Quotes from Day 2 of the NCAA Track and Field Championships
LetsRun.com
June 9, 2005

Women's 10k Quotes.
Winner Sara Slattery: LRC: How does it feel to win? "Awesome. It was a great way to finish my career at CU. It really made everything sweet at the end after having to do so many pool workouts and being hurt and having so many ups and downs (the last 1.5 years due to injury).  It was a good way to finish it off."

"I ran cross this year but then had to take a couple months off because my foot started bothering me again. I think I now finally have it under control. I had to take 2 months off and didn't start training again until March."

LRC: Were you worried when Bierbuam made a move with 1900 left and gapped you? "I felt pretty good the whole race. I was just so nervous that I didn't know when to go. I knew I wanted the pace to get going with 2k to go but I just didn't want to blow it (by going to early). I felt good but I just wanted to finish strong as I have a tendency not to (so I waited)."

LRC: Are you going to make fun of Steve (her husband and an elite US steeplechaser) some more now that you've won again? "Now that I have two (NCAA titles) and he doesn't have any, well I have to rub it in a little bit, since he jokes around with me so much."
For the record, Steve tried to claim to letsrun.com that he deserves to be husband of the year for coming to the meet since he has to leave for his race in New York this weekend at 6 a.m.

I'm excited. I ran exactly to my plan. I did everything I could at the end. Sara just had an awesome kick and I didn't have anything left in me.

Runner Up Columbia's Caroline Bierbaum

On her big move that opened up a gap with 2000m to go: "I wasn't sure if I had it. I wasn't planning on moving at that time, but I could sense she was going to move so I moved right ahead of her. I just tired to do what I did at the conference meet (where she blew Lindsey Sherf away over the mile despite Sherf setting an American junior record at 10k). I could tell I didn't have as great a gap as I would have liked and that she was on my tail."

On her success this year (3rd in XC and now 2nd here in first year ever of track) "I never thought I'd get this far. It was amazing when I had the top collegiate time in the 10k. Obviously my goal was to win, but I 'm really pleased with what happened. I know I have a year to improve and I can be happy with the way (things turned out)."

Men's 10k Quotes
Arizona's Robert Cheseret on his win:
"It feels great (to win again). I'm excited."

Question: How much distance were you willing to let Rupp put on you when he pushed the pace? "I knew that if I let him go like more than 10 meters or so it would be hard to catch up because he's a good runner and he's running good and he's strong. I've run against him at conference and regionals so I knew it would be hard to catch up if I let him (get ahead)."

Question: How hard was that for you? You looked good at the end. "Moderate. It was moderate."
 
Question: When did you know you had the race won? "When I took off with 500 to go."
But were you confident when it was just the two of you (for about the last 3200)? "Yes, I was confident because we ran almost the same race at conference in the 10k."

Question: What are your thoughts about the 5k? "I think the 5k is going to be fast. Most of the runners in the 5k are great runners so it's going to be very competitive."

Additionally Cheseret said he didn't think the 5k trials took anything out of him as "we went out slow yesterday."

Men's 10k Runner-up Galen Rupp of Oregon who was visibly pleased after a much deserved 2nd.
Question: Was it your plan to lead most of the race?
"I was going to see if anyone would take it out. I was thinking Simon Bairu of Wisconsin might as he's fresh and he won cross country so he's obviously fit. If no one took it out, I was ready to go from 7,000 meters out and I went a little earlier this time. One of the guys from Arkansas took it a couple of times. I just tried to sit out as many laps as possible. But I just wanted to make it honest. The only chance I had to win was to try to run hard as I'm not the fastest kicker. I tried to take the kick out of him but Robert is just a great runner so you have to give him credit. He had not only a good kick at the end but that's a fast time. I have no complaints and am not disappointed at all to lose to a guy like that.

Question: You were running to win?
"Definitely.  I came in looking at myself as being equal to these guys as my time wasn't that far off (of theirs). I just tried to run hard and see who could last the longest basically. I'm definitely not disappointed. I have to look at it context. I'm only a freshman so I have a couple of more years. Next year, hopefully I'll be more fit and be able to kick with him at the end." 

"I tried to push the straightaways a little bit (in the last to miles) to see if I could gap him a little bit and I did but I just wasn't able to get that break where he'd give up mentally.  Give credit to him, he ran a tough race. He fell back a little bit as I was looking up on the screen but he caught up and I just didn't have anything left at the end."

Question: Were you surprised the Arkansas guys fell back? "A little bit but they both ran the day before and it's tough to come back from that. The steeple was fast and they kicked really hard in the 5k at the end. That definitely can take something out of your legs. That's why I wanted to run hard - cause a lot of these guys weren't fresh. I was hoping if I ran hard enough that maybe I could break them, and I got all but one."

Men's 800m quotes

Kevin Hicks, 2005 USATF and NCAA indoor champion. 3rd in heat 1: "It was fast. I haven't had any fast races (outdoors) yet (his fastest time outdoors coming in despite his fabulous indoor season was only 1:48.81). That was pretty quick. I was expecting it (with Jonathon Johnson in the heat), but I still was in shock just due to the fact that I haven't had anyone to run with (so far) to push me yet."

Jonathon Johnson, NCAA champ last year, 1:44.77 (pr) to win the Olympics Trials in Sacramento on the same track as where the NCAAs are. 2nd in Heat #1: "I haven't run any fast times since Big 12s. It feels good to get back out here and run (fast) before a big crowd."

On the final: "I want to get the (NCAA) record (1:44.55 by Julius Achon in 1996). I definitely like running here (he won the Olympic Trials on this track and set his pr). It's a fast track, and the environment (is great). I definitely had a lot left. I need to work on my last 200 (to break the record)."

Women's 800m Quotes

Aneita Denton of Arkansas, winner of  heat 1 in 2:04.01.  "I felt pretty in control.  I didn't feel like I was going too fast or going too slow.  My plan was for me to take it out. The final is going to be a really competitive race because you have a lot of really good athletes. I believe in God that I have a good chance to go there and win. I'm going to do my best."

Aneta Lemiesz, of BYU, winner of heat 1 in 2:04.82. "I controlled the race. I noticed from the telebeam (jumbotron) that I was ahead. I wanted to save some energy for the final."

Men's 1500m Quotes

Chris Lukezic, winner of heat 1 in 3:46 after opening in 2:11 (1:51 final 800). One of the pre-race favorites Jon Rankin faded the final 100m and did not advance.

On his race, "That was the best I felt in a long time, warming up and stuff. I'm ready to run. I came here to try and win.  It's going to be a good final."

Lukezic was surprised to find out Rankin did not make the final.

On his season so far, "It's been a quite season, I haven't raced much. It (not racing a lot) was kind of forced (upon me) as indoors as I had a hiccup with my Achilles. You really need to focus on your training if you're going to have a good June and July. I think things are really together.

Jon Rankin, who has had a tremendous outdoor season, doubling in the 800 and 1500 at both Regionals and Pac 10s, went with Lukezic on the third lap, but faded the final 100m and did not make the final.

Rankin on not making the final: "I'm not upset. I'm in shock. When I called on the reserves there was nothing there. It was unbelievable. I just started tieing up with 200m to go.  I tried to hold on as good as I could, but a lot of the other guys finished well. When your sitting there like a sitting duck, some of the guys have a lot of motivation.  I hope and pray I get a second chance (in the final, as the interview was conducted prior to heat #2). I'm pretty surprised."

On deciding not to double at NCAAs: "It was a team decision."

On how he felt coming into the race: "I haven't felt more prepared for any competition since I've been at UCLA. That's why I'm so surprised. I felt like everything was in place, mentally, physically, emotionally. I've never felt more ready for anything so I'm disappointed (in his finish)."  

Ranking did not seem to believe the fast third lap did him in: "Everyone was going out hard (on that lap) so I can't say it was that particular lap. Maybe I responded too quickly to that move (by Lukezic). A lap like that definitely does take away from your finish."

On his post-race thoughts: "I had a great senior year, seriously regardless if I make it to the next round, I can't complain", said Rankin who was clearly in shock.

Don Sage, NCAA champ at 1500 at 2002, and 3rd in 2004, who finished 11th in his heat in 3:49.84 and did not advance. Sage's talks about allergies below and his eyes were clearly red and swollen, either from the allergies or a few tears at his NCAA career ending on a sad note:

On what happened to him in the race, "I knew this was going to happen before the race. I hate to sound like a winy person who makes excuses, but I actually had really bad allergies (this week). (Perhaps) I might be sick (too) but I think it's juts the allergies. I just didn't feel like myself out there. I was (still) prepared to run at 100% of what I had today. I feel like I did that. With 300 to go I was still in the hunt, I just didn't have a close. I hate to go out like this. I've been fortunate to have a great career and have some great moments with my teammates. I wish I could have scored more points for the team here...(I mean) score points for the team."

Women's 1500m Quotes:
Erin Donohue, winner of Heat 1, in 4:17.53.

"I was just going along with the race for a while and got mixed up in the back. On the last lap, I saw an opportunity to pull in the lead and just took it."

Her thoughts on the final "It's going to be a great race. About 7 girls ran 4:15 (in the 2nd) there (editor's note 7 ran under 4:16.4). It's going to be real competitive and come down to the last 300 or 400m at the end."

On what she thanks of her chancing of getting her first NCAA individual title. "I've been working really hard the past 4 years. I'm a senior this year. I just have a lot of experience at the NCAA meet, and of all the years, I feel this is my best shot to win a title"

2005 LetsRun.com, NCAA Coverage:
*Recap of Day 2 10,000m Finals: Cheseret Outlasts Rupp, Slattery Comes Back on Bierbaum
*Day 2 800 and 1500 Semifinal Recaps
LetsRun.com Day 1 Distance Recap

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