The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Track and Field prepping for NCAA Outdoor Championships
06.05.2014 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Top-ranked women’s team and No. 5 men’s squad will tune up with a week of practice before heading to Eugene, Oregon for four-day meet
NCAA Outdoor Championships - Declarations / Start Lists / Results
The Track and Field team is prepping this week for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which will be held Wednesday, June 11 through Saturday, June 14 in Eugene, Oregon.
Mario Sategna, in his first season as head coach, and four athletes met with the media around Wednesday's practice at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Kaitlin Petrillose (pole vault) and Courtney Okolo (400m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay) are among the 16 qualifiers for the top-ranked women. Petrillose captured the 2014 NCAA indoor pole vault title and is tied for the national lead in the outdoor season with her clearance of 14-9 (4.50m) at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. Okolo set the outdoor 400-meter collegiate record (50.03) at the Big 12 Championships helping her earn the outstanding performer of the meet.
Ryan Crouser (shot put, discus) and Zack Bilderback (400m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay) headline the 12 qualifiers for the No. 5-ranked men's team. Crouser is the defending NCAA outdoor shot put champion and also won 2014 indoor crown. Bilderback is one of the top quarter-milers in the nation. He ranked No. 14 in the 400 (45.73) on the final 2014 NCAA performer's list and won that event at both Big 12 meets this year. Bilderback also qualified for the national meet last year as a freshman.
The men and women will practice through the end of the week and travel to Eugene on Sunday.
Head coach Mario Sategna
On having a successful season: For this being the first year of a combined program¬—I can't say enough about the hard work the staff and really with everyone involved put it and especially the athletes and how they continue to always strive to be the very, very best. We talked about it early on, winning the conference title, and we were able to do that on the women's side, both indoor and outdoor. We came in second on the men's side both indoor and outdoor. Most impressive was bouncing back after conference, going to regionals and advancing a number of people. We feel like we are in a great spot heading into next week's NCAA Championship finals.
On progressively getting better though the season: I think that's where the coaches come in; that's why we have the best out there. (Associate head coach) Tonja (Buford-Bailey) has obviously done a tremendous job with all the sprint, hurdles and relay groups. They're peaking at the right time and most importantly where the trainers and everybody else get involved is keeping all the athletes healthy. Because we are asking a lot of these young ladies and young men to run round after round. So it's been great on that front.
On the chances of bringing home a women's national championship: Going in ranked No. 1 we know we are in a great spot, but it's still only on paper. We know it's going to be a tough four days. As much as you don't want it to come down to the 4x4 (relay) like it did in indoors, it's definitely a possibility. As a track fan, that's great, but from our standpoint, hopefully we can accommodate in all the other events so that we can go in there and it doesn't come down to the 4x4. Although, it's a nice ace in the pocket knowing that we've got some of the very best quarter-milers out there. (We also have) Marielle Hall in the 5,000, which goes off right before the 4x4. This is her senior year and the last time that she competes in burnt orange so I know she is going to out there and give us her best. We've got Morgan Snow in the (100-meter) hurdles prior to that and then Shanay Briscoe, another senior that will compete next Saturday. We don't take it for granted. For Kaitlin (Petrillose) who was the Indoor National Champion, there are a lot of variables that come to play in the pole vault. Her confidence is sky high right now. It will be a complete team effort if we are able to achieve that and a phenomenal way to cap off a first year.
On how to deal with the way the NCAA Indoor meet ended, losing the team title by one-half point: It definitely was a learning experience for everyone involved. From the team members, all the way to the staff, we didn't look back at it as being a disappointment. We were at a great spot, our goal going in was coming away with one of the top four team trophies and so to be in that position to win, you go back and evaluate what are some of the things we could have done differently as a staff. There have been a few adjustments we have made throughout the spring so hopefully if it comes down to that again, it will be in the cards for us to bring home the team title.
On the seniors: Obviously I can't say enough about the senior leadership. It's helped even for the younger team members and even some of the transfers that came in. At the end of the day, track and field is an individual sport—but it's great just seeing, whether it is here in the outdoor training setting or when we travel, how they support one another when they aren't competing. They go to the track and cheer everybody on. It's been a win-win and to obviously be in a position to bring home a team trophy, and possibly a national championship, what better way for this senior class to go out.
On the men having no seniors heading to the to nationals: On the men's side coming in this year, at the conference level, it was always to put ourselves in the position to win. We were second during indoor and out, but at the national level, the goal was to be a top-10 program. Right now we are ranked No. 5 in the country. We told them after the competition in Arkansas at the regional meet, I really feel like we can put ourselves in a position to bring home a team trophy even on the men's side. Having all that and knowing all those athletes will be back next year, again I think it's a great start in the first year of putting this program where it needs to be.
Sophomore Zack Bilderback – sprints/relays
On the team's mindset heading into nationals: We feel good going into this meet. We are trying to get as many points as possible and you never know what could happen at this meet. So we'll see how we finish up as a team.
On how it feels to be able to compete at the national meet: It's really exciting because I'm just a sophomore competing at such a national level. I just hope to perform well in the spotlight.
On how he felt after winning both the Big 12 indoor and outdoor 400: Competing with some of the best in the country just gives me more confidence going into this meet.
On the performance of the 4x400 at last week's NCAA West Preliminary Round: We performed really well for three freshmen and a sophomore. Going into the national meet, I hope we just use this as a building block for more to come.
On how it feels to be the senior member in the sprint group, though just a sophomore: It's a lot of pressure, but I can handle it. I just will try and lead them to victory.
Junior Ryan Crouser – throws
On what makes this meet special: I've been a few times so I've got a pretty good feel of how things work and (outdoor0 nationals is always something special; it comes around once a year. It's a chance to show everyone what you've been doing all year. It's a great meet and it's back home for me, I'm from Oregon. It's always nice to be able to compete in front of friends and family. I mean maybe for me it's a little more special, but I don't put a whole bunch of pressure on myself going into it. I know I've put in a lot of work and I'm where I want to be. Things are looking good and I'm just happy about going.
On if he feels pressure to put points on the board for both shot and discus: Not too much. I just know that if I go out there and do what I need to do, things should come out my way. I think that if you go in thinking that you're going to win or knowing that you should win, you can't surprise yourself and nothing can go better than you expect. I'll just go in there expecting to compete and hopefully throw my best. If I do, then hopefully I'll come out with the win.
Sophomore Courtney Okolo – sprints/relays
On heading to the meet being ranked No. 1: It's very exciting and we use it as motivation to go out there and give it our best. Hopefully, we'll see a good result.
On what it felt like coming out of regionals with so many qualifiers: The main goal for last week was to qualify and to not so much worry about the time. It was really good to see all the girls that qualified. We are going in with a lot of people to the national meet so hopefully we can score a lot of points.
On using the close loss at the NCAA Indoor meet as motivation for outdoor: It's definitely motivation. We were so close in indoors, we were so close to win, and now we know what it takes to win. We are definitely excited for the result.
On being one of four Longhorns in the 400 meters: We are really looking forward to the final. We are trying to score 10 points in the final and we have a good chance. It's going to be a great race to score a whole bunch of points.
Junior Kaitlin Petrillose - pole vault
On the excitement of competing at nationals: It's very exciting for my team and me. Coming as a group to nationals, I think we have a lot more athletes this year than we've had in a long time going to nationals so it's definitely a big step for our program.
On her goals going into NCAAs: My goal for this meet is to remain positive and (clear the) first bar, first attempt. Just keep that positive composure that I've talked about in the past; keep the confidence going. Also to be strong mentally, because I know physically I can do this.
On maintaining her level of consistency from indoor to outdoor season: It's hard to maintain that consistency because I'm on different training cycles. One week I'll be really sore and the next I'll be fine; my legs feel great and then I'm feeling so good I blow through all of my poles. It's a learning curve this outdoor season because I'm stronger and more confident and that will lead me to higher bars in the future. I just need to be able to control that; get on the right sticks, the right poles and the right run. Just keep the energy flowing through the competition and throughout the season.
