13 Questions with Texas A&M sprinter Jeneba Tarmoh

You might be hearing lot about Jeneba Tarmoh after her blistering individual and relays races at the NCAA Championship that helped Texas A&M defend their NCAA crown.

Is Tarmoh the next great collegiate sprinter?

The Aggies travel to Eugene to defend their title. Enter Tarmoh. In just her first season at Texas A&M after transferring from Tennessee, Tarmoh narrowly placed runner up (22.92 ) in the 200 meters to teammate Porscha Lucas, ran 11.13 to finish third in the 100 meters and ran pivotal legs on the victorious Aggie 4×100, and 4×4 relays teams.

The Texas A&M sophomore talks abou running for Texas A&M, her educational pursuits and the lesson she learned this season.

PRJ: Winning the 100 meter in 11.00 (wind-aided) at NACAC against top international talent from North America, Central America and the Caribbean – does that make your title mean more? Of course winning always has a positive effect on a person. But what makes my title mean the most is the time I ran.
JT: Of course winning always has a positive effect on a person. But what makes my title mean the most is the time I ran.

PRJ: What’s it like to be the NCAA Champs?
JT: It’s a honor, not many teams have the talent and depth Texas A&M has. I never thought that I would be part of a team that has so much talent and it makes me feel blessed to be part of it. The feeling still has not sunk in.

PRJ: How confident were you that Texas A&M could overcome such a talented Oregon team after finishing second to the Ducks at the Pepsi Invitation back in April?
JT: I was very confident, I know that Oregon is a talented team but I also know we are just as talented.

PRJ: What amazing runs you had in the 100 and 200 meters – how do you feel about your races at the NCAAs?
JT: PROUD! Like many athletes my journey over the course of the year made me doubt my ability to attain the goals I set for myself. But a person comes to realize that the journey they go through is what makes the end product mean what it does.

PRJ: How did the team react to losing Gabby Mayo in Eugene?
JT: The team was sad for the most part, but we are aware that Gabby is not what makes the team good. We all practiced hard when it was time to, so therefore we all have trained to compete hard under every circumstance good or bad.

PRJ: What about Coach Henry? How much does it mean for you to give him back-to-back national titles and the first in school history?
JT: It always a good feeling to please some else. It made me happy because when Coach Henry smiles it means that someone has really touched his heart and it felt good to see him smile ear to ear.

PRJ: You lose some runners next year but you have some help on the way?
JT: We have plenty of help on the way and by the grace of god we also have athletes coming back stronger than last year mentally and physically.

PRJ: You were at Tennessee before transferring to College Station? Were you nervous at all about the transfer?
JT: Of course. In my mind I was afraid the team was too good for me and that I would not be able to contribute. But the reason why Coach Anderson recruited me was because I can contribute and I was wanted.

PRJ: What is campus life like at Texas A&M?
JT: For the most part it is fun. I have friends who make life so much more exciting.

PRJ: Have you thought about what you might get your degree in?
JT: I made up my mind about becoming a psychologist in high school and I’m still sticking to it. I’m almost done now so there’s no turning back.

PRJ: So when did you start running?
JT: I started running my freshman year in high school when I was 14 but it took me many years to get serious about the sport.

PRJ: What are you doing outside of track?
JT: I do everything a girl my age does. I watch tv, read, and just relax with friends and family.

PRJ: What has this last year taught you?
JT: Everything happens for a reason. God always has a plan. I learned to stand still in the midst of a trial, I hated that I had to sit the year out, but looking at how this year turned out I’m glad because I learned more about myself as a child of God, and as a person.

14 Questions with South Carolina’s Johnny Dutch

PRJ: How did you get started running?
JD: I started running when I was 10 years old. My sister ran on a summer track team at St. Augustine college in Raleigh called the Carolina Eagles. I used to watch her run every evening while I sat in the sand pit and made ant hills and holes.

Her coach would ask me “when you gonna run boi” and I’d be like “never.” Eventually, a few years later I watched her at hurdle practice. I saw what she was doing, so I grabbed a few hurdles and lined them up on the grass and started hurdling.

PRJ: Where did your love of running coming from?
Being around it majority of my life is what really developed my initial love for the sport. At first I hated it because I saw what it did to people at practices, but when I first set up those hurdles on the grass, I saw it was something I’d enjoy doing.

PRJ: Congratulations on winning your first NCAA title and South Carolina’s first 400-meter hurdle title in 48.75. The time was blazing. Did you feel confident after the first two hurdles that you could take home the gold?
JD: I said in a previous interview with our media relations guy, Miquel [Jacobs],that with the right time, circumstances and conditions anything is possible.

Unfortunately, on the backstretch it was extremely windy which caused me to exert more energy going over the first few hurdles than anticipated, but sometimes you have to stay focused and adjust to that circumstance or that condition. So that’s what I did. I wasn’t confident until the last part of the race when I knew I hadn’t yet won an NCAA title. That’s when I went into overdrive.

PRJ: In years past, you have been so close in the runner up position. How does it sound to say NCAA Champion after your name?
JD: It still feels surreal to me. I’ve always admired people who have been NCAA champions in the past because every year it’s just as competitive as the year before and I knew it took patience and hard work to have an NCAA title. I still can’t believe it.

PRJ: Did the win over Washington State’s Jeshua Anderson the two-time NCAA Champion add fuel add to the already budding rivalry?
JD: That’s exactly what it is, a “budding rivalry.” Again, that’s my homie, so I have always been supportive and excited about his NCAA wins in the past. I think it was more than just Jeshua’s NCAA titles that fired me up. It was probably more so of people doubting me and not believing I was capable of winning a title. I’ve even overheard people talk about me not being able to win. I’ve been truly the underdog for three years since I’ve been in college. But I kind of liked that because I knew what I was capable of achieving. It just took time and patience.

PRJ: What has your training consisted of after NCAA Outdoors and USA Outdoor Nationals?
JD: A lot of rest days. I back off more now so I can give my body time to recuperate. But I still have those hard practices a few days out of the week to keep my fitness level up.

PRJ: Speaking of U.S. Championships, you don’t mind going up against the top hurdles even to make a US team, do you?
JD: That’s exactly what I like. I feed off of the other runners presence and the intensity in the atmosphere.

PRJ: You said winning NCAAs that you didn’t run as fast as you wanted to run. How fast do you feel you are capable of running right now?
JD: Well, I just stepped on the scale a few days ago and I weigh the same, if not less, than I did in high school. Therefore, I feel like I can run anything I put my mind too, being I’m small enough to throw myself around the track.

PRJ: After competing the NCAA seasons how fresh do you feel to tackle Europe this summer?
JD: Being that I just finished a long college season, it’s going to be all about heart running over on the European circuit. My heart is what I run with 95% of the race, so regardless if someone thinks I’m too fatigued or still fresh, I know my heart says something else.

PRJ: You have the keen ability to run the 110s and 400 hurdles extremely well. Which race do you see being your bread and butter at the level?
JD: Growing up, coach Aaron McDougal, the man that engineered the beginning phases of my career, told me that the short hurdles were my bread and butter. I was always good in them growing up. When I got to college it took a minute to, again, adjust to another height. So once I fully adjust to the 110s again, no telling which one will be better. As of right now, the 400 hurdles are definitely it.

PRJ: What would you say is the most memorable moment in your career to date?
JD: Making the world championship team in 2009. I don’t think anything beats the opportunity of being able to represent your country and wear the U-S-A across your chest.

PRJ: In contrast, what has been the lowest moment in your career?
JD: I’ve had many. One that sticks out is sitting in the hotel my freshman year while the finals of the 400 meter hurdles went off at the 2008 NCAA championships in Des Moines, Iowa. I was so bitter about the situation, I couldn’t even go out to watch the race. But thank God for getting me through those times when I felt low.

PRJ: You have run on track and fields all over the world, which would you say is your favorite?
JD: It has to be between North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro and the Eugene, Oregon facilities. The reason why I say A&T is because all of my family and friends come out and support me. I feed off their energy and always put something fast down on that track. And I love the blue surface. It’s where I ran Nike high school nationals and all of my states meets.

Eugene is a place where track and field is appreciated and people respect what you do. The weather isn’t always great, but on your way walking to the track you see huge posters and billboards of Ashton Eaton or Andrew Wheating, athletes who run track and work hard. That’s something you don’t see anywhere else in America.

PRJ: Do you get prerace jitters?
JD: Yessir. Most definitely. I get them even before I arrive at the track facility the day of the meet. I’ll be laying in my bed running the race back and forth through my head until it feels right.

14 Questions with Brittney Reese

She is arguably one of the most talented in the sport.  Turns out Brittney Reese has managed to remain at the top of an event where less than inches separate the competition.  This talented long jumper fills us in on her journey, dreams, and what it takes to be the best in this weeks 14 questions.

PRJ: Well first things first: How are you doing?

I’m doing well. Right now I’m in Europe doing some Diamond League meets.

PRJ: How did you get started running and jumping?

I first started running in the 7th grade but I didn’t start jumping until the 11th grade. My high school      coach took the basketball team members that were already on the track team out to the track to see who  could long jump the farthest for a Coca Cola.

I was already doing the 400 and thought this was my opportunity to get out of it. So I asked could I try  and he said no but I kept on asking him could I try it until he finally said yes. When I jumped he was shocked and said go to it again. Once I did it again I had convinced him that the 400 wasn’t for me.

PRJ: How hard was it to leave basketball to focus on track?

Everyone knows that basketball is my first love. So leaving basketball was a tough decision for me. I talked to my mom about it and she thought that my career was in track and field. Turns out that she knew exactly what was best for me.

PRJ: What is it like being a professional athlete now?

I like being a professional athlete. Being able to travel the world is a big part of being a professional athlete in track and field. I have finally gotten used to the traveling because when I first turned pro I used to be scared to fly now I am ok and don’t mind it as much.

PRJ: Have you treated yourself to anything special since turning pro?

No I haven’t. I have been saving my money for a special something I might be able to get by my birthday or Christmas.

PRJ: You’ve had a pretty amazing run lately – winning the World Title in Berlin last year, World Indoor title in Doha this year, and winning USA Outdoor Nationals – what’s the been key?

I would say the key to my success is by staying humble. Keeping my head on straight and training hard that’s all I can do. The women’s long jump is a tough field and every championship is up for grabs. It only takes one jump.

PRJ: So are you aiming for 2012 now?

Yes I am. I missed out on getting a medal in 2008 and I plan on not letting that happening again in 2012.

PRJ: Where are you training, with whom, and why?

I train at the University of Mississippi with my coach Joe Walker Jr. The reason I train with him is because he was my college coach. He is the person that has gotten me to where I am now and without him I wouldn’t be here. I believe in him and he believes in me.

PRJ: What are your thoughts on Allen Johnson’s recent retirement?

Allen Johnson is one of the best hurdlers of all time and its sad to hear about his retirement. I think it would be great for him to help future up-and-coming athletes in the sprints and hurdles. I wish him all the best.

PRJ: When was your “break through” – because it seems like you were good in college during your sophomore year you really ratcheted it up.

I think my “break through” was the World Championships in 2009. At that meet I really proved to myself that I could compete with the best. Jumping my PB 7.10 there at a major competition was the best feeling ever.

PRJ: What were the 2008 Olympic Trials like for you and what did it feel like when you made the team?

The 2008 Olympic Trials were the first major win for me at being professional so it was real important to me. My goal was to make the team but winning it put the icing on the cake. I was just so happy that day.

PRJ: We see track athletes one year win medals and then disappear, and then maybe come back — you have been consistent, what is among your keys to consistency?

I would think the key to consistency is that I have a dream that I want to accomplish and with the grace of God I will not stop until it is accomplished. I watch film before every meet sometimes at home. I try to go out to meets with already knowing what needs to happen before it happens.

PRJ: What’s it like to be at the forefront of the conversation when people discuss long jumping on the international level?

It’s a great feeling and hopefully it can stay that way for a long time. I work hard at what I do and for people to acknowledge and appreciate it is even better.

PRJ: What have the last two or three years taught you about yourself?

What I have learned about myself these past two or three years is that I am a competitor and I love competing. I used to be scared because I knew my competitors could pull out a big jump anytime. I have now recognize that after my first World Championships in 2007 that I also can pull out those big jumps at any moment.

Brianna Glenn: “I definitely feel that momentum is in my favor. New York is a big part of that, of course”

The long jumper prepares to compete at 2010 USA Outdoor Championships.

June 23, 2010-San Diego. PRJ: So far 2010 has been the Year of Brianna Glenn with your recent victory (6.78/22-3) at the 2010 adidas Grand Prix.

BG: I wouldn’t totally say that. This year, there are people who have jumped further and more consistently than me. It is shaping up to be a good year and right now, I definitely feel that momentum is in my favor. New York is a big part of that, of course.

PRJ: How proud are you of the major victory in New York? For what seemed like all a few  years you kept being asked about it, you kept getting close, and finally broke through. I just wondered, what is like to have this break through with this Diamond League Series win.

BG: I always want to have my best competitions at the times that matter most. I want to know that I can rise to the occasion and perform big on big stages. This is the first year of the Diamond League circuit so those meets are very important to us, especially in the long jump. It’s a guarantee to be jumping against the best jumpers in the world and so doing well at those meets is a great indicator of how you stack up.

PRJ: What would it mean to win at the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships and can you talk about stadium set up?

BG: I competed at Drake in college and I know it’s a great track and an amazing atmosphere. It’s been 8 years since I was National Champion, so I definitely think I’m due for a repeat.

PRJ: Are you motivated at all to be the best long jumper in the world?

BG: I have all the tools necessary to be the best long jumper in the world, it’s just a matter of putting it all together.  I believe that if I focus on jumping what I’m capable of and have the skill to do, that will take care of that question.

PRJ: This marks the eighth year in your professional career. Can you compare maybe what your long jumping is now compared to what it was when you started. In general what track and field athletes need to do as they get into their late 20s and early 30s to keep at that level?

BG: Oh, how I wish I had the body I did when I was in my early 20s.

Now I am left foot jumper instead of a right foot jumper when I first turned pro. I definitely wouldn’t recommend other people trying the switch.  I’ve learned a lot more about the mental aspect of this sport over the last 8 years. More than anything, the switch has allowed me to be where I’m at now.

Some people might consider me over the hill but I haven’t peaked yet. The exciting part is that my best years are still ahead of me. The hard part of the journey was getting through the rough patches when things weren’t going well and finding the desire and will to continue. I’m happy I fought through the rough times because right now I’m enjoying the sport more than I ever have. The most important thing now is staying healthy.

PRJ: Early in the season you struggled a bit and then it sort of clicked when you got to New York. Do you feel like you’re in better shape with your jumping coming into USA Outdoor Nationals than you were in say April?

BG: The goal is definitely to be in better shape now than in April. So far, I’ve jumped the same outdoor mark that I did indoors and I am in better shape now, so I expect to jump even further in the weeks and months to come. Nationals is important, but because we aren’t trying to make a team, I am more so interested in having the ability to jump well over the next two months, instead of peaking for any one meet.

PRJ: This is the time of year when elite collegiate track athletes are making the transition to the professional ranks. What advice do you have?

BG: If you are dedicated and have the desire though, traveling the world to do what you love is not a bad way to earn a paycheck.  The most important thing to realize when turning professional is that it’s a whole different ballgame at this level. For starters, everyone is good. Great collegiate athletes are used to winning all the time and chances are it’s not going to be like that once you’re a pro. It’s also quite different competing in Europe than it is competing in the States.

Rookies have to be patient and give themselves time to adjust to the learning curve because the adjustment to the pro level takes time. The worse thing an athlete can do is to start doubting themselves or their abilities. You can’t ever lose your confidence.

PRJ: Convention thinking is that at U.S. Outdoor Nationals without a World Championship that you compete conservatively. Conventional or conservative is not really what we associate with your jumping? In a major meet, do you have to rein yourself in more or fight to your instincts in the way you attack the board?

BG: I would not even know how to compete conservatively. What does that even mean? I go out there to jump my best and try and win from jump 1 to jump 6.

PRJ: Spoken like a champion. Brianna, thank so much for joining us today. We wish you well this week?

PRJ Exclusive: Jeshua Anderson Gets Straight to the Point

At first glance, his understated  persona is easy to miss in a room of his peers.   Washington State’s Jeshua Anderson stands out at the track among muscular men and women - world-class hurdlers and sprinters - stretching to warm up for another more practice.

Anderson keeps his mind fixed on his goals. He knows his own style styles, what bad habits to correct, what techniques to tweak and what thoughts he should muster to motivate himself.

Any runner knows the shortest distance between two points is straight line.

Anderrson, The reigning NCAA 400m hurdle champion is straight up, with no sugar coating - about his goals and the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

PreRaceJitters’ caught up with Jeshua to discuss the 2010 season and more.

PRJ: Is breaking the NCAA record of 47.10 on your list of goals?

JA: Yes it is.

PRJ: What are your goals for the outdoor NCAA Championships in Eugene?

JA: Hopefully to win another title.

PRJ: How did you get started running?

JA: My uncle [John Anderson] ran hurdles in high school and then at USC. After I played football by freshman year in high school, my coach urged us to run track that spring.

PRJ: Were you always an intermediate hurdler?

JA: I started running both hurdles but enjoyed doing the 110m hurdles more those first few years.

PRJ: The 400m hurdles is considered by some as the most difficult race in the sport.

JA: I think it is. It is a man’s race. A lot of people call it that.

PRJ: So far this season, you have run 49.11 over the 400m hurdles. Has the change to the NCAA qualifying standards for nationals affected your season in terms of the way you and your coach have approach this outdoor season.

JA: No.

PRJ: By all accounts, you were having a successful college football career. Walk me through the decision to concentrate solely on running track?

JA: It was a rough decision. I still love the sport but I didn’t have the same passion for playing the game that I had when I first came in as a freshman. I still would love to play.

PRJ: You suffered a difficult injury last season, what did you learn from the experience?

JA: Staying healthy is a big factor in whatever level you’re at, but you have to get your body looked at right when it bothers you and not let it bother you more and more by training and competing. Trust how your body feels. [Last year] I was out there trying to run in front of family and I disregarded how my leg was feeling.

PRJ: What is your toughest workout?

JA: Running the 4-mile runs in Fall training. I also trained with the cross country/middle distance runners this winter so I did a lot of miles.

PRJ: Edwin Moses was a really solid 800 meter runner. Will we see you run the two-lap race?

JA: Edwin Moses is a great role model for me. I have run the 800m throughout the year to help my strength level out.

PRJ: You set the then high school 300m hurdle national high school record with a time of 35.28 seconds and have won a pair of NCAA titles. What is the difference between running in high school and college?

JA: The extra 100m added onto the race. When I ran the 300m hurdles it was more of a sprint race for me and I didn’t get tired. Now, the 400m hurdles is a technical race and you find spots in the race where you can rest and spots where you can move throughout the time. It is more of a technical race now.

PRJ: You grew up in the California and now train in Washington.

JA: This [Northwest weather] prepares you to appreciate the heat and warm weather more. Running here you have to toughen up and though it out. We have some tough runners here. When I was being recruited, I knew what the weather was going to be. You have to get your fitness level up and run through the training and get ready to run in the heat and get your times down.

PRJ: Thank you for your time and best wishes this season.

PRJ Exclusive: All Hail the Queen: Harrison Ready to Rule

Photos courtesy Virginia Tech Athletic Department

She is on a roll.  Queen Harrison has run sparingly so far but the 60m hurdler has been nothing short of spectacular in each of her meets during the 2010 indoor campaign.

She is an Olympian. She is an All-American. She is one of America’s most talented hurdlers and sprinters. And Harrison is looking to continue on that success at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Champions by taking the meet by storm.

Winning an NCAA title during senior season what it is about for Harrison.  But it won’t come without it’s own set of hurdles to clear.

“That is something I have had my eyes on, both indoor and outdoor, since I was a freshman here at Virginia Tech. My sophomore year before I got injured in the 4×1 during outdoor NCAAs, I really felt like it was my time to take the individual titles in the hurdles but I found out that there were other plans written for me that year making the Beijing Olympics. But I am definitely looking forward to NCAAs this year and all that could come out of it.”

She gave an exclusive interview to PreRaceJItters.

This is what she said:

PRJ: Thanks for taking time to speak with us. Congratulations on running a new indoor personal best and school record, 7.99 seconds in the 60m hurdles at the VT Elite Meet– the no. 1 time in the nation. How did you feel in the race and what were your expectations?

QH: Thanks and thank you for having me. I felt really great when I ran the 7.99, it was in the prelims so I had the ability to really focus on my race and work on the elements of my race that my coach and I have been really focusing on improving. In the finals when I ran 7.96 I felt like I put all those things together and with the help of the competition, I really pulled my best out that day. I didn’t have too many expectations but after consistently running 8.0s at the last two meets I felt like I definitely had a sub-8 race in me.

PRJ: Did you think going into the race you were capable of a sub-8 second race shape that early in the season?

QH: I wasn’t sure what I was capable of but I knew I wanted to go under 8 seconds. In practice I had been consistently running under 8 seconds but I knew that in order to do that in the race I would have to a really good start or have really great turnover at the end of the race.

PRJ: You placed third time in 2008 in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships. What are your goals for your final NCAA Indoor competition?

QH: I am usually not the type to really talk about my goals especially in huge championship situations, at least not place or time wise. I have a couple numbers in my head for prelims and finals but I like to hold on to those. However I do feel confident that I will run a very fast race. I have a couple weeks to really work on the sprinting aspect of my hurdle race and get quicker in between the hurdles so I have no doubt that NCAAs will produce some very fast times.

PRJ: What do you plan to run at the indoor NCAAs and what do you think it will take to win?

QH: To win I am sure it will take a sub-8 performance, I don’t know how far under 8 but I know that 8.0 will probably not suffice to win the championship.

PRJ: What would winning an individual NCAA title mean to you?

QH: A LOT!! That is something I have had my eyes on, both indoor and outdoor, since I was a freshman here at Virginia Tech. My sophomore year before I got injured in the 4×1 during outdoor NCAAs, I really felt like it was my time to take the individual titles in the hurdles but I found out that there were other plans written for me that year (Beijing Olympics). But I am definitely looking forward to NCAAs this year and all that could come out of it.

PRJ: It’s crazy to think that the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships are less than a three weeks away. What are your goals for each week in training and competition to make sure that you are peak shape for conference and beyond?

QH: My main goal for the next couple of weeks and for the rest of my career is to stay healthy. I have had more than my share of injuries so I am mostly focusing on staying healthy and taking all the necessary steps to do so. I am also going to be working on being quicker out the blocks and in between the hurdles. In the past, I always have had to come from behind in the short hurdles but now I feel like I am right there with my competitors going into the first hurdles. So now my goal is to be a step ahead of everyone going into the first hurdle and gradually accelerate through the rest of the race.

PRJ: At the VT Elite you put on a show, lowering your school record to 53.54 in the 400 meters. What does that race say about where you are right now?

QH: It tells me that the training I’ve been doing and the mind set I have this season is really paying off. I also think that is just a stepping stone to what else I can accomplish both this indoor season and outdoor season over 400 meters.

PRJ: You’re working your way back from an injury that ended your 2009 season and kept you from running in the outdoor NCAA Regional and Championship meets. How are you feeling and is the injury been completely behind you?

QH: I am so happy to say the injury is behind me and off my mind. I am feeling great except for hurting from our difficult practices every week lol. But other than normal soreness, I feel great and ready to continue on a winning season.

PRJ: What percentage of meets were you 100 percent healthy last season?

QH: During indoor ACCs last year when I was preparing for the 60m hurdles is when I originally injured myself and with the urgency to get back healthy I am not sure how many races I was actually 100 percent healthy after that. But I am looking to the present and future now and am hoping and praying for a much healthier career than I’ve had in the past.

PRJ: You competed in the 2008 Olympic Games as a collegiate sophomore – how has that experienced prepared you for this season?

QH: It really allowed me to not get stressed or overwhelmed in large stressful championship situations. When you’ve been on perhaps the biggest stage possible for track and field, I am better able to calm myself before meet situations and enjoy the large demanding atmosphere rather than be nervous from it.

PRJ: Who are some of the hurdlers that you look up to and strive to compare your self to? What have you learned from their techniques as you’ve watched them over the years?

QH: Honestly, there aren’t really any hurdles I would say I strive to compare myself to or really look up to. There are so many talented hurdles both in the US and other countries but I am looking to establish myself as a hurdler not short or long, just a hurdler and most of the hurdlers on the professional level are one or the other. Not to name names but I have seen a lot of passion in our hurdlers over the years and while some events are usually dominated by one select individual, the hurdles are pretty wide open to anyone so I am just looking to make my way right into that open space.

PRJ: With all puns intended, what has been the most difficult hurdle that you have had to overcome?

QH: I would say the changing of our coaching situation for the past two years. When you are really used to one coaching style and have seen the results from it, it is hard not to be skeptical of alternative workouts and coaching staff. So I would say that the large amount of changes, especially coming off of such a successful year as my sophomore one, and a couple injuries would have to be the most difficult hurdles to overcome.

PRJ: What is like to practice every day with Kristi Castlin, one of the NCAA’s top hurdlers?

QH: I think that practicing with someone else that not only has a similar level of talent as myself but also wants success as bad as I do, creates a great training situation for both of us. We do not practice going over hurdles together all the time because all of our coaches think we get way to competitive and end up working harder than they intended, but when we do work together it is very beneficial because she can execute certain aspects of the race better than I can and vice versa, so we are able to push each other to our full potential in that way.

PRJ: It’s six or seven months away but have you thought much about transitioning into the professional ranks and where you might want to be to do that?

QH: I have thought about it and I am both nervous and excited to transition into post collegiate track and field because it is like a whole new world out there. I think I will really have to adapt to not having that team comradery you have with your collegiate team but I am willing to take on the challenge. I am not sure where I want to do it yet because I am just focusing on the immediate future right now, but ask me the same question in a couple months and I’m sure I’ll have an answer.

PRJ: What skills do you feel you need to improve or work on at the next level?

QH: Definitely work on my speed and coming out of the blocks more powerful. A lot of short hurdlers have very powerful starts which give them an advantage going into the first hurdle and beyond, so I want to make sure that is something I work on and get better at by the end of my senior season.

PRJ: What are a few things people need to know about you personally and what you bring to the sport?

QH: Know about me personally? Hmm I am a really fun person to be around, in my opinion. LOL. I dance a lot at practice to the music in my headphones and really try to create a productive but fun training environment for myself and teammates. I love to dance, sing, and travel to new exciting places (minus the actual plane/car ride). I am sure I can transfer some of my fun and outgoing personality to the sport of track and field. Also, Flo Jo has been one of my track heroes not only in her running but with her unique uniforms and appearance. I think a lot of times people mistake women who play sports to be rough or tomboyish in nature but I am very much a girl so I want to definitely bring the beauty and fashion side to the sport of track and field with me also.

PRJ: You are from Virgina– which has been produced the likes of LaShawn Merritt and Charles Clark – just to name a few. Is Virginia underrated as a track and field powerhouse?

QH: Yes, I feel like Virginia is underrated as a powerhouse mostly because unlike some other states, most people are not looking to our state to produce track stars instead they are looking to what we offer in football or other sports so our facilities we have to run in or at are not up to par with other fields of play. But I think that in the near future I definitely believe Virginia will transition into being one of the powerhouse states in the country.

PRJ Interview: Battle Tested Lacy Cramer Ready For Another Physical Race

Lacy Cramer is above average-height at 5-7, runs with reckless abandonment and is good at making the lives of competitors difficult.

But as the reigning indoor 800m NCAA champion, Cramer has proven herself to be a smart racer. She took the inside lane in the final meter of last years indoor NCAA 800m race to claim her first individual title.

Cramer is ranked seventh nationally in the 800 meters with a time of 2:04.85, less than one week before the indoor national championships.

The last several NCAA indoor finals of the 800m races have been physical with jostling and elbowing.  BYU runner Lacy Cramer couldn’t hide her glee thinking about running in the NCAA 800m indoor final in Fayetteville, Arkansas on March 15 to 15.

“Oh, I expect it for sure I expect a physical race,” Cramer said. “I got spiked four times last year and expect this year to be even more rough because I am not going to come from last place like last year. I want to be up in all the action.”

Cramer spoke exclusively with PreRaceJitters:

PRJ: What clicked in the 800 meter final at the NCAA national championship 800-meter race, when you passed Phoebe Wright in lane 1 with less than 10 meters to win?

LC: I was just at the right place at the right time. I could hear my coach just as the inside lane open up. You just can’t think - just act, so I passed her on the inside.

PRJ: What thoughts were going through your mind as soon as you crossed the finish line to win the NCAA women’s indoor 800m title last year?

LC: It was almost unreal. It really did not even sink in for a while. It was just an amazing dream that I never thought was possible. It was probably the greatest moments of my life. Even as I watch the videos now I can still feel that magical feeling.

PRJ: Last year you appeared composed in the 800 meters at the indoor NCAAs race. Were you nervous? Was it intimidating running against the likes of Geena Gall, Latavia Thomas, Heather Dorniden, and Phoebe Wright?

LC: I was more nervous for the trials. I was ranked 13th or something going into nationals and just wanted to make all american. As for the finals I was just happy to be in the race and to be an all american. I did not know who any of those girls were till after the race. My coach just told me to be by Tennessee and LSU. I don’t remember girls until we talk to each other.

PRJ: How many miles per week do you run in the fall and spring?

LC: I usually get up to around 45 but it all depends on that week.

PRJ: How competitive is training on the same team with 800 meter runner Nachelle Stewart (2:05:27)?

LC: We do not work out together. She works out with the sprinters and I usually work out with Angela Wagner.

PRJ: You come into the season with a season’s best of 2:05.19, have you been able to handle more in terms of your training work load this season.

LC: My coach told me I will and I think I have. We are doing the same work outs as last year and I think I am just feeling stronger which is good.

PRJ: How has this season differed from last year?

LC: Well I feel more confident this year. Even though I am not training with Katie Palmer who I really miss, I have Angela there who works so hard. So I am glad that I have someone who pushes me every day.

PRJ: In big races, do you prefer to lead wire-to-wire or running in the pack?

LC: I usually like to run in the pack, but lately I have had to lead some races which I am starting to like better.

PRJ: What were your goals this year at the beginning of the season?

LC: I just want to get faster every year and I will be happy.

PRJ: Last years team included eight All-Americans, two nationals champions, and 15 Mountain West Conference champions while winning indoor and outdoor conference titles. What is this year’s squad capable of producing with both national champions and all eight All-Americans returning?

LC: I think this year is going to be even better. There are so many good girls on the team and I can not wait to see what we can do as a team.

PRJ: Will you do anything different to prepare for conference and indoor NCAAs?

LC: No just the same as last year. I might go to cafe rio a few more times more than last year just so I feel extra good.

PRJ: What is the biggest lesson you have learned from coach Patrick Shane?

LC: He taught me what is most important in life. School and religion and how I am doing come before we even talk about running. He truly knows what is important and really cares about everyone. He taught me how to work hard and how to have fun at the same time. I love Coach Shane and am so lucky to not only be his athlete, but his friend.

PRJ: What influenced your decision to sign with BYU?

LC: Umm…it was always something that I wanted to do. My brother and sister went there and there was never really other place that I really thought about going to. I still remember my dad making me go to the indoor track while we saw all the athletes working out there. My dad told me that I could run here one day. I thought it was a cool idea, but never thought it possible.

PRJ: What do you think of this talented BYU squad? Do you and teammate Katie Palmer ever train together?

LC: This is one of the most talented teams. Katie has been sick lately so I have been lucky to run with Angela.

PRJ: There is a lot of excitement surrounding the third ranked BYU women’s team, can you give me a sense of what the environment is like in the program?

LC: It is just a fun environment. Every day is so fun because all the girls are awesome.

PRJ: What motivates you?

LC: I guess it the feeling after you are done with a race. The satisfaction that everyone thinks that the 800 is a hard race and I love the feeling of accomplishing something that I never thought I could do.

PRJ: How did you get started running?

LC: My family has always been very active and just being around my brother and sister as they ran I guess I just have always thought I was going to be a runner as well.

PRJ: Who are your role models and why?

LC: I think it has always been my sister. She is the most amazing person ever. She taught me who I wanted to be and how to treat people. We are best friends even though we are four years apart. She always done what is right and will always be my biggest role models.

PRJ: How do you balance your academic workload with your running and social life?

LC: It is really hard to balance all three. I really am trying to do good in school right now so I spend a lot of my nights in the library. I am also getting married in two months which causes a little more stress in my life. What fun would I life be if it was easy though.

PRJ: What are your career goals if running doesn’t work out?

LC: I will go into coaching and teaching. I really want to pass on everything that I have learned to kids. I think I could help them love to work hard.

PRJ: Do you get prerace jitters?
LC: Just a little bit. You always need to be a little nervous before any race.

PRJ: Good luck this season and we’ll certainly be watching.

Indiana Sophomore to compete in Big Ten Indoor Championships this weekend

By Jeremy Rosenthal, IUHoosiers.com feature writer

In seventh grade Chelsea Blanchard had doubts about being on the track and field team, since running around in circles appeared very boring.

Seven years later, Blanchard now holds the fifth-fastest time in Indiana school history in both the indoor 3,000-meter run and mile events.

In middle school, the Fort Wayne, Ind. native first wanted to be a cheerleader, but her father stepped in and offered his advice.

“He knew my personality probably wouldn’t mesh with that,” Blanchard said. “He had run in high school a couple years and thought that would be a better fit.”

It turned out he was right.

Blanchard said her dad forced into cross country in junior high school, but she had a lot of fun at practice, which would often consist of running around and playing tag with her teammates. She fell in love with the sport and continued to compete in cross country and track and field throughout high school.

When she graduated from Carroll High School, Blanchard departed with school records in four events, including a mile time of 4:58. She was also ranked in the top-10 academically.

Despite her great success in high school, initially the thought of running in college seemed a little daunting for Blanchard.

“I thought going to college where it seems so much more serious wasn’t going to be that same sense of fulfillment, but I just love it,” she said. “Everyday we come to practice and everyone on the team is wonderful and everyone is so different. It is a nice dynamic.”

In her first year as a Hoosier, Blanchard was thrust into being one of the top girls on the cross country team. IU head coach Ron Helmer said she put in more work in her first year then any other freshman he has coached.

IU assistant coach Rebecca Walter said Blanchard worked very hard and put in consistent training, but that the program is one that takes time to see results.

“I think she handled it very well,” Walter said. “It is showcased by how well she is performing her sophomore year.”

In her freshman year Blanchard placed 33rd at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. Her second time around she earned All-Region honors with a 14th place finish.

After a solid performance at the Regional meet, Blanchard and her teammates received a bid to the NCAA Cross Country Championships for the first time since 2004. Blanchard said it was an emotional high and felt like everything was right in the world.

In a rollercoaster of emotions the women’s cross country team finished a disappointing 31st at the national meet.

Blanchard said it was a stab in the heart, but she tried to find a positive from the experience.

“It seemed like everyone was thinking how did we let this happen,” she said. “It’s one of the worst feelings in the world and you never ever want to feel that way again. It was good for us because it was like ‘what do you want to do and how are you not going to let this happen again?’”

On the bus ride home Walter said Blanchard showed signs of maturity by asking what she could do to improve and really listening to the answer.

So far the improvement has been fairly obvious in the indoor track season. A year ago Blanchard ran a personal best time of 9:51 in the 3,000-meter run. At the Tyson Invitational this season she won her race in an NCAA provisional time of 9:24. Walter said she thinks there is still more room for improvement.

“I think her improvement is not going to stop anytime soon, now that she has everything in place,” Walter said. “She has stuck with it long enough that it is going to pay off.”

In addition to her athletic talent, Blanchard brings a vibrant smile to the track everyday and is described as fun to coach.

“I think she brings a lot to the team,” Walter said. “One of the big parts of the way we want to build our program is, it’s not just about your athletic talent, but it’s the way you go about your business. If you look at workouts as being an opportunity to have some fun and leave it on the track, and I think she has really embraced that this year.”

Outside of her sport, Blanchard is pursing a degree in visual art education and would someday like to be an art teacher. She said her art teacher in high school, Mr. Kilmer, who also used to coach cross country, is a close friend and thought she would enjoy running.

Even though Blanchard has a chance to earn individual accomplishments, she is most excited about this weekend’s Big Ten Championships because she gets to share the experience with all of her roommates. Joining her will be fellow runners Helene Delone, Breanne Ehrman and Kelsey Duerksen, marking the first time that the four roommates will compete together at a Big Ten meet.

For someone who thought track and field would be a boring sport, Blanchard is enjoying it greatly and is a leader on the team.

“She has grown really nicely into a leadership role,” Walter said. “I don’t know if she even knows that yet, but I know a lot of the girls are really looking up to her now.”

PRJ Podcast: Molly Beckwith battles injuries to Get to Top

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You may not know her name; chances are after the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship - you will know the name Molly Beckwith. She already owns a 2:02.51 outdoor personal best at 800m and is dead set on being the best.

A handful of knee surgeries. New Sport. New Coach. None of the aforementioned obstacles were enough to derail the Indiana’s Molly Beckwith mission to get to top the of 800m rankings.

Were it not for a career ending knee injury, Beckwith may have played out her career as a soccer player. Yet because she would not quit, bend or break, she may stand as a testament to perseverance.

The Worthington, Ohio native is leading a top-ranked Indiana squad into the Big 10 indoor conference and NCAA Championships with high hopes of coming out on top.

Beckwith shares with PreRaceJitters how she fought her way at Indiana University to become one of college track and field’s elite collegiate runner and one of the best in school history.

Special thanks to Indiana University. Song Bye Bye Bye courtesy of echoed.

PRJ Podcast: For Georgia’s Torrin Lawrence, Peaking at Nationals Is the Plan

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2010 Indoor Season’s Best

• 200 meters: 20.80, Virginia Tech Elite, 2/5/10
• 300 meters: 32.32, Hokie Invitational, Collegiate Record, 1/23/10
• 400 meters: 45.03, Tyson Invite, World Leader, 2/11/10

If you aren’t familiar with him, you had better ask somebody about the pure-talent 200 / 400m runner.

For all accounts, Georgia’s Torrin Lawrence is having an historic season, running at pace that can’t be ignored. Earlier this season, the sophomore rattled off a new indoor 300m collegiate record and currently lays claim to the fastest 400 meter time in the world.

But he is not satisfied. Lawrence is focused and determined to deliver his best 400m performance to win his first NCAA title at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas and bringing up the Bulldogs program in the process.

In this exclusive interview, Lawrence discusses gunning for an NCAA Champion and how good this Georgia Bulldog squad can be this season.

Special thanks to the University of Georgia. Song Bye Bye Bye courtesy of echoed.

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