, but it still feels great to win this event. Luckily it went my way and it just feels great.
Jason Guillory, DeSoto (High School Boys Shot Put)
This win feels great. When you come to this meet, you really have to compete. That is what I did and it was a good win.
Samantha Hamilton, Killeen (High School Girls Triple Jump)
It feels really good to win at a meet like Texas Relays. Today all I could hear was my coach's voice the entire way and it really helped me.
Melaine Walker, Texas (University/College Women 400m Hurdles)
I didn't really have a strategy today because the wind is pretty strong. I felt the wind on the first hurdle and used it when I could. I felt the girl from Miami [Dominique Darden] right behind me, but I knew I had this race. I just wanted to run the best race that I could.
TaNisha Mills, Sheffield Mills (Invitational Women 400m Hurdles)
It is great to be back in Texas. I am from Texas, but I have been training in California. This is my third time here at Texas Relays and I felt good about my race. I was disappointed that Allison Bedford fell because I thought it would have been a great race between us.
Justin Boyd, Angelo State (College Men 400m Hurdles)
I feel pretty good about this race. I messed up a little bit on the second-to-last hurdle, but I am pleased with my time. It is definitely the best time of my career. I love Texas Relays; this is my third time to run here and I just love every minute of it.
Michael Tinsley, Jackson State (University Men 400m Hurdles)
My personal record is 48.55, but setting the Texas Relays record is pretty cool, too. I kind of stuttered on the fifth hurdle, but I know I wanted to bring it home strong. I really pushed it down the back stretch. My ultimate goal is to set the collegiate record.
Terry Thornton, Hampton (Invitational Men 400m Hurdles)
It is really exciting to win at a meet like Texas Relays. It is nice and warm and the fan support is what really pulls you through. I was the fans that made a difference in the home stretch when I needed to be strong.
Carey LaCour, anchor for Houston (University Men 4x200 Relay)
When we got out to the track, we realized we had to be careful about our marks. The second leg and I were discussing where to put our marks, but we figured it out and everything worked out well for the win.
Brooklyn Morris, anchor for LSU (University/College Women 4x200 Relay)
We were a little shaky on the second-to-third handoff, but it was okay. I am originally from Houston, so it is good to be here. We are pleased with our race and it is nice to get a win at Texas Relays.
Erma Gene, Texas-El Paso (University/College Women Javelin)
My goal coming here was to throw over 55 meters, but in an event like this, it is all about winning, not setting records. I am satisfied with how I did and with getting the win.
Elizabeth Olear, anchor for Louisville (Division I High School Girls 4x200 Relay)
It felt really good to win this race. Honestly I was frightened at the 80m mark because my hamstring got rally tight and I thought I might have to stop running. But it turned out to be okay and I was really happy when I crossed the finish line. My team did such a great job.
Angele Cooper, anchor for Long Beach Wilson (Division II High School Girls 4x200 Relay)
It feels good to do this well. Our handoffs were a little shaky and slowed us down a little bit, but it worked. I am a sophomore so I am looking forward to trying to win this event for the next two years at Texas Relays.
Whitney Prevost, anchor for Texas City (Division II High School Boys 4x200 Relay)
This was my first time to win anything at Texas Relays. It means a lot to win at Texas Relays and we were able to run our best time by half a second. My teammates really did a great job.
Joul Green, anchor for Giddings (Division I High School Boys 4x200 Relay)
Coming to Texas Relays as a high school athlete means a lot, especially since I am a senior. The fans are great and this stadium is unbelievable. All of the support really helped us make up a lot of time. This means a lot for Giddings to set a new record that hasn't been touched in years.
Erin Bedell, anchor for Baylor (University College Women Distance Medley Relay)
I felt pretty good out there. It is so much fun to run out there with the nice record and the atmosphere. It was exciting to get the baton and come back like that. Our whole team is excited about the way we performed.
Leo Manzano, anchor for Texas (University Men Distance Medley Relay)
Coach told me to relax and let someone else take the lead. Then on the back stretch I took off with the wind. I wasn't too worried about it. It is awesome to win at home. The fans are great, and it is good to win this race.
Lacy Janson, Florida State (University/College Women Pole Vault)
My legs are a little tired, but the crowd helped me a lot. I am a little disappointed about not getting the record, but I am happy. I set a personal record in outdoor, and I did what I set out to do.
Kelly Willie, anchor for LSU (University Men Clyde Littlefield 4x100 Relay)
It is my last year at Texas Relays, so winning this race is fun. We came out here and really executed, ran well, and won. Our time today is our best of the season.
Rachel Garcia, Mission Veterans (High School Girls Shot Put)
I came up here to set a personal record and I came really close to doing it. It has been a lot of fun competing at Texas Relays and I am very happy about my win.
Eric Brown, Arkansas (University/College Men Pole Vault)
This has been a great meet for me and I always do well at Texas Relays. I am very excited to throw what I threw because the competition here is always so tough. I really like it here and I enjoy the competition it brings.
Marshevet Hooker, anchor for Texas (University/College Women 4x100 Relay)
We are very pleased. Everybody ran a great race and we know that if we did, we would have a good shot at the win. It feels great to win at home. We love pleasing the fans, and it sounds like we did that.
Jordan Johnson, anchor for Abilene Christian (College Men 4x100 Relay)
It is exciting to win here at Texas Relays. I am proud of my team; they ran hard. We just need to work on handoffs; that is really what we need. But this has been great because it is all so exciting here.
Jasmine Mullings, anchor for Madison (Division I High School Girls 4x100 Relay)
It was an awesome experience to win this race. It feels great to win at Texas Relays. We had to come out strong, and we did.
Chelise Williams, anchor for Long Beach Wilson (Division II High School Girls 4x100 Relay)
This was out first time to run in this order. We didn't get to practice our handoffs, but we were still able to run well. This is our best time all year. It is good to come to Texas and race against different competition. They really pushed us, and we responded.
Fred Combey, anchor for Kerens (Division I High School Boys 4x100 Relay)
We won this event last year at the state meet, so it felt good to come down here and win today. We have a new first leg, Byron Mitchell, who did really well. This was a good way to end my high school career.
Whitney Prevost, anchor for Texas City (Division II High School Boys 4x100 Relay)
It means a great deal to me to be at Texas Relays. I feel like our team really got the competition we deserve. The crowd really got us going and my teammates ran great for the win.
Sanya Richards, anchor for South Florida Elite (Invitational Women 4x100 Relay)
This win means so much. I went to Texas, and Lauryn Williams and I put this team together. We ran well and it was awesome to run here again.
Ray Edwards, anchor for USA Red (Invitational Men 4x100 Relay)
For this time of year, we did really well. We were just focused on getting the stick around. It is just good to be at Texas Relays. I have been coming here since 2001, and I can honestly say this is the one meet I really look forward to; I hate when it is over.
Steven Jones, Lexington (High School Boys 110m Hurdles)
I was disappointed with my time. I didn't attack the hurdles like I wanted to. I really need to work on my endurance because I know I can do much better.
Codera Jenkins, Dickinson (Division II High School Boys 110m Hurdles)
I knew I had lane six beside me and he was really pushing me. I just wanted to give it my best. I was looking to the side for him and trying to see where he was. But I kept my focus on the race and pulled through in the end.
Olivia Amy, Bishop Lynch (Division I High School Girls 100m Hurdles)
It was pretty fun to win this race here at Texas Relays because I am just a freshman. I was making sure I got the lead early and cleared all of the hurdles. It was all pretty cool. This has been a good experience for me.
Priscilla Lopes, Nebraska (College/University Women 100m Hurdles)
It is really an honor to win here. Running for the first time this season, I wasn't expecting to win, so the win is all the more amazing for me. Racing in front of so many Texas fans makes it really exciting.
Richard Phillips, George Mason (University Men 110m Hurdles)
This is one of the best places to win in the world. The weather is great and the crowd is always in it. There is the best competition here.
Shante Levings, Texas State (College Men 110m Hurdles)
I wanted a better time, but I am happy. Last year I false started, so this was a big improvement for me. It is my senior year so this is definitely a great way to end it.
Tenaya Jones, Lancaster (Division II High School Girls 100m Hurdles)
This was a big accomplishment, especially for me because I was sick last year and did not run well. It was great to come out here and win this year. I did not have my main competition and there were some distractions, but I don't like to let anything get in my way and take over my focus.
Virginia Powell, Southern California (Invitational Women 100m Hurdles)
The race felt really good. I expected to run faster today and I did. It is not bad to drop time in the second meet of the season. It is cool to be here and have the high school girls know who you are and encourage you.
Ladji Doucoure, France (Invitational Men 100m Hurdles)
Considering this is one of the biggest meets, I was happy to win. I am not very happy about my time; I had a bad start, but I was able to kick in at the end and win.
Tabia Charles, Miami (University/College Women Triple Jump)
I told my coach today that I was going to jump a fourteen today and I did. Everything was good and hearing the people cheering for you definitely gives you a boost. This is a great place to compete.
Laura Gervaughty, North Carolina (University/College Women Shot Put)
My performance was very consistent today and I am very pleased. I am fighting off some pain, but all in all it went well. I knew that competing with Michelle Carter [Texas] and Becky Breisch [Nebraska] was going to be tough, but I pulled it out and ended my senior year really well.
Derek Anderson, Northwestern (University/College Men Shot Put)
It is always great to come and compete at Texas. I had a challenging experience; I wanted to come in and compete with all of these amazing athletes because they bring out the best in me. It is my senior year and with all of the ups and downs I have dealt with this year, it meant a lot to finish big this year.
Loren Hodges, Paradise (High School Girls 1,600 Meters)
I feel pretty good right now. I would have gone harder, but it worked out. I just want to give all of the glory to Jesus; I could not have done it without Him. It feels great to win here at Texas Relays. This was the first year my coaches allowed me to come and it has been a great honor to be here.
Andra Manson, Texas (University/College Men High Jump)
I have three more events to compete in to perfect my performance before Nationals. This event is about posture and being ready for any kind of wind. You always have to go with the wind and the tail end of it to get the jump you want.
Rafeeq Curry, Florida State (University/College Men Triple Jump)
This is my first meet back after taking two weeks off so I am happy with how things turned out. This meet was a big help in that I was able to come back strong and get ready for my conference meet in two weeks.
Elizabeth Olear, Louisville (Division I High School Girls 100 Meters)
It meant enough for me to run injured. I tweaked my hamstring in the 4x200m relay, ran the 4x100m relay, and decided to suck it up and run the open 100m. I just prayed about it and decided that I didn't want to give up.
Matt Daniels, Arlington (High School Boys 1,600 Meters)
We ran a really close race. I figured it was going to be a close one because of the competition. We were all bunched up together and it just came down to the last 200m. I knew the winner would be whoever had the most speed early and could get the best position.
Ontario Jefferson, Karens (Division I High School Boys 100 Meters)
I feel pretty good to be able to win this one. The competition was hard and I have been training a lot for it. I was just happy to win.
Bianca Knight, Ridgeland (Division II High School Girls 100 Meters)
I felt alright. Yesterday I felt better, but it is good to win. This is the biggest meet I have been to so far this year. This is my first time here, and I look forward to an opportunity to come back.
Whitney Provost, Texas City (Division II High School Boys 100 Meters)
It feels like I am getting something accomplished by winning. I feel like I got my best times this weekend. Texas Relays is my second favorite meet after the state meet, and I definitely feel confident going into state.
Marshevet Hooker, Texas (University/College Women 100 Meters)
I feel really good about the race since it is only my second 100m race this Outdoor season. Kelly Ann Baptiste is a heck of an athlete, so I knew going up against her I would have to do my best. Having Alex right beside me was just like practice, so I didn't think too much about it when she was racing next to me.
LaKadron Ivery, Nike (Invitational Women 100 Meters)
It feels great to come back to Texas and it felt really good to win. This is my first Nike meet and I feel really good about it.
Dominique Stafford, Barton County (College Men 100 Meters)
It is good to come back home in front of my mom, dad and sister. I think this time is my personal best, so that feels good. This is my second year to compete at Texas Relays and it has been really fun.
Churandy Martina, Texas-El Paso (Invitational Men 100 Meters)
The race was good. Today is a nice day, a really nice day. I came in second in this event in 2004 and wasn't able to come last year, so winning feels great. I think I will keep coming to this meet, even after I graduate. It is a nice meet.
Kelly Willie, LSU (University Men 100 Meters)
I feel like I got out of the blocks really well on this one and went through my phases really well. I just thank the Lord that I came out here and got the victory in my last Texas Relays. I am a senior, so that makes this win that much better.
Maureen McCandless, Pittsburgh (University/College Women 1,500 Meters)
I am really excited I decided to come here and compete. It was a last-minute decision and I am thrilled since I set a personal record with this race. The weather and atmosphere are great and I've had fun coming here.
Sanya Richards, anchor for USA Red (Invitational Women 4x400m Relay)
Texas Relays always has a good turnout and it is great to come here and run well. I try to run my fastest here and show good sportsmanship in the kids. They are here watching and know who you are, and some of them want to be who we are some day. It is great to be here as a role model for them.
Kerron Clement, anchor for USA White (Invitational Men 4x400m Relay)
I tried to run my own race, but it was hard to keep from paying attention to the other guys down the stretch. I am from Texas, so I know what it is like. It is always good to run here and I am happy with the win.
Kimberly Brooks, anchor for Stafford (Division I High School Girls 4x400m Relay)
I personally think that the race was really good. Our coaches have been putting us through a lot of hard training and it is so nice to finally see it all pay off. Today showed what we have been practicing. To win here at Texas Relays was so fun and we just want to thank God for it all.
Robinson Pratt, Brigham Young (University/College Men Pole Vault)
We came from the Rocky Mountain area where it is very cold, so coming to a warmer climate is really good. This is the first time I have vaulted outdoors this year because is has been so cold, so my main focus coming here was to transition over from the cold to hot. It was perfect. I am originally from West Texas, so I am really glad to be here.
Angele Cooper, 3rd leg for Long Beach Wilson (Division II High School Girls 4x400m Relay)
It was tiring and we are glad we won.
Aubrey Jerrigan, 2nd leg for Dallas Roosevelt (Division I High School Boys 4x400m Relay)
It feels so good to win here at Texas Relays. Everybody played their parts and we cam out on top. We want to come back here next year and do the same thing, and just keep on going.
Delt Cockrell, anchor for Abilene Christian (College Men 4x400m Relay)
This is my third time running at Texas Relays and today was my first win. It is great because I won the 200m in this stadium a few years ago in the State High School meet, and it is nice to win in this stadium again. Overall, today was a good day.
Jack Freeman, anchor for Cypress Falls (Division II High School Boys 4x400m Relay)
My hat goes off to all of my teammates; without them I would not be here. It feels good to win with my family here. We represented our school, our town and our district.
Kolee Latson, anchor for Houston (University Men 4x400m Relay)
This is the first year I have ever won a relay here at Texas Relays. I feel really good about it. I knew I could get the other guys as soon as I came across the first 100m, so I just relaxed on the back stretch and gave it all I had on the last 100m. The competition was so good and we are honored to have the win.
Dominique Dardin, anchor for Miami (University/College Women 4x400m Relay)
When Texas was winning they had an all-star squad. We have just developed really well over the last few years. We did good and I am glad we won. I believe that was our personal best and I think it was well-deserved.
Kelly Willie, anchor leg for LSU (Invitational University Men Cleburne Price, Jr. 4x400m Relay)
I have to thank the Lord for my teammates who came out here today and were relaxed. It is a big accomplishment to come out here and capture both 4x100m and 4x400m wins. Running here feels like running at home for us; I can't complain.
