NCAA West Region Prelims Day Three Quotes
05/28/11 | Track and Field
NCAA West Region Prelims-Day Three
Hayward Field
May 28, 2011
Oregon Head Coach Vin Lananna
On Amber Purvis being hurt:
“Having Jamesha (Youngblood) come in and being able to juggle things around wasn't a big deal. We have a lot of runners in that event so it wasn't a big deal.”
On Amber Purvis's injury:
“She is doing ok. We're not sure what it is but her leg is sore. We fully anticipate her being able to run in nationals.”
On the meet:
“We looked at this as a qualifying meet. We weren't going to do anything heroic, it was just about going out and qualifying.
On Jordan Hasay's back to back events:
“It was definitely a challenging schedule. I told her 5th is as good as 1st today and all that mattered was finishing in the qualifying round.”
On the upcoming nationals:
“Whatever we had to do today we got done. Now we just have to get everyone on the plane and then compete when we get there (to Des Moines).”
On A.J. Acosta's comeback:
“That run obviously did not go according to the plan, except for the finish. I told them I wanted to finish 1-2. That was the only thing that went according to plan, but we started from the back end.”
On Becca Friday:
“She ran a perfectly executed race. She PR'd and did a great job.”
English Gardner (Oregon), Eighth Place, 4x100 Meter Relay
On Amber Purvis being hurt:
“It was definitely some big shoes to full. I was nervous but I wanted to make sure to step up and fill the gap.”
“Amber is a great competitor and runner.”
On stepping in for Amber Purvis:
“We have never practiced that combination ever. Mandy White has never handed it off to me and I have never handed it off Lauryn Newson and I were really nervous. We just wanted to get the baton around the track.”
“We pulled together and got the job done. We wanted to get a good time in and make it to nationals. We can fix everything before we get to nationals.”
Kenjon Barner (Oregon), 4x100m Relay
On the exchange:
“It was very awkward. LaMichael got out a little fast, I had to tell him to slow down.”
On if it affected the outcome:
“Oh without a doubt.”
“We work at it, we practice it.”
On the goal coming into today:
“Make nationals. I think that's everyone's goal coming out here today.”
On competing against the best:
“It's an absolute privilege for me. I've got to get a lot faster if I want to compete. They talk to us about football and we talk to them about track.”
LaMichael James (Oregon), 4x100m Relay
On the exchange:
“I don't know what happened. It's really difficult to come out here and be 100% perfect.”
On competing against the best:
“It's fun. This is what they do. This is their career. We play football but we want to come out and compete.”
On if the exchange affected the outcome:
“Definitely. I think we were in good shape. We were just trying to keep it close.”
On this summer:
“Working out, getting faster, getting stronger. Hopefully be a better football player.”
Becca Friday (Oregon), Second Place, 1500m Run
On the nerves:
“It was definitely more nerve wracking on Thursday. I guess today was kind of the same thing. I just tried to stay relaxed and focus on my strengths.”
On moving up to the 1500m:
“I felt like there was a lot fo room for improvement. Stiill doing 800m workouts.”
On the race:
“I think it's just a matter of staying focused the entire time. Being decisive every time.”
“I didn't necessarily have to run like I did but I wanted to take advantage of the race.”
Matthew Centrowitz (Oregon), First Place, 1500 meter run
On the race:
“I just stayed out of the traffic. I wanted to get in a good effort today and I wasn't conserving at all because my next race is 10 or 12 days away.”
On the upcoming NCAA nationals:
“I'm looking to equal or better my position fromn last year. I have high expectations.”
On winning the heat:
“I heard the noise on the last 50 meters and I glanced behind me to see how much of a gap I had. It felt good.”
On A.J. Acosta qualifying for nationals too:
“It's great. We live with each other and are good friends and he is great teammate.”
A.J. Acosta (Oregon), Second Place, 1500m Run
On the race:
“I just kept telling myself be patient, something will open up. I swung out with 200 to go, I think I was in ninth but I could see second clear as day.”
“I wanted to treat this like it was the NCAA's. I kicked like hell. I didn't want to leave anything to imagination.”
“Obviously I'm happy I made it, but the focus has been finals all year.”
“I just tried to stay patient, stay relaxed and save something for the last 150. It wasn't about coasting because you have time to recover so why not?”
On winning at NCAA's:
“Not second or third, hopefully first. But Centro's my roommate, training partner and friend. We definitely want to go one two. Too bad we don't have a third.”
Jordan Hasay (Oregon), Sixth Place 1500 meter run, Second Place 5000 meter run
On two races in one day:
“Today was the hardest day. I was mentally preparing all week because the time between the two races was so short. I felt good though and I promised coach that I wouldn't kill the last 100 meters of the 1500M race because I wanted to conserve my energy for the 5000M race.”
What she did between races:
“After the 1500 I did a five minute job and then just sat in the Bowerman building for a while, listened to music and talked to some people. Then right before the 5000M race I did a 10 minute jog and then went straight to the start line. It was a lot easier to do it here though, I just tried to think of it as a work out instead of a race.”
On competing at the NCAA nationals:
“It will be a lot easier than today because I have one race per day. It won't be as mentally hard because I only have to think about one race each day.”
On her performance in the 1500M:
“I am happy with the 1500, there was no drama and I didn't fall. It felt good and I was happy to make it thru to nationals.”
On nationals:
“We had a lot of new people qualify this year for nationals. I am really excited and I think it will be a great trip.”
Laura Roesler (Oregon), Second Place, 4x400 meter relay
On the race:
“I was definitely nervous. Losing Amber (Purvis) and her personality on the team was definitely big but we just had to step up our game and get it for her. And we won, which was great.”
“They put me in the lead and I wasn't going to lose it. Getting number one would be sweet if we could get it and we did.”
Michele Williams (Oregon), Second Place, 4x400m relay
On the race and filling in for Amber Purvis:
“I feel great.”
“I found out today, probably about an hour before. It feels good to be out in the 400 again helping the team.”
“I knew I wasn't going to be on the relay automatically when I came back. It's a honor to be an alternate and it feels good to be back.”
Players Mentioned
