NCAA West Regional Quotes
11/14/09 | Cross Country
NCAA West Regional Cross Country Championship
11-14-09
Quotes
MEN
Chris Derrick, Stanford, 1st
On the race:
“We wanted to run hard, but definitely not go too crazy right before the nationals. It was a pretty slow race. It was muddy and sticky. In conditions like that I like to be up in front. I had a nice smooth acceleration at the end.”
On the Stanford team:
“We came out strong and our strategy to stay in front worked out for us. We are definitely saving our emotional energy for the nationals next week. I feel pretty good about our team, but we realize that the race at the nationals will be way different from the one here. There are no guarantees.”
On his individual goals for the nationals:
“I want to finish as high as I can.”
Tommy Betterbed, Portland, 5th
On his race:
“I've been training really hard for the past month and a half and it paid off today. I ran under no pressure. Our goal as a team was to be in top three. We were strong up in front. We have strong runners and we are ready for the nationals next week. We're not revealing our cards yet.”
On the atmosphere:
“There are always so many people here. It's a fun place to run at. All our fans and the whole team were here cheering us during the race.”
Luke Puskedra, Oregon, 6th
On the race:
“Both Stanford and Portland had a good and smart race. We as a team have to get the right mindset before next week. We put in work physically, but we need to bring the enthusiasm back. The race definitely didn't go as well as we wanted it to be, but I know we are a strong team.”
On his performance:
“The last 1,000 meters didn't go exactly my way. I wish I would have turned it on a little earlier.”
On the team:
“We lost some depth, but we are just as good and fit. We need to prove it at the nationals.”
Stanford Jason Dunn Coach:
On the team:
“They've done a great job all season long. It's a great group of guys and they have high expectations for themselves. There's a lot of good chemistry on this team.”
On the race:
“This race I kind of let them figure it out themselves. It's so great to be a coach and have complete faith in your team.”
WOMEN
Kendra Schaaf, Washington, 1st
On the race:
“All of us took it pretty easy since the nationals are in a week. Coming from Canada, I am used to running in mud so it wasn't a big deal to me. I think at regionals everyone takes it pretty slow and easy.”
On the UW team:
“I think that as a team we're getting better every year. The more we run together, the better we get and more competitive are. At nationals, we just have to work together.”
Jordan Hasay, Oregon, 2nd
On the race:
“It was a slow race and no one really wanted to take the lead. I didn't know what to do. After the second loop the coach told me to get it going. I came I second and I am happy about that. I am not used to running in mud, so it wasn't an easy race for me.”
On nationals:
“We are a strong team and we are ready for next week. We are very excited.”
Nicole Blood, Oregon, 5th
On the race:
“It was tough and we knew it wasn't going to be easy. It really started about half way through. Before, it was kind of a jog. Now we are focusing on nationals. We put out a competitive effort today, but now we need to relax.”
On nationals:
“We are prepared for next week. Today was not discouraging at all.”
Washington Coach Greg Metcalf:
On the race:
“Today, we were much more controlled and they [the runners] executed perfectly. I think we can be much better than we were a year ago.”
On Kailey Campbell:
“Kailey is exuding lots of confidence this year. She made lots of progress today. She did a great job for sure.”
Vin Lananna, Oregon Head Coach
On Oregon men:
“I think we were asleep. We started off in a good place, but then we decided to press the pace, which was not a good thing to do and not our plan. I believe we are a trophy team, but we didn't run like one today. In muddy races like today, you want to make sure to establish your position in front early, because it is very hard ? if not impossible ? to move up.”
On the nationals:
“We will have to run a lot tougher and turn around. We can do it in 10 days.”
On the competition:
“Portland and Stanford got excited, capitalized on the opportunity and challenged us.”
On Oregon women:
“We had all our girls in the top 25 and that was a goal. But we'll have to wait until the nationals to see how good we really are. We will have to demonstrate all of our skills. We should have been better today, but the really big and important race is next week. I think we ran reasonably hard.”
On Hasay:
“She looked good and controlled the race well.”
