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.

PreRaceJitters’ Exclusive Q & A: New Mexico’s Lee Emanuel

By sportswriter Cheryl Lowe

Albuquerque, New Mexico (February 4, 2010)-Lee Emanuel  saw an opportunity, and went for it with determination and the vision that he was going to run the fastest mid-distance races he has ever run in his life.

Emanuel, who is currently working on a Master’s degree in Physical Education transferred to University of New Mexico in 2007 after finishing his undergraduate degree at Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Before he arriving in the United States, Emanuel saw the need for a change in his running routine, and ultimately, his career.

He certainly changed since training at high altitude in Albuquerque, NM.

The two-time All-American’s rapid rise to the top of the NCAA podium within the past two seasons has provided him with an NCAA bronze medal in the 1500m, Mountain West Conference honors, UNM school records, and the Mt. Sac Relays meet record in the outdoor 1500m (3:37.99 PB).

Emanuel is the first Lobo since 1977 to win a gold medal at an NCAA meet in 2009, where he won the indoor mile title in 4:00.36 at the NCAA Indoor National Championship meet at Texas A&M University.

PreRaceJitters’ Cheryl Lowe talks with Lee about his career in the United States, and what is ahead for him in 2010.

PRJ: You have had a lot of success over the last couple years –rewriting the Lobo record books, winning a NCAA individual title, and earning all-American honors. What is the most important lesson you learned last season?

LE: I have learned to always believe in myself. When I came over to the NCAA, during my first year I was kind of in awe of my opponents. In that year Leo Manzano was seen as being untouchable and I kind of bought into that. In my second year I thought to myself I need to step up and start believing I could do what Leo did.

PRJ: How did you get into running?

LE: Back home in England I was a football player, or soccer player, as I have had to start calling it! The first time I realized I could run well was when I was about 9 or 10 and in are PE classes before we did anything else we always had to run a round the field which was probably about 300 meters. In 2 years I never lost so that was the first time I realized I could run well. When I went to secondary school, aged 11, I ran x-country a few times a year and as I played football every day I was always pretty fit. I first started training at 14 after a local coach told me he thought I could be good at running.

PRJ: When you were growing up whom did you model your running after?

LE: I never really watched distance running when I was young. I missed the era when Great Britain was dominant at middle distance running with the likes of [Sebastian] Coe, [Steve] Ovett and [Steve] Cram. I used to like watching the shorter events such as the 100 and 400. I remember being a fan of Linford Christie, but that may have just been because he was one of the guys that was always running on TV.

PRJ: What influenced your decision to attend New Mexico?

It just seemed like the right place to be. I emailed probably 50 coaches in the NCAA and only a handful got back to me. Out of these Coach Franklin was always the most interested and was the first to offer me the chance to come out here, since then I had a lot of trust in him. Added to this was the success he had with athletes from Britain in the past such as Becky Lynn and Scott Overall. He just seemed like a good guy to go with. I was originally going to Butler with him but when he left I decided to switch to New Mexico. The weather, facilities and altitude in Albuquerque made this decision easy, and I do not think I could have made a better choice for a school to attend.

PRJ: Did your finish at Indoor Nationals surprise you?

LE: Not really, I knew I was in great shape and my I went down to Texas with the mind set that I had a chance to win the title. I had run a good DMR leg the weekend before in the last chance meet and knew that I was in great shape. I wanted to take advantage of this, I believed that I had the ability to win a national title and on that day I just felt ready to do it.

PRJ: Which race is your most memorable during your time at New Mexico?

LE: I have had some great times running in a Lobo uniform, the most memorable race of my time here was a race I didn’t do particularly well in. The race was this x-country season when we won the Mountain West Conference for the first time. We travelled to our conference rivals BYU who had won conference 10 years in a row and were ranked as one of the top teams in the country so to beat them was amazing, especially in there home town. Winning nationals was pretty cool too, but winning and celebrating as a team was something that was very special.

PRJ: You are the defending mile NCAA Indoor Champion – when did the “light go on” and you realized that you could run at a very high level?

LE: When I was younger I didn’t really train that often and I always seemed to win so I always knew I was pretty good. I came out to the America with the intention to compete at the top level. Probably the first time I realized I could compete at a high level was at the Sun Angel Classic at Arizona State in 2008. I came fifth in the race and was beaten by Lopez [Lomong], [Chris] Solinsky, [Matt] Tegenkamp, and John Reilly and was within a second of all those guys. When I got back home I don’t think anyone could believe I had got so close to these great guys.

PRJ: What are your goals for 2010?

LE: My goals for this year are to try and get as many points for New Mexico as I can in the Conference and National meets. Running fast times are great but winning championships is what defines athletes in my opinion. I will be looking to peak for the NCAA championships and will be racing to win.

PRJ: What are your preparations to repeat winning the indoor mile?

LE: I am training hard and there is not much else I can really do. I think I am ahead of where I was at this point of last year so am pleased with how things are going. I have got the auto time for the mile out of the way nice and early so I can relax with the knowledge that I have booked my ticket to Arkansas already and start focusing on being in optimum shape for March the 12^th.

PRJ: You once said in an interview that your coach Joe Franklin, told you “the stronger you are, the quicker you can finish.” How has that influenced you?

LE: I did not believe him at first, the first time I raced a mile for him I got beat pretty badly. He asked me what I thought we should do next. I said speed work he said the opposite. I thought he was wrong but he proved himself completely right, which was annoying!! Last year I had my greatest ever year without once putting my spikes on for a training session and the fastest I ran all season in training was 28 seconds so it seems to work for me.

PRJ: What runners are you excited about toeing the line with this season?

LE: The competition will be fierce this year especially in the 1,500/mile. I am excited to test myself against the top guys like, German and Centro who have given me a good and honest race every time I have come against them. The way German won Nationals was phenomenal; I could only take my hat of too him on that day. I am hoping there will be a lot more athletes from our group here in New Mexico are involved in the big races this year; Rory Fraser is doing great right now, and Dave Bishop, Ross Millington, Sam Evans, Jacob Kirwa and Chris Barnacle are all looking great in training at the moment so am hopeful I will be on the line with a lot of these guys at NCAA’s this year.

PRJ: What are your favorite training and racing shoes?

LE: We are a Nike school so all my shoes are Nike, which is great as I love there kit. I run in Pegasus every day, race in Nike Victory’s or Matumbos depending on the race. I do workouts in Katanas or Marathoners again depending on what we are doing.

PRJ: Do you get prerace jitters?

LE: Not really, I love racing and the bigger the race the more I enjoy it. I get nervous of course everyone does but I am not too bad and am always pretty relaxed before races.

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

PreRaceJitters’ Q&A: Arizona’s Liz Patterson Flying to the Next Level

The Dallas-area native high jumper is looking to end her collegiate career on top.

In a battle of the best, she battled Destinee Hooker at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships pushing the eventual winner NCAA to set a new collegiate record (6-6), while at the same time grabbing the best performance of her life at 6-4.75.

This year is about Liz Patterson getting to the next level, leaving her mark on the game, and proving she can dominate from week and week in the 2010 season. Coming into the indoor season, the Arizona senior is arguably the top jumper posting the nation’s best jump of 6-3.25 at the Lumberjack Invitation in the January 16 season opener.

PreRaceJitters.com caught up with Patterson to discuss the 2010 season and more.

PRJ: If I asked your friends to describe you  and to tell me a little about you – what would they say?

LP: I think they would say I’m a fun, laid back person and easy to get along with.

PRJ: Where do you hail from and how did you get involved in track and field?

LP: I was born in Dallas and raised in Beaumont, TX. I chose to run track because I did not make the volleyball or basketball teams. Track was the only sport in my middle school that anyone could participate in.

PRJ: Describe your first track and field competition?

LP: I was in the 7th grade when I had my first track meet. I thought I was so cool because I was finally part of a team. That year I only ran the 300m hurdles, so track meets were really a time when I hung out with my friends and met new ones.

PRJ: How old were you when you first cleared five feet?

LP: I cleared 5 feet for the first time when I was in the 9th grade.

PRJ: How do your personal records (prs) from high school compare to where you are right now and how has your knowledge of training and competing evolved in the process?

LP: In high school I had a pr of 1.75m in the high jump and now my best is 1.95m. In college I have learned so much about the fundamentals of high jump. While I was in high school my objective was very basic, which was to just run and jump as high as I could at the time.

At Arizona, my coaches have taught me how important it is to lift weights, do plyos, and to consistently run a good approach to the bar. I have matured as an athlete and try to use my knowledge and experiences to help out my younger teammates whenever I can.

PRJ: What do you consider your greatest achievement so far as an athlete?

LP: Winning NCAA’s in 2008.

PRJ: What was your training like in the fall semester?

LP: Fall training went well. I feel stronger and faster this year. I also spent a lot of time taking care of my body to help prevent aches and pains.

PRJ: Last season you had another impressive season earning two national runners up in College Station and Fayetteville. Ultimately it came down to a two person jump off between you and Texas’ Destiny Hooker to determine the national champion. What did you learn from those experiences?

LP: From those experiences I learned that I must continue to push myself and to remain positive. I’m glad I jumped against Destinee in those meets. I love her competitiveness and drive. She pushed me to obtaining indoor and outdoor pr’s last season.

PRJ: What is your meet strategy in terms of when you come into the competition?

LP: I go into competitions with a positive mind set, and focus on what I want to accomplish that day. My motto is, “Think good, do good”.

PRJ: How are you feeling going into the 2010 indoor season?

LP: I feel really good going into this indoor season. This is my last year and I want to have my best season ever. I’m excited for the season to start, yet sad that my college career is going to be over.

PRJ: What is your reaction to Destinee Hooker forgoing her final year at Texas to play pro volleyball?

LP: I’m excited for her and I know she will do well in her professional volleyball career.

PRJ: This is your senior year and you earned a national champion in 2008 and twice last year you earned runner up honors last season. It is often overlooked is that you set personal bests at indoor and outdoor nationals in those performances. What are your goals for this season and what are the goals of this Arizona team?

LP: My main goals for this season are to be better than I ever was in my previous seasons, and to go out on top. I still have a lot to learn and many things to practice on.

Our team goals are for both men and women are to place in the top 5 at Pac-10s, and to get as many regional and national qualifiers as we can. The team chemistry of this year’s team is the best it has ever been since I’ve been at Arizona. If we continue to push one another in practice and at meets we will reach and exceed our goals.

PRJ: Outside of what you are doing, how closely do you follow college and elite track and field?

LP: Since I’ve been in school I have really gotten into the sport. During the season I will look at results from different meets just to see how everyone is running, jumping, and throwing.

I wish track and field received more recognition in this country because it really is a fun and exciting sport.

The Run Off
PRJ: What song right now makes you makes your dance when it comes on?
LP: Six Tre G - Fresh Dressed.

PRJ: How did you spend your summer in 2009?
LP: I was enrolled in two class during summer school.

PRJ: What celebrity would you most like to meet?
LP: Beyonce, I would probably pass out if I ever met her.

PRJ: If you were not competing in track and field, what would you be doing?
LP: I would probably be playing volleyball or going to school somewhere back home.

PRJ: What is your pre-game ritual?
LP: Before leaving the hotel Jazzy Day [teammate Jasmin Day] and I put the jams on and sing and dance around. We do it before every meet.

PRJ: Kobe or D-Wade?
LP: Kobe

PRJ: Who would fit in most at your family reunion: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves or Prince, the musician?

LP: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, there are lots of comedians in my family.

PRJ: Name one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you.
LP: I play the viola.

PRJ: Do you get preracejitters?
LP: Yes, every meet!

PRJ: Liz, thank you for your time and best of luck this season.

PreRaceJitters’ Q & A Interview: Louisville’s D’Ana McCarty takes it to the Next Level

Photo courtesy of University of Louisville’s Sports Information Office.

She is a breaker of boundaries.  Last year, D’Ana McCarty arrived on the Louisville campus as a moderately recruited thrower and during the 2009 season, elevated her own game while at the same time elevating Louisville’s status on the collegiate track and field scene.

Success. A tradition starts with one action. One individual.

McCarty won the women’s track and field program’s first-ever NCAA championship and the schools first NCAA title with her win in the weight throw in the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday at Texas A&M’s Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium in College Station.

Last weekend, McCarty won the hammer throw with a toss of 190-04 (58.02m), placed third in the shot put with a throw of 50-05.50 (15.38m), improving her national ranking. The Indianapolis, Ind. native also took third in the discus with a distance of 158-07 (48.35m).

PreRaceJitters’ caught up with D’Ana McCarty and here is what she had to say:

PRJ: You threw 72-05.75 (22.09m) in College Station. How did it feel to win an NCAA title in your first trip to an NCAA meet, whether indoors or outdoors?

DM: It felt great since it was my first time ever making it to indoor nationals or any nationals.

PRJ: Have you had time to absorb the historical nature of your feat, as the women’s track and field program’s first-ever NCAA championship and school’s first women’s NCAA title?

DM: I still don’t think it has sunk in. For me to win the first ever NCAA women’s championship in school history and track and field after only throwing weight for two years is just way over my head. I just stay level headed and only look into the future.

PRJ: Recently, you threw 192-03 (58.61m) in the hammer at the Big East Outdoor Championships and you also threw 49-10 (15.19m) in the shot put, setting personal best marks with each event. What do you account for your progression in the throws.

DM: I just finished with two finals right before we flew down there the day before and I was feeling free and excited. I wanted to win and score points for my team. In doing so I reached two goals for my outdoor season. I threw a season PR in hammer and discus. Shot put came out good and just a little under my goal for the season of 50 feet.

PRJ: After winning the weight NCAA title as a sophomore, what keeps you from complacency? What motivates you to continue improving your skills?

DM: Well what keeps me from being complacent is the fact that I have other goals that I want to reach. I mostly focus on myself and my teammates can attest to that in how when they say a top thrower I will just blank out and be like who threw what? I try not to let other people’s marks scare me since that is their PR and not what they throw at every meet.

PRJ: Last year you finished 21st in the hammer throw at the IAAF Junior World Championships in Poland. What if anything did you learn from that international competition and do you feel that experienced has transferred to this years success?

DM: I just had fun and did what I was trained to do. I guess it transferred over to this year in the sense that I didn’t feel pressure from others or let others scare me.

PRJ: Looking forward to the Outdoor NCAA Championships, what events will you compete in and what marks do you think it will take to win the events at the NCAAs.

DM: So far I don’t know if I’ll make it to the NCAA Outdoor championships, it’ll take about 53 meters in discus and 60 to 61 meters for me to make it in the hammer. I have a meet this weekend and I hope that my practices will help me get there.

PRJ:Have you felt any additional pressure since becoming an NCAA Champion?

DM: No I haven’t since weight is only thrown indoors and hammer is thrown outdoors. I don’t really focus on others like I said earlier.

PRJ:What will you training consist of with remaining weeks left in the collegiate season?

DM: Just the usual practice and lifting. The only thing I’m adding now is a painting job I do to pay for things.

PRJ: How did you originally become interested in competing in the throws?

DM: My Dad was a thrower back in the day and so he kept trying to get me to go out for it and my old freshman basketball coach was the track head coach. With those two working me over I finally gave in and joined the team.

PRJ: Between the hammer, weigh throw, shot put and discus – which is your favorite event and why?

DM: Well my favorite is the weight throw since I won nationals with it and then second is the hammer. I like these events because even when I was a kid I liked to just spin in circles. Ha and they said it would never be useful.

PRJ: Off of the track, what are you studying at Louisville and what are your career goals?

DM: Right now I am in Arts and Sciences as undecided. I’m taking classes that would have me minor in business management and major in communications.

PRJ: What are the top five songs on your iPod?

DM: Many Moons by Janelle Monae, You Found Me by The Fray, Give It All by Rise Against, Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria, and Fences by Paramore.

PRJ: What is your favorite television show and why?

DM: My favorite show is Family Guy and I just find it hilarious.

PRJ: Thank you for taking time for PreRaceJitters.com and good luck with the remainder of your season.

TV Broadcast of NCAA Div. I Indoor Championships

ESPN2 will broadcast the NCAA Track and Field Indoor Championships on March 23 at 1:30 am - 1:00 pm, pacific time. Check you local listings for coverage.

2009 NCAA Indoor Championships - Tevan Everett, Texas

PreRaceJitters catches up with Tevan Everett after running 1:49.13 to place sixth in the 800 meters.

NCAA Indoor Championship Is Where Amazing Happened

-College Station, Texas

- After a two day campaign at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship at the Gilliam Track & Field Stadium at Texas A&M the standout star was Galen Rupp, who stood at the center of Oregon’s 16th national championship.  The 22-year old Olympian swept the 3000m, 5000m and anchored the Distance Medley Relay to victory.

Over the last two laps of the 5,000m, Rupp unleashed a fierce kick to win in 13:41.45.  Less than two hours later, he anchored the DMR relay to a first place finish.

Tennessee senior Sarah Bowman picked up her first NCAA Indoor title and third national crown in dramatic fashion, out-leaning Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego at the finish to win in 4:29.72. Bowman’s time, a personal best and school record, is the seventh fastest in the world this season and broke the NCAA meet record of 4:30.63 set in 1989 by Wisconsin’s Suzy Favor.

Bowman’s victory denied Kipyego a 10th career national title.

There is a first time for everything.  Tennessee’s Sarah Bowmen won her first NCAA Indoor title in a dramatic race, out-leaning Texas Tech Sally Kipyego at the finish to win in 4:29.82.  The time is a personal best and school record broke the NCAA meet record of 4:30.63 set by Wisconsin’s Suzy Favor in 1989.

A new star emerges at nearly every national meet. The year that billing goes to South Carolina’s LaKaya Brookings for entering the 60 meter with the slowest qualifying time of the field.  On Saturday she surprised nearly everyone when she won the NCAA title in 7.13 seconds.

Timing is everything and Hampton’s Francena McCorory was not the favorite coming into the race as a matter of fact she came into the meet relatively unknown despite having run some fast times this season already.  After winning the 400 meters in 51.55 seconds out the first heat the a number of the working media was not familiar with the Historical Black University located in Hampton, Virigina.  Now more people know Francena McCorory and Hampton University after her first NCAA title.

Michael Johnson is the last Baylor 200 meter NCAA title at Baylor.  That is until Trey Harts wrote his name in the record books won the 200 meters with a personal-best time of 20.63, recording the second-fastest time in Baylor history behind Michael Johnson’s 20.59 set at the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis in 1989.

Jacob Hernandez University of Texas won the men’s 800m in 1:48.04. Hernandez added the men’s 800-meter championship to the outdoor title he won last June at the distance.  Hernandez led most of the race and managed to hold off Oregon’s Andrew Wheating at the end. Wheating had a great kick at the end as he passed the field to finish second in 1:48.54.

You may not be in full practice but get used to saying the name Tiffany Ofili.  The University of Michigan senior defended her NCAA indoor title in the 60 meter hurdles Saturday and has the skills to run on professional level. Ofili clinched her fourth national title in the process.

Luckily for Ronnie Ash it’s not about how you start the race but how you finish the race. The year the Bethune-Cookmen sophomore was fourth or fifth going into the first hurdle.

Colorado’s Jenny Barringer led the women’s 3000m by a relatively large margin. She finished nearly 15 seconds in front of the field. In a post-race interview, she said her goal was to get a fast time. Barringer got her fast time and a new NCAA meet record of 8:42.03.

Tennesee’s Phoebe Wright (2:04.38) confidently took the lead in the women’s 800m after winning the DMR Friday. Despite a strong effort, she was passed by Lacey Cramer of BYU (2:04.27) at the finish line.

Oregon’s men blew the competition away with 54 points, and the Ducks were followed by Florida (36), Florida State (32), LSU (29) and Baylor (25).

The Aggies finished ninth with 23 points, while Texas followed in 10th with 22.5 points. The Red Raiders earned a 13th place finish with 18 points.

The Tennessee women won their second team title since 2005 with 42 points to 37 for host Texas A&M. The Aggies won the meet-ending 4×400 relay to make it close.

PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show - Episode 3

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Third episode of PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show

The third episode of PreRaceJitters’ Track & Field Radio Show features Tom Borish, Senior Editor of Trackshark.com, discussing the 2009 indoor collegiate track & field season for men and women. The listener contest for 2009 bold resolutions are revisited. Read more