Aurora Scott Predicts Victory at FL Nationals

All the top qualifiers will say they're in it to win it, that's not the same thing as guaranteeing a win. You're just obsessed.

Wow, I thought I liked this girl, but the following post race interview show she has a horrible attitude problem.

http://www.milesplit.com/article/11710

Go Hasay, Lawrence, Kroeger, anyone but this B.

good for you I guess

Too confident, and not very gracious, huh?

Don't be too hard on her. Sometimes words being said in an interview get changed a bit by the person writing the interview. To me she just sounded like she knows she has been working hard and her workouts are going really well and she is putting confidence in that all of her hard work should bring good race results.

I like this girl too!

She speaks with confidence and confidence in her training. No doubt in her mind. Whether she'll eat crow at Nationals remains to be seen, but it seems like she's got the pedigree to be successful.

Isn't Aurora Scott already like a pro runner? Isn't that all she lives for with her coach father? She is home schooled, and her life revolves around running and training. On the dyestat board, I read that she even has personal trainers. Is that true? She doesn't run for a high school team, nor runs in high school races.

She is like a machine - and I don't think that is good for a high school girl. Kinda freaky if you ask me. Not much of a life. I kinda feel sorry for her.

What is wrong with that? This is America!!! Apparently she is doing what she loves best - RUN. Too bad more American youth don't do what Aurora is doing.

Lighten up - she is a champion, and that little TN girl is now a big LOSER!! Live with it Tennessee. Your girl got owned.

haha, Aurora ran for the "Real Deal Track Club"

FormerScottfan wrote:

Wow, I thought I liked this girl, but the following post race interview show she has a horrible attitude problem.

http://www.milesplit.com/article/11710

Go Hasay, Lawrence, Kroeger, anyone but this B.

I don't see any attitude problem...she seems very focused and knows what she needs to do, and has trained to do it. What's the problem?

"Scott: Well I thought I'd do just what I've been training to do. I know what I've done in practice. Rankings don't mean anything. I just go out there and run my own race. Whatever happens, happens"

Oh yeah, this girl's out of control. "Whatever happens, happens." How could she make such an outlandish statement?

What's wrong with what she said? It sounds like she was being honest and straight to the point. Good for her.

track chick wrote:

What's wrong with what she said? It sounds like she was being honest and straight to the point. Good for her.

Here's the whole interview. I don't think she sounds cocky. Just confident.

MileStat.com: Aurora, coming in Kathy Kroeger had been considered probablythe race favorite because of a big Great American victory and some of the performances she had so far this season. What were your thoughts coming in and how you thought you could do here today?

Scott: Well I thought I'd do just what I've been training to do. I know what I've done in practice. Rankings don't mean anything. I just go out there and run my own race. Whatever happens, happens.

MileStat.com: You've had some pretty impressive races this season such as the 1:18 half marathon and a couple of your 5K races. Coming into today, did those races give you a barometer gauge of what you could do today and go after possibly a former great high school runner in Erin Keogh's course record?

Scott: Well I wasn't really pleased with most of the races like the half marathon. I didn't really train for that and I was disappointed with the time. I knew from my training that I was ready to break the record.

MileStat.com: Now as a three-time Foot Locker finalist, what have the past two years given you as far as experience going to San Diego this time around?

Scott: One thing is just to keep my head up and book it. In the past, I really did not think I was really there. This year I'm definitely focused and know what I need to do.

MileStat.com: How did you feel the race plan went for you? The race went out pretty quick with a 5:15 first mile believe and then you guys went through the two mile fast as well. Where did you end up making your move on Kroger?

Scott: I started at about 1200 meters out. I picked up the pace and carried it through and just do what I do in practice. It didn't feel any different to me. I felt very confident.

MileStat.com: Looking ahead to two weeks, you have got a lot of good girls out there including defending champ Jordan Hasay, but do you feel you could have a really high finish there? Last year you finished ninth. Do you feel you can finish top three or better?

Scott: Honestly, I'm going out there to win it. I'm not thinking about anybody else. Just run my own race like I did today.

MileStat.com: The course record you broke today was held by a girl that ran a 10:03 2 mile and won twice at Balboa Park as a Foot Locker Nationals champion, so does that give you confidence that you've beaten a time by a former champion going into nationals?

Scott: I didn't need to break the record to have the confidence that I could do it. I have done my practices and know what I've done in my practices. I know I am at that level or better.

MileStat.com: Well I wish you the best of luck next week in San Diego and hope you can represent the South region as well as the state of Virginia very well.

Scott: Yeah I hope so. I think I definitely will.

Here's Kroeger's interview. Gracious and low key for sure.

MileStat.com: Kathy, you took second today. You went under the course record held by Erin Keogh, who was 10:03 3200 meter runner. You are probably not as pleased in not getting the win, but you have got to be pleased with the time going into Foot Locker Nationals. How did you feel about how today went for you?

Kathy Kroeger: I was really excited about my goal of qualifying for San Diego. The starting out pace was really fast, so my legs were hurting at the end. But I was really happy with my time and breaking the record.

MileStat.com: In two weeks, you girls go to a bit more challenging course at Balboa Park. Do you feel a course like that suits you better than the course here at McAlpine?

Kroeger: Well I really like this course. Its one of my favorites. I like it better than Balboa.

MileStat.com: How did you feel throughout the race and at certain points? Did you feel under controll and in power and when you finished, did you feel you comfortable?

Kroeger: Yeah I felt pretty comfortable with my race. I knew I did not have to win it and just be in the top ten to qualify, so there was not as much pressure. I tried to stay with Aurora, but she pulled away in the last mile and I just hung on for second.

MileStat.com: A returning Footlocker finalist, last year you were just a place off All-American. This year you probably not only want to get All-American, but really improve more from than that finish. With the times today, the South region has two girls that can potentially finish up there very high. How confident with the time, do you think you can run in two weeks?

Kroeger: Well I'm just really excited to be going back and have a chance to race again. It be really awesome to improve my time and place from last year.

MileStat.com: Well congratulations on your race and good luck in two weeks.

Kroeger: Thank you.

It seems from reading the interview that Scott is more confident than cocky, I agree with you there. But, it also seems that she needs to be taught a little bit of graciousness. She was specifically asked about Kroeger and didn't even mention her name, simply dismissing the question with "I don't worry about other runners." If I were her father I'd be pissed. What you should do there is acknowledge the athlete who gave a great effort too and pushed you. A simple "Kathy is a great athlete and I really feel fortunate to have beaten her today." Even if you can't stand the other athlete for some reason, that is what gracious champions do.

Nor does Scott even acknowledge Hasay when she's raised in the interview.

The question her father should be asking is whether his daughter is a great athlete and a great person, or just a great athlete. Parents should first focus on raising great people. You don't have to be a jerk to be a champion. You can be competitive as hell, but gracious in either victory or defeat.

Kroeger's interview was far more impressive from the great person perspective.

nyerrr wrote:

Oh yeah, this girl's out of control. "Whatever happens, happens." How could she make such an outlandish statement?

As much as I'm with you on this one, I couldn't agree less. Although Aurora Scott uttered neither G.O.A.T.-like claims of greatness nor derogatory words about her rivals, rank egomania permeates her every sentence.

Without raising issues of race, scornful reactions to Scott's interview are likely the result of the ongoing disconnect between typical whitebread faux-humble folkways and the straight-shooting approach of those less likely to learn their social skills from programs like The Miss America Pageant. Not only that, but the girl is 17 or 18, and while no one should cut teenagers slack solely because they're young, until Scott is a little older and more experienced with the media, people should give her a break on the basis of her age alone. So rip and rant away, but try to avoid refraining from not handing down such harsh judgments.

Pertinent non-sequitur: If she ran a 1:18 half, I wonder if she could "easily" qualify for the Olympic Trials Marathon as early as this spring without changing her training much. I'd hate to see her jeopardize her future by going that route so early, but the younger the better and I hope someone pushes her down that path with a real sense of urgency. Cathy (Schiro) O'Brien ran 2:34 at age 16, and although this undertaking ruined any chance of future running success, the memories of achieving such a remarkable thing probably played a major role in propelling O'Brien to two Olympic Marathon teams in her twenties after she shied away from college running.

I'd love to see Scott properly developed over the course of what I hope is a long, fruitful athletic career, but there's no time like the present. After consulting with whoever her future college coach turns out to be, she should forget about the NCAA altogether and start running cash races the day she's done with high-school running.

Is america a bunch of pussies? For god sakes whats wroung with someone being confident? How about you guys grow a little balls and let people talk some shit from time to time. Or are we too afraid of hurting somones feelings? Who cares, train hard and if you get the chance to kick everyones ass then you should be aloud to run your mouth off, even though scott didnt but everyone on these boards gets soo offended when someone is cocky, people need to grow some balls and start running and quit worrying about hurting someones feelings.

y dont u grow a spellchecker and some punctuation testosterone boy ha ha hahaha

When I look at Kroeger's and Scott's interviews next to each other, I see one girl who has the desire to be a champion and one who is just out there having fun. You can say that in high school sports it should be about having fun, but if you're talking about a national championship, you have to want it more than "I'd like to improve my place and time". Krorger does not have the mental toughness to win a national championship. Whether she wil later on remains to be seen.