Quotes from the 2009 Pacific-10 Track and Field Championships
05/17/09 | Track and Field
Quotes from the 2009 Pacific-10 Track and Field Championships.
Men of UCLA, 4x100 Relay, 1st place
(Jamal Alston, Karlton Rolle, Stan Griffin, and Brandon Smith)
Stan Griffin on the race:
“We did everything we could. The first two passes had great hand-offs and that set us to go on last 200 meters.”
Jamal Alston on the title:
“We were trying to do our best and the goal was to beat those, who beat us earlier this year, which is USC. We could see them on the outside the whole time. The time could have been better, but this is the Pac-10 title and we'll take it.”
On
“There is no place like
Galen Rupp, Oregon, 2nd in 1500 meters
On finish:
“Getting 3 of the top 5 spots gives us great momentum. This really helps our team score.”
On sweep:
“It worked out well getting 1,2,3. Everyone got out hard.”
On what this means to the team:
To see your teammates do great things really inspires others. Everyone feeds off that. It's been a great second day. Centrowitz dealt with it like a champion. He really closed the deal.”
On the Pac-10s:
“It's been a real productive weekend. I'm happy and this is going to pay off later down the road.”
Oscar Spurlock, USC, 110 men hurdles
On win:
“It's a great feeling. I'm so excited right now, its one of my best times. I don't think my finish was that strong, but that means I have a lot of improvements I can make. I'm excited for what I can bring to the team.”
On the win:
“It was a great 21st birthday present. I really wanted to win this title. My goal was to go under 13 seconds. I know I am ready to do it this season. It was a good race.”
On
“Last year, at the Olympic Trials, I didn't have the best race. I always want to come here and get the experience from running. Now, I have a great memory of Hayward Field.”
Zoe Buckman, Oregon, 1st in 800 meters
On the race:
“It was a great and tough race.
On the Pac-10 Championships:
“I was watching other races and I got really excited when we won, especially when I saw three of our guys finish one after another. It was a great feeling.”
Andrew Wheating, Oregon, 1st in 800 meters and 3rd in 1500 meters
On his win:
“It was an amazing race. I am exhausted. I am here for the team and trying to do my best. I was really nervous and I knew it was going to be really tough. I wanted to lead the last 200 meters. I know how it feels to lose by that much. It doesn't make anyone a worse runner.”
On
“The team comes first and above my personal satisfaction. We have a pretty good chance for the title and everyone is doing a fantastic job.”
On the 1500 meter run:
“It should be called “The University of Oregon Sweep.” I was so happy to see all of us come first. I couldn't be more excited.”
Jeshua Anderson, Washington State, 1st in 400 meter hurdles
On his training:
“I've been doing strength workouts for football and they have been showing in my track performance.”
On his time:
“I was looking to run in the 48's. Once I got past the wind in the first part of the race, I finished strong in the last segment.”
On the meet:
“I perform better in championship meets and am looking for my time to improve in the next meets.”
On the races:
“I am not taking any race lightly, I stay hungry.”
Irek Sekretarsk, USC, 800 meter runner-up
On race:
“The 800 is all about tactics. Everyone wants to beat you. Maybe next time will be more lucky for me.”
On what he was thinking when crossing the finish line:
“I have to run fast. I heard the crowd for UO, then I thought I probably lost.”
Lorraine King, WSU, 1st in 400 meter hurdles
On win:
“I PR'd by almost a whole second. Throughout the season I was holding back. I had some small minor injuries that were holding me back.”
On what it means to win:
“Finally! Other teams don't even know what we have been through. I knew I could do this, I did this in last Sunday's practice, and I thought why can't I do this now?”
“This is a huge blessing to get through this. Getting to this point, knowing who I am, it brings everything together.”
Charonda Williams, ASU, 1st in 100 and 200 meters:
On being the first ever to win the 100 and 200 meters, two years in a row:
“I dream about it. This was a goal of mine to get the 1 and 2. It never ceases to amaze me.”
On attitude:
“I love to smile. I'm always happy and I thank God I have a chance to compete.”
On 100m race:
“I'm pleased with the 100. It took awhile for me to step up. I wanted to focus on the 100; it's my 5th time running it this year. I focused on my start.”
On necklace her father gave her:
“It's my good luck charm.”
Ahmad Rashad, USC, 1st in 100 and 200 meters
On wins:
“I came out to win the 1 and 2. I wanted to repeat what I did as a freshman.”
On 100:
“I got off the block with an ok start. I got into rhythm 60 meters in, and smashed through the last 40. This was the best race I've ever had.”
On 200:
“I was tired. It was not my best, but I race to win and I won it. I'm proud.”
On his performance:
“I have been working on some stuff during practices and it's finally working. In the relays, I want to do my best to help the team. I am happy I about my PR in high jump today. It's been a big change from baseball to track that I have made over last two years.”
On her wins:
“The success today is just my wanting to perform well for the team. We want to stand out as a women's team. It came out today at the right time. I did feel good after I jumped. The school record was my goal for the championships. I knew I needed to have a good, solid jump in the beginning.”
On the women's team:
“All of us want to go out there, win, and shock everyone, because a lot of times people don't expect us to win.”
Melissa Gergel, Oregon, 1st in pole vault
On her thoughts before the winning jump:
“I was surprised, but knew I was ready to jump high.”
On breaking her personal best three times:
“Today was a great competition. I think I was definitely due to top 14 feet with how I've been practicing, but I was still a little surprised. I finally just let it go and didn't worry about what height I was at.”
On the women's team performance:
“The girls have been progressing, too, just like the boys. I think we kind of proved ourselves today that we can put on a show too.”
On the team points:
“All I was thinking about was getting 10 points. That was my biggest goal.”
On helping clinch the team title:
“The coaches told us girls we were capable of doing it and we just needed to be confident. We can do what the boys have been doing.”
On the next meets:
“Hopefully this isn't the culmination of the year and there will be more to come. This was a good start.”
Nicole Blood, 2nd 5,000 meters,
“It felt good once I got up there, it was nice having Lauren on me, it pushed me. This race should really help me with nationals. I'm so happy with my performance I couldn't of asked for anything more.”
“We as a team have really been on it, we had some notable performances, we are definitely ready to show we're in the top in the nation.”
Lauren Centrowitz 1st 5,000, Stanford
On the race:
“The 1,500 was a big disappointment, but this win makes up for it a little bit. When I was sitting back I wasn't thinking about anything but chasing Nicole (Blood).”
Matthew Centrowitz 1st 1,500,
On his race:
“Sweeping the 1,500 was great it helped so much for the team. When we were preparing, we all meet with our coaches' individually so we weren't worried about what the other person was going to do. I went out there only thinking about what I needed to do and I did it.”
On
“It's so great to be a part of such a great program and institution, to be able to race were some of the greats such as Cruz, and our great guys now, Wheating and Rupp. It's just a great thing.”
On future meets:
“We're all in shape, healthy and looking forward to the nationals.”
Luis Rivera-Morales, Arizona, 1st in men triple jump
On win:
“There is nothing more I could ask for. All the workouts, throwing up, practices; I've been waiting for this all year.”
On winning both triple and long jump:
“That was my goal, I was thinking about both titles all year.”
Oregon Associate Director of Track and Field Dan Steele
On the day:
“It was an incredible day, even our best case scenarios we didn't have us scoring that many points. This was as close to a perfect day at track and field as far as I am concerned.”
On the women:
“Our women came out motivated and excited and they were clearly the best team out there today.”
On the men:
“The 1,500 really set the tone for the rest of the meet. The men came out composed and level-headed and they came out knowing they were not going to be beaten.”
On the performance:
“Our goal was 90 points after Saturday and if we did that we knew it would take the wheels falling off to beat us. Ashton came up big, he never shies away from computation and he did a great job this weekend and last.”
Oregon Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna
On the women:
“The women were talking about winning this for about four months and it's great they did it.”
On the men's 1,500:
“They are well prepared, they work hard, have a great attitude, and embraced the tradition of excellence. All the distance athletes did a great job.”
On both the men's and women's teams winning:
“For both teams to win on the same day at the same time is a fantastic accomplishment. They deserve it.”
Ashton Eaton,
On the Pac-10 Champion title:
“I am not tired at all. I feel really good. The most fun was the 4x400 race. If there's one event I would have to choose to compete in, that would be it. My teammates' performances made me so happy. That's what gets me so excited and this is why we are the Pac-10 Champions.”
On the women's title:
“I am so happy for the women. It helps us as well. We are all on the same page now. They were fantastic.”
Katie Follett, Washington, 1st, women's 1,500 meters
“That was an exciting race. It actually played out a lot like last year. When I got out I wasn't really anticipating being in the lead, which is what happened to me last year, and it kind of worked to my advantage. I was able to go out at a more conservative pace and then I was in a good position with 400 meters to go when it kind of started to break up. So I felt good about my position and coming into the last hundred meters I was thinking about Mel's (Lawrence) race yesterday and Anita's (Campbell) race yesterday and I was just really fired up."
“The goal coming out here today was to go out there, run hard, and at least put myself in a position to defend the title and things worked in my favor today, so I'm really excited.”
Brandon Bethke, ASU, 1st, men's 5000 meters
“I knew it was gong to be a great race. I always knew the Pac-10 was loaded, and it's so tough. You have to be on top of your game. I knew
“I love running at
On the close finish:
“I knew Shadrack (Biwott) was coming. I could hear the crowd and I just hoped I could hold him off.”
Sarah Stevens, ASU, 1st, women's discus, 1st, women's shot put, 2nd, women's hammer throw
On winning the Pac-10 her senior year:
“I love this. The Pac-10 is a great conference. I enjoyed competing and the fans have been great.”
“I think it's easier to throw farther when you have someone pushing you, but today I just kind of wanted to go out and have fun. I wanted to work on my technique, and come out and put up a big mark, and I was able to do that.”
“Coach told me to believe in my fitness, and the crown really pushed me on that last 100 meters.”
On winning the team title:
“Having the team title is great. It's all about the team title and I'm happy for our seniors that we could send them out with a win. A lot of people stepped up in a lot of events and that's what inspired us.”
Players Mentioned
