What they said, Day 3 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships
June 12, 2010 by Jay Hicks
DAY 3 QUOTES - NCAA TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Fri., June 11 - Historic Hayward Field
“It went pretty well. The wind on the back stretch was extremely heavy.”On his race:
“I felt some fatigue and my legs were a little tired. It was a rough race. I ran well, but I could have done better. I was strong coming out and I tried to be relaxed. It was pretty windy on the track. I tried to run this race like I usually do, but I came off the eighth hurdle not the way I wanted to. I am not bitter about the second place. I am blessed to be where I am at now. I am going back to school and I will be working as hard as possible. I don’t make any excuses. I look forward to our competition in the years to come.” “Winning felt great! I had mixed memories from the championship races, but I stayed focused. I didn’t have the best start, but I kept going strong later. The longer you run, the more you learn about yourself and about how to adjust your race. I am impressed with myself today. If I were a freshman or a sophomore, I’d have been too distraught with my beginning. I know that sometimes it takes just one race to show up. I didn’t know who was going to win today – it could have been really anyone, but I am happy it was me. My motto is to stay patient. Winning comes with time and experience. I want to be the best at what I do.”
“It’s pretty fun to come out here. It’s whoever wants it more. I knew it was a great race.”
On playing football and running track:
“It feels pretty good. They’re the two things that I love, so to be successful at it feels pretty good.”
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Johnny Dutch – South Carolina
Men’s 400m Hurdles Final (1st)
On the race:
“I didn’t run as fast as I wanted to. To get in second last year kept me really hungry. It was all about winning this year.”
On returning next year to defend:
“Just because I got first doesn’t really mean anything. I still have a lot of work to do.”
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Jeshua Anderson – Washington State
Men’s 400m Hurdles Final (2nd)
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Queen Quedith Harrison – Virginia Tech
Women’s 400m Hurdles Final (1st)
On her win:
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Jeff Demps – Florida
Men’s 100m Final (1st)
On the race:
“Once I got to high school and started running track that kind of grew into me too. So I knew that I wanted to do both in college.”
“People I ran against today were really good. The last meet at UTEP was faster so I felt prepared. I have worked really hard for this championship and I feel very happy now. The more you grow as a runner, the better you don in races like this. Experience does matter. I felt comfortable running. I am really enjoying sprinting a lot. When I get on the track, I want to do my best in every race. I will keep working hard so I can go to the Olympics and other big events.”
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On being an 800 or 1500 runner:
“I thought I was a 1500 runner at the beginning of the year, but now I’ll race whatever.”
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Blessing Okagbare – UTEP
Women’s 100m Final (1st)
On her win:
Andrew Wheating – Oregon
Men’s 800m Final (1st)
On the finish:
“I put my full foot on the pedal and didn’t look back.”
On the race:
“Last year I came off the track with an injury feeling lucky to win. This year I was looking to dominate. At home in front of all these Ducks fans – they erupted in the last 100. That crowd pushed me over the last 100m.”
On nerves:
“I was more nervous for this race than anything in the last year and a half.”
On winning points:
“Getting 10 points is what I wanted to do today, anything else tomorrow is a bonus.”
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On her win:
“It is always a strange feeling when you are crossing the finish line, but I am so happy that today I crossed it first. It has taken four long years for me to win the national championship. I really wanted to win here and I have worked really hard to make this happen. It was a tough race and everyone in it could have won. I think I did it well strategically.”
“The race went out really, really fast and I was kind of expecting that. I didn’t run it the best tactically, but I hung in there.”
Phoebe Wright – Tennessee
Women’s 800m Final (1st)
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Anne Kesselring – Oregon
Women’s 800m Final (6th)
On the race:
On the team aspect:
“It was huge for us. We’ve been told this is our home crowd and this is the NCAA’s. You just want to do your own thing when your out on the track.”
“It’s awesome to have a team. I can’t even explain how much it helps. And it’s not just the team it’s the community. Track town USA.”
Matt Hughes – Louisville
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final (1st)
On the race:
“The wind was acting up but it really wasn’t a factor. I just wanted to keep the pace up so it wouldn’t be a factor. Keep the race honest.”
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On achieving:
“Ever since I started the steeple I’ve PR’d by 12 seconds every year since high school. I think now that I’ve finally reached what I thought I could race.”
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Derek Drouin – Indiana
Men’s High Jump (1st)
On his win:
“It feels awesome. It was a sweet victory. My goal in each competition is to get the first attempt. I try to not look at others. It got a little nervous here at the end. I want to thank my coach for having such a positive attitude. He’s helped me to develop as an athlete. The fans here at Hayward Field were incredible. I can’t wait to compete here again.”
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Kirani James – Alabama
Men’s 400m Final (1st)“It was a very competitive race and no one thought I could have won it. But I don’t think about getting wins when I compete, but running fast. If I run fast, the wins will come anyway. It’s a big win for me as a freshman. This was my first time at Hayward Field and it was incredible. The kind of respect people here have for track, I haven’t seen anywhere else. I hope I will get to compete here again in the future, but I want to thank all the fans for their support.”
Francena McCorory
Women’s 400m Final (1st)
“It was really important for me to win here. I am mad I didn’t run faster, but I was also surprised about how strong the wind was. I am so happy right now because I got both the indoor and outdoor championships and I am a senior. Now I am excited to work hard and see what happens next in my life.”
Keshia Baker – Oregon
Women’s 400m Final (4th)
“The race went well for me. I finished better than I did last year, with a PR. I’m ready for the 4×4 tomorrow.”
On his win:
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On her win:
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On the race:
On the team:
“I’m not following nothing. I don’t know what the score is. I know the 10-5 double has got to be tough and Marshall finishing was the highlight for me.”
“I can come out and compete to my fullest potential and be supported. I love it.”
Lisa Koll – Iowa State
Women’s 5000m Final (1st)
“I don’t think anyone was surprised with how I raced it. If I was going to win or lose it was going to be a fast race.”
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On the race:
“I’m just really excited, really happy. It’s a great way to finish my collegiate career.”
“I was just really trying to stay strong in the last 3 laps and focus on in front of me.”
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Alex Kosinski – Oregon
Women’s 5000m Final (3rd)
“It was really windy, I just wanted to to stay in the pack and get a good kick. I didn’t know what the pace was but I felt pretty good.”
On the race:
“It helps a lot to focus on someone in front of you.”
On the team:
“We’re going for the team championship so to get any points always helps.”
On crowd:
“Everyone was cheering and I thought, ‘Ii can’t die now’.”
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Miriam Kevkhishvili – Florida
Women’s Shot Put (1st)
“I am very happy I won. I am not exactly too happy with my final result because it could have been better. It was great to finally come to Eugene and escape the Florida weather. The fans here were fantastic, I’ve never experienced that before.”
On her win:
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“It’s such a great feeling I can’t even explain it. I was behind the whole time until 4-45 and then we kept going back and forth. I loved competing in Eugene. My goal for the US Championships this summer is to do well again and maybe clear a 4-50 since I didn’t get it here.”
Walter Henning – LSU
Men’s Hammer Throw (1st)
On the last throw:
“I got second place last year and that’s what Iu kept telling myself the entire time.”
Kylie Hutson – Indiana State
Women’s Pole Vault (1st)
On her win:
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“It’s really exciting. To sweep the indoor and outdoor this year and nto have a chance to come back next year. It will be great motivation.”
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Ashton Eaton – Oregon
Men’s Decathlon (1st)“This is bittersweet. The decathlon but I’m sad that no one is in the stands anymore, and it’s never going to be like that for me again in an Oregon uniform.”
“The crowd helped me in the 1500.”
On 400m:
“I was pushing it, I was a second short. But I know when I reflect about it I know it will be okay.”
On emotions on award stand:
“It’s difficult to describe. I’m not an artist, a poet or a writer so I can’t put it into words like some people could. But, it is the ending of something I never wanted to see the end to.”
On Ackley:
“He is tough. I know he wanted to finish his last decathlon as a senior, and I think it was very special.”
On graduating:
“I wish I could start all over again. The freshmen are so lucky that they have four more years here.”
On the decathlon finish:
“In the end, I know I gave it all I had. I had nothing left.”
On leaving Oregon:
“When I put on my Oregon gear now, it won’t mean as much as it did before.”
“It’s indescribable how much I have learned. The technical aspects are more developmental, but the mental is what I will remember.”
On the next level of competition:
“It’s like I felt when I started college, I don’t know what to expect. I know more now, but I still don’t know what to expect.”
Marshall Ackley – Oregon
Men’s Decathlon
On the decathlon finish:
“It’s my last meet as a Duck so to go out that way is extremely disappointing but to finish is something that I’m very proud of.”
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On if he would have ran the 1500 anywhere else:
“Absolutely not! This is where I wanted to finish my career.”
Vin Lananna – Oregon
“The women’s team race is going to be close now. We might have to defy the odds.”
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On the women’s championship:
On Ashton Eaton:
“It was fabulous, he is fantastic.”
On Marshall Ackley:
“You know I’m not a big emotional guy but Ashton winning and Marshall finishing, just spectacular. That act probably exemplifies all the hard work this class of seniors has put in.”
On Andrew Wheating:
“He was flawless in his execution. No words were exchanged on strategy, he just nailed it.”
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