The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
03.27.2014 | Texas Relays, Track & Field / Cross Country
Athletes discuss performance on Thursday
2014 Texas Relays Headquarters | Recap | Notes | Photo Gallery | | Video: Longhorns Sharp on Day 2 of Relays
Kansas junior Lindsay Vollmer – heptathlon winner
On her national-leading performance: As a whole it was pretty solid. I came out with a better score than I did last year. There were a lot of key events I struggled with but now I know what to work on for next time.
On rebounding after not qualifying for NCAA Indoor Championships: There was a monkey on my back… So I really wanted to come out here and prove to myself that I can qualify.
On her plans between now and the NCAA Championships: Just have some strong training and try to prepare myself for the big meets. I can relax now and the stress is lifted.
Florida sophomore Kyle Strawn – hammer winner
On his performance: I definitely can't be mad, it was a great opener just shy of my personal best. This is probably my favorite meet next to Nationals or Florida Relays so it's huge. I was here last year, I got fourth in the event; ever since then I just really wanted to win this meet.
Trey Hardee (Texas Ex and Olympian) – competed in pole vault
On plan during Texas Relays: Have fun, be healthy, and enjoy the Relays for what it is. I'll just try to use the crowd and get some adrenaline and have a good time; just work on some things in this environment. This is almost a championship environment when you get down to it- with all of the fans, the energy and the adrenaline you get lining up. It's good rehearsal for the bigger stages and it's the season opener. This is the starting point. We're just looking for some starting points and to use some adrenaline to our advantage.
On events he will take part in: I vaulted today, and I'll throw the discus tomorrow around one o' clock. Then I'll race in the 100-meter final at 3:45 on Saturday.
On importance of focusing on one sport at a time [regard to being a multi-sport athlete]: I've never tried to do that, we have more of a holistic approach. We want to become better decathletes and better competitors. I think for us that means just toeing the line at whatever it is we're doing that day and being confident in preparing as best as we can. Later in the year, late in the season when we have all of the thousands of reps under our belt, we can try to maybe focus on one or two things and leave some stuff off one week. Really, we like to keep everything inside the routine and part of the process.
On what goes through his mind competing at relays [post setting the record here in 2006]: It seems like so long ago, 2006 was just a magical couple of days that opened up a lot of doors for me. The weather was a lot like it is right now. It was beautiful with nice winds and kind of perfect. We didn't even realize what was happening as it was happening, and the next thing I knew, I threw the javelin at a personal best. I looked at it and said 'all you've got to do is run the final six and you've got the record.' All I could think was 'wait what?' I almost had a personal best at over nine events in an overall decathlon, so it was just a magical two days. It holds a special place in my heart. I had a lot of people here to watch it- family, friends and teammates. It was just awesome. Not to say that every Relays isn't special, but that was definitely the best Relays of all time.
Men's pole vault champion: Casey Bowen, Kansas
On setting a new personal best (18' 1/2") and winning pole vault today at Texas Relays: Everything is great out here, coming from Kansas we haven't had the best weather this year and we haven't even been able to jump outside. So, I took a lot of jumps in warmups trying to figure everything out because it is so fast and it is such a good place to jump. But, you know at 17', 17' 6" and 18' it kind of started to click, and I really felt like I could have made the next bar, but it's early in the season, and you gotta save something for the next meet I guess.
Texas sophomore decathlete Johannes Hock
On his overall impressions of his third place finish in the decathlon despite having to throw with his non-dominant arm (left) in the javelin: All that matters is that [score] will get me into nationals. I am 98 percent sure. That score is in a range where I usually don't even think about, but I knew from the start it was going to get rough. It ended up getting harder than we thought, but there were a lot of things coming together. It got really close at the end, but the best part for me is still making it. You will always have those tight decisions for the last couple of events. I am really happy.
On if he feels good that he was in the lead before he had to throw the javelin with his left arm: You can never give too much attention to the standings in-between events because the only thing that matters is the last point total. It is good to see yourself on the scoreboard, but I knew what was coming and I had the overall totals in my mind all the way. Without any wind [the javelin] was dropping a little more than we hoped it would. I think for me it was getting from event to event, just getting through it and finishing strong enough at the end.
On where he goes from here training wise: From my approach, this was the end of my indoor season, so we trained straight from the indoor season. So now we are going to have an entirely new build for after nationals. It means we are going to be training basically only block coming up, getting strength back and working on all of the technical events that I couldn't do so far. We will just try to keep getting prepared for nationals.
Women's 1,500 meters champion: Alyssa Dooley, Sam Houston State
On her winning performance today at the Texas Relays: It felt really good.Tthis is my last year to run at Texas Relays so it is exciting for me [to come out and win this event].
Texas junior distance runner Blake Williams
On the 1,500 meters: We went pretty slowly. It was a nice final lap for everyone. I didn't really have that last gear, but I felt really good. It is the beginning of the season and it felt good to get back into it. It is a nice night out. It was really hot earlier, but now it is a beautiful time to run.
Men's 1,500 meters champion: Evans Tuitoek, Texas Tech
On the win today: The win was good, but the only problem was down that [backstretch 100 meters] length.
Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase champion: Sarah Pease
On her Texas Relays win: It was the first time I had been over water jumps [this season] at all. I am going to Stanford next week and I really just wanted to get kind of a rust buster so I would be ready to go. This is such a nice track and it is nice to be at home. I am from Indiana but I moved here to train with Rogue Athletic Club, so I have been here about a year, and I am excited to get the outdoor season started.
Texas senior distance runner Austin Roth
On his performance in the steeplechase: It was a good opener. I have only been back for about three weeks because I was injured through indoor season. I was just happy to get out here on the home track and represent Texas the best I could and it went well for an opening race.
Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase champion Anthony Rotich, UTEP
On winning the steeplechase: It feels so great. I was just trying to push myself. This is my opening race for the season, but I will be trying to defend my national title from last season, so I was just trying to do what I can do without training as fast.
Girl's 2,000-meter steeplechase champion: Gabby Thompson, New Braunfels H.S.
On winning the high school steeplechase: I think it is pretty cool. This is actually my first year living in Texas. My dad is in the military and I have lived in six different states and been to three different high schools. This is my first time here and the stadium is really cool. Doing steeple here I think is really fun because you get to be in a big university setting.
Texas-ex and Olympic medalist Leo Manzano
On winning the 800 meters in front of the home fans: I was really excited to come back here. Of course you are always a little nervous because you never know how the race is going to unfold, plus it is the first one of the season as well. I was really excited to come out and perform today. I give special thanks to Mario Sategna and The University of Texas for all of their support.
On upcoming racing plans: Right now I am going to go back into training and then I am going to resurface and do the BAA Mile, The Boston Mile, and then I am going to do the USA Championships Mile out in Des Moines, Iowa. Then it is either going to be between The Penn or Drake Relays and then I will go back into training again and start another kind of session.
On returning to Austin to run at his collegiate stadium: It is almost like coming home with the crowd, the people, and it just brings it home for me. For me, it is a very special place, it is great energy, and again I always seem to run very well here. So I love coming back.
Boy's 2,000-meter steeplechase champion: Dominic Baptiste, Klein H.S. (Houston)
On winning the high school steeplechase: It feels really good. It is my first time in Austin and this was my personal best.
Texas senior distance runner Olivia Mickle
On her victory in the women's 5,000 meters: It was fun. I have never raced at a home meet, so it was really exciting to race where I practice with my teammates and to have a home crowd. I love racing at night under the lights.
On jumping out to an early lead: That wasn't really the plan, but I got antsy, so I decided to just go for it. I think it was really good preperation to get out there and put on the spikes before I race next Friday at the 10K at Stanford. It is going to be a really good meet, so I am looking forward to that.
On her goals for the season: I have pretty big goals. I want to qualify for the USA Outdoor Championships, meaning I have to run 32:58. I also want to be an All-American in the 10K, so those are two goals for this year. I think they are attainable. I have some work to do still, but I think I am in a pretty good place so far.
Texas junior distance runner Mark Pinales
On his victory in the 5,000 meters: It is my first time [to win], so it is pretty nice. We didn't really have a plan or anything. It was just stay ahead for as long as possible.
On his goals for the season: Make it to nationals in the 10K and do my best to be an All-American.
On running at home: It is nice actually. My parents don't get to see me too often because we are always traveling, so this is kind of nice. It is a little too humid. I am ready to get out to Palo Alto [for the meet at Stanford next week].
