The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Quotes from Day Four of the Nike Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays
03.28.2015 | Texas Relays
2015 Texas Relays Headquarters
Sophomore Julia Heymach, Houston Lamar - winner High School Girls 3200m
On what she was thinking about on the last lap: It was awesome. I'm so glad I got to run here with the great competition. On the last lap I was just making sure I gave it my all. Last time I know that Maddy [Reed] pushed me to run my fastest outdoor time so I'm really happy with the race.
On the atmosphere: I wasn't really nervous, mostly I was just excited to run here at this huge meet. There are so many incredible runners here, so it's awesome.
Senior Alex Rogers, New Branfels Canyon High School - winner High School Boys 3200m
On what went through his mind on the last lap: I knew he was going to pull out a phenomenal kick because he's one of the top two guys in the country. Coming into that final lap he had a separation, he had a bout 20 meters on me, so I was getting nervous. I just thought in the back of head to just rely on my training and to finish and pull it in. I knew towards the end that I could catch him.
Senior Skylar Lang, Keller Timber Creek - winner High School Girls 4x800-Meter Relay
On the performance today: I think we did good. We pushed through it and we just helped each other by encouraging each other through the race.
On what it means to win: It feels pretty good. We know that we wouldn't have done it without helping and encouraging each other the whole time.
On if it makes her feel prepared for the rest of season: I believe so. It's a weight lifted off our shoulders a little bit.
Sophomore Tara Davis, Agoura - winner High School Girls Triple Jump
On the experience of Texas Relays: I can't even explain it. It's so amazing.
On the win: It's amazing, fantastic. I can't believe I did.
On what this means for the rest of her season: Good. It's the beginning of the season so I can PR more.
Senior Krya Anderson, St. Mary's Academy - winner High School Girls 4x200-Meter Relay Division 1
On the performance: I felt strong, I was ready to move and do good, break our record, but even though we didn't break our record, we did our best and our hardest to get out and run strong out here in Texas. We are from California so you know we just wanted to come out here and show Texas Relays what we are about.
On the atmosphere: Its really nice, everyone is outgoing and the crowd is always cheering for us and my team is always there to help us out.
Kerwin Roach, North Shore, High School Boys High Jump
On breaking the Texas Relays Triple Jump record: I feel very accomplished. I just wanted to come out here and compete to show what I can do.
On performing in front of the Texas Relays crowd: It pushed me. I didn't settle and it made me want to give my best effort.
On the preparations he went through looking forward to this meet: Just been practicing a lot, running in the sand, doing lower body workouts to get in the best form possible for today.
5-time Olympian Amy Acuff, Unattached - winner Women's Univ/College Section A High Jump
On the preparation for the meet: Just kind of getting back into it, making that comeback coming out of the cold winter. I'm 39, so I'll be 41 when I try to make my 6th Olympic team in Rio. At this age I got to work out smarter instead of harder, so I'm relying a lot on watching video and looking at my technique to really pick things apart and try to get better.
On what's it like for her to keep coming back to the Texas Relays after so many years: It's always incredible. I love it here, I feel really at home. I live in Austin, so it's just down the street for me. What a great atmosphere and this gorgeous weather. I want every weekend to be Texas Relays.
Sophomore Aaliyah Brown, Texas A&M - winner Women's Univ./College 4x200-Meter Relay
On her mindset: I'm just determined to win, I want to go out there and represent for Texas A&M. We had a rocky season, and I wanted to win so badly. It's outdoor season so we came out here and represented.
Senior Meia Gordon, Cypress Creek - winner High School Girls Shot Put
On her win: It feels good, I could have done way better, but I won finally so I am excited about that.
On the atmosphere: At first it was really scary, but now I am kind of used to it. It's cool though. Everybody is watching you.
On looking forward: Oh yeah most definitely, it will get me ready for State, which is here so I am looking forward to it.
Senior Krystal Sparling, St. Thomas Aquinas - winner High School Girls 4x200-Meter Relay Div. II
On the win: It feels good to repeat and I am just happy to be here.
On the environment: The atmosphere is good because there is a lot of good competition out here and these teams to push us. The crowd is a good energy booster so it helped a lot.
Sophomore Shamon Ehiemua, FB Marshall - winner High School Boys 4x200-Meter Relay Div. II
On the performance: It feels really good, I came out here and wanted to win, we had a little trouble with the third to fourth exchange kind of got a little bit anxious, but we pulled it off. I have great team members; we had great competition, especially with Desoto, they came in with the leading time but we had them off.
On the atmosphere: You know it gets nerve-racking at times, you know I have been here before so I am kind of used to it, it also motivates me because I am the kind of person that's scared of losing. So I came out here and tried my best, I want the win and just brought it out.
On being a sophomore: Me and the first leg on my team are both sophomores, so we will be together for two more years, we are trying to win state this year, you know we have big ambitions.
Senior Sandi Morris, Arkansas - winner Women's Univ./College Section A Pole Vault
On her performance: My first win, last year I no heighted so a little bit better than last year. It's really great, Texas Relays is really fun, such a great atmosphere. I mean everyone is here for track and field and it's a rare occurrence so it's just an honor to be here.
On the competition: I think you just have to stay mentally strong in any competition. Luckily we had a strong tail wind today, it was a beautiful, sunny day and weather was great. I was just feeling good today; I kind of messed around with some new poles, just getting my feet wet for outdoor.
Senior Devin Clark, SB Smithson Valley - winner High School Girls 4x800-Meter Relay Section 1
On the feeling of the win: It was amazing, everyone did really well on our team and I just felt like I had to make it up to them by really going as hard as I possibly could that last hand off.
On the kick in the end: It was crazy,I knew at the end it was going to be a battle. She really took it out at the last 200 meters but I knew I had to do it. It's my last year at Texas Relays as a high schooler and I felt like I really had to help my team get this victory because we've been working so hard altogether.
On what it means to get the win as a senior: It feels amazing, I couldn't be any happier with how it went. It hurt a lot but it was still worth it.
Senior Aaron Ernest, LSU - Men's Invitational Univ/Coll 4x200 Meter Relay
On the training they did for the competition: We practiced for a day or two, we come on down here and put a quick workout to try and put up a good time
Sophomore Tremayne Acy, LSU - Men's Invitational Univ/Coll 4x200 Meter Relay
On their overall performance of the race: It was a good performance. We planned it and it went exactly how we wanted it to go, we executed really well.
Junior Givon Washington, Liberty Christian High School - winner High School Boys 4x200-Meter Relay
On feeling of the race: It was tiring but it felt good. It was a fun day because we got to run the 4x200 this morning and qualify for that so we were excited and we were happy to have made it in the 4x200 because yesterday we messed up a hand off so we didn't know if we would make it.
Junior Dakota Sanchez, Liberty Christian High School - winner High School Boys 4x200-Meter Relay
On the atmosphere of the Texas Relays: It was really fun. We mostly race private schools and they aren't much competition so it's always fun to come here and see if we are equal to other public schools.
Senior Deon Lendore, Texas A&M - Men's Univ/College 4x100-Meter Relay
On what it was like running in front of thousands of fans: It was great, but you try not to look up at the crowd too much, but its good to have so many people out here.
On winning the race as a senior: I've been here four years and this is the first time I've won the race and it started off good so hopefully this will transfer over to the 4x400.
Sophomore London Dunn, Desoto High School - winner High School Boys 4x200-Meter Relay Division II
On the atmosphere: I like it, its great competition here, I like big crowds like this, it pumps me up, it motivates me.
Justin Gatlin, USA Red - winner Men's 4x100m Invitational
On the Texas Relays: It's just as exciting, look at the crowd, the crowds great. You want to see a great show, a great race, you got a mixture of not just older people in the community of track and field, but the younger crowd as well, the hip crowd. It's a mixture of music and sports all in one here at Texas Relays.
On his race: Just kept my stride going, I knew my teammates would bring it around. We got a stiff wind today so coach just told me to run to the line and that's all we have to worry about.
Junior Tonea Marshall, Arlington Seguin - winner High School Girls 100-Meter Hurdles Division II
On the competition: I thought I did good, all the girls, they are really fast and competitive and I had to go warm up.
On the crowd: Its nerve-racking, you get nervous and you are anxious to run.
Senior Tiffani Reynolds, Baylor - winner Women's Univ/College 100-Meter Hurdles
On her performance: Just a good start and making sure I stayed aggressive between the hurdles all the way to the finish.
On her experience: This was my third and final time, I won my freshmen year so I wanted to come and do it my last year to. It's exciting, I was so happy, it just kind of shows me where I am at. I am happy with it.
Senior Dillion Springfield, Springtown - winner High School Boys 110-Meter Hurdles Division I
On his performance: I just focused and ran my race. I am undefeated so far in 110's.
Junior Andrew Hebert, Strake Jesuit - winner High School Boys 4x800-Meter Relay Section 1
On the final lap: I was just focusing purely on the win. My teammates did a really good job of getting me in first place and I wasn't going to let them down. So I was focusing on hammering the last 250 meters.
On the atmosphere of the relays: It was positive nerves. The audience and fans were great. It makes me really excited and gave me adrenaline to go out there and get the win for the fans.
Senior Keyshawna Myles, St. Mary's Academy - winner High School Girls 4x100 Division 1
On setting a Texas Relay record: It feels great you know we a 47 before so for us to come out here and run a 46 and break our last record is really good.
On whether or not you were expecting this kind of performance from yourself: No, I really wasn't because I had just run the 4x200 so I wasn't sure how I was going to make it but we did it.
Junior Chris Caldwell, Texas Tech - winner Men's 110m hurdles Univ/College
On his performance: It felt fast, didn't really feel too much different from last week. The relay didn't really make it how I wanted to go and I was a little upset so I had to use that energy in the race.
On the environment of Texas Relays: It feels pretty good, it's a blessing to be in front of this crowd, had some nice heat and ran against some really good runners.
Junior Demarviae Gray, Dallas Carter - winner High School Boys 4x100-Meter Relay Division 1
On how the atmosphere helped: It was a lot of adrenaline, I just run fast when I see a lot of people.
On winning at the Texas Relays: It's my first time actually being out here so it's been a wonderful experience.
Jernaya Sharp, Greenhill - winner High School Girls 100-Meter Hurdles Division 1
On winning at Texas Relays: I'm very excited because I was a little nervous going into this race because I had hit the first hurdle and I was coming in from running the 4x100 so I had to really sprint to get back in there.
Sophomore Shawn Barber, Akron - winner Elite Men's Pole vault
On how it feels to break the meet and stadium record: It's an awesome feeling and I'm really pleased I was able to come out and do as well as I did. It's a great crowd of jumpers out here. At this point, I'm just happy to keep up with the gunners of Sam Kendricks and Jake Blankenship.
On the atmosphere of Texas Relays: Well, there's a reason people come to Meyer's Field every year from all across the world; it's the best stadium, best crowd and best atmosphere for jumping and I think that that really made a difference today.
On how he feels today has set him up for the rest of the outdoor season: Hopefully very well. I feel very confident going into the outdoor season. If I can get some more conditions like these, I don't think some big bars are out of my league.
Senior Korteni Johnson, Italy - winner High School Girls 100 Meters Division I
On winning at Texas Relays: It feels good, especially with it being my last year, because I'm a senior. It's really exciting.
On what is in the future for her: I will be going to LSU in the fall, I signed with them in November, so hopefully I go there and make the program better.
Sophomore Trayvon Bromell, Baylor — winner Univ./College 100 Meters
On the race: I just felt like I had to work on my first couple of steps and my time coming out of the blocks. I know yesterday I kind of cycled, but I knew if I could fix it then I could run a fast time.
Senior Jacorian Duffield, Texas Tech - winner Univ./College Men's High Jump Section A
On the environment of Texas Relays: I've been jumping here since my junior year of high school. I love coming out here because the crowd is really enthusiastic and they love track. Whenever they see a good mark, they start clapping. It's low at the beginning, but once they saw the bar getting higher, they realized I was jumping at a mark.
On his first time winning at Texas Relays: It was good. It's the start of my senior season outdoor and it's a true blessing.
On how the win sets him up for the rest of outdoor season: It sets me up pretty well. Now it's about getting consistent. I definitely want higher bars and hopefully with the Grace of God I can achieve those.
Junior Morolake Akinosun, Texas — first leg of the winning Sanya Richards-Ross Women's 4x400-Meter Relay Invitational
On winning multiple events at Texas Relays: It was an awesome experience to win three events at Texas Relay. I feel good.
On how she thinks this well set her up for the rest of outdoor season: I think we've only seen a glimpse at what the Teams potential is and it's a good opening start for us.
Senior Briana Shufford, St. Mary's Acadamy — anchor of the winning High School Girls 4x400-Meter Relay
On the atmosphere of Texas Relays: Something about big stands and cheering you on gives me the motivation to do my best and try hard. Even if I come in last, I still push it on the last straight away. I like the atmosphere here.
On what it means to win here at Texas Relays: It feels really good. Since my school is in California, all I do is compete in California. It's new to come out to another state and compete against other people that I don't usually see and I don't know their talents. It's really good. I like it.
Freshman Jeffery Green, Clemson — anchor of the winning Univ./College Men's 4x400-Meter Relay
On Texas Relays: The atmosphere is pumped. It reminds me of home. I'm from Miami, Florida, so there are a lot of fast people down there too. The energy and crowd reminds me of home.
On how this sets them up for outdoors: We have three freshman and one sophomore, so not only outdoor, but the rest of our years here together, I feel like we will get faster and faster as we get stronger and stronger.
Junior Aarin Jones, Purdue — anchor of the winning Univ./College Women's 4x400-Meter Relay
On what it means to win at Texas Relays: It's a really nice feeling. This is the first time Purdue has been here with the new coaching staff, so to come out and put on a good showing is really important because we want to come back.
On how it's going to set them up for the rest of outdoors: It's going to set us up really well. We wanted to run with teams that are really good, so we decided to come where the best come. The ladies, we all did an amazing job and we are excited for the rest of the season.
Senior Deon Lendore, Texas A&M — anchor of the winning Men's C. Prince Jr. 4x400 M Relay
On winning at Relays: It's always to run at a big track meet like this. There is great competition and great fans so great support to do the best.
Junior Courtney Okolo, Texas – anchor of winning Sanya Richards-Ross Women's 4x400-Meter Relay Invitational
On how it felt to win the last event of the Texas Relays with a come-from-behind effort: It felt pretty good. We've had a lot of races today. Morolake (Atkinosun) had a whole bunch of races today. We just came out here to represent Texas very well, and I think we did that.
On the transition from indoor season to outdoor season: I think it's going very well. We did really well in the 4x100, and we won the 4x400, so I think we can say we had a good meet.
On if she thinks about representing Texas at the relays: I don't think we really look at it as pressure. I think we just try to come out here and represent our school and put on a good show for the fans. This is a big meet, and we had a lot of people supporting us, so we just try to come out here and run the best we can.
Junior Seth Arnold, Texas State – winner of pole vault Univ./College men section A
On his performance: I feel awesome. This win is amazing.
On getting his first win: It feels great. I've been waiting to jump that [18-0.5] again for like two years because I've been dealing with injuries, so I haven't had much of a chance.
On the Texas Relays: It's fun. It's awesome hearing everybody cheering for me. Even if they're not cheering for me, it's still awesome when they're being loud for people who are running around the track.
Senior Jill Rushin, Missouri – winner of shot put Univ./College women section A
On starting her senior outdoor season with a victory: It feels really good because, honestly, it was very tough competition coming straight from discus [where she finished sixth]. It felt really good to come back and take it.
On winning for the second consecutive time at Texas Relays: It feels really good. That was my goal and I didn't know if it would happen, but I'm so glad.
On throwing in front of thousands of people: That's awesome. I absolutely love the crowd here. They're really energetic and it's a really good atmosphere.
Senior Brent Wells, Mineola HS – anchor of winning High School Boys 4x400m Relay Division I
On his performance: It was a lot of fun. I didn't really know what to think and then I saw my teammates running, and I was just so excited. There's a lot of excitement from all of us.
On the Texas Relays: It's a lot different. I'm kind of used to it because we had a big crowd when we went to state in football, but this is still awesome.
Senior Taylor Rockwell, Lancaster – anchor of winning High School Girls 4x400m Relay Division II
On the win at Texas Relays: It feels amazing to come out here and put our heart, and our effort out there. And to have everything pay off, it feels wonderful.
On winning her senior year: I can't even get it out… it's amazing. Oh my gosh, I had to leave here with something, and to come in first place in this event with this competition is amazing. It's a blessing, to say the least.
Kendra Chambers, Team USA – anchor of winning 4x400m relay women's Invitational
On her performance: I felt good. It was a little windy but it was a good day to get a workout with the girls for the 4x400.
On what it means to her to be able to come back to Austin and compete: It means a lot. I love this track, I grew up on this track, and I've done a lot of hard workouts on this track when I was here. It's a blessing to be able to come back and run as a professional and give back to the community. It's an amazing fan base here.
On the atmosphere of the relays: The fans are amazing because you get a stretch of people who are from high school, college and professional. You get people from Nigeria, Jamaica, Chinese, Japanese and the fans are just true track fans. That's the one thing that I love about coming to the Texas Relays. They're cheering, no matter what.
On if this win is motivating moving forward: Definitely. I'm looking forward to a really good outdoor season. I had a stumble at the USA Indoor Nationals, so I'm looking to making the team and having a long season all the way throughout June.
Anaso Jobodwana, Hoops Marketing – winner of men's Invitational 200 Meters
On his performance: I can't think too highly because of the wind but I think I did a good job of executing the race. To come out here, in my first one, and run that time [19.87 wind-aided], feels great.
On getting his first win at the relays: It's awesome. It's super awesome. I didn't think I was going to do it because I've been out since 2013. To come here and put a race together, it felt good.
On the atmosphere of the Texas Relays: It's really awesome. It kind of puts out the best in you, it's a really nice crowd here.
Kineke Alexander, Elite Performance – winner of women's Invitational 200 Meters
On her performance: I'm happy. Last year when I ran the 200 here, I came in second with a 23.1. And this is my first opener, my fastest opener [22.99 wind-aided], so I'm really happy.
On getting her first win at the Texas Relays in four years: Pretty good. It's an awesome feeling.
On the crowd: Oh my gosh, the crowd is amazing. Especially going down that last home straight, everybody is cheering you on, it really pushes you.
Dana Mecke, unattached – winner of Univ./College 1500 Meters Section A
On her performance: 4:17 wasn't my PR, but it was close [4:15]. I just wanted to come out here and execute my race plan and get out early. Take it out and leave from start to finish and see what I had left. That's what I did. I was hoping to run a little faster, but it's hard when you're running by yourself, and it was really windy, so I kind of did what I could today.
On getting her first win in seven years of competing at the relays: It was my first time winning and I've wanted to win every year. It feels so good to finally win. I've gotten second the past two years.
On the atmosphere of Texas Relays: I love running here. It gives you a bit of nerves because there are so many fans, but it brings a lot more energy to the track, and I love that.