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QUOTES FROM PARTICIPANTS AND COACHES
Womens Pentathlon Champion Quotes
Amy Menlove - BYU
I feel great. It was a good competition. It was really exciting to compete against these girls. I love nationals; it really brings out the best in you. Whoever competes the best wins. There are a lot of ups and downs for everyone but it is exciting to come out on top.
I felt like I did really well in the hurdles but the long jump is my favorite. Looking back at the points, I did do well in the long jump but best in the hurdles. I came in today hoping for a championship, so I just focused on doing my best. I felt if I did good enough in all my events, I had a good chance at winning overall. This was my best pentathlon score ever, and I also got a PR in the shot put and 800 today. Achieving my PR definitely gave me a great outlook on the rest of the competition and I just kept going from there.
Womens Long Jump Quotes
Eleni Kafourou - Boise state
I was nervous before the meet, because I have never made it to the top eight in this event. After my first jump, I knew that I had a chance to win this thing. I came back on my other jumps, and did really well. I came in to today wanting the championship, but I wasn’t sure if it was going to happen. But this was the moment I have been training so hard for and it paid off in the end. When it first happened I burst into tears because I was so shocked. I am still shocked. I don’t think it has sunk in yet.
Women’s Weight Throw Champion Quotes
D’Ana McCarty - Louisville
I am pretty excited but it hasn’t quit sunk in at the moment. It’s my first year to even make it here, and to win it is just unbelievable. I was pretty confident coming in to the meet but at the same time was able to stay relaxed. I just told myself what ever happens, happens. I hit a PR today, which felt great to say the least. Again, I just did my best to stay relaxed, not put any pressure on myself and by doing that I was able to go pretty far.
Women’s 5,000-Meter Champion Quotes
Sally Kipyego - Texas Tech
I am absolutely thrilled to get my ninth national title. Coming into today I wanted this title more than anything, and I knew it would be a great way for us to close the day. The race turned out exactly as we planned, because I wasn’t really concerned with anything except getting across the line first. The people at Texas Tech have been so much support and there is no way I could have done any of this without all their support and the support of so many others. There are so many people who have played a role in my success, and I thank them all.
NCAA Champion (Nine Individual Titles)
2006, 07, 08 Cross Country
2007, 08, 09 Indoor 5k
2007 Indoor 3k
2007 Outdoor 10k
2008 Outdoor 5k
Men’s 5,000m Champion Quotes
Galen Rupp – Oregon
Coming into today, I felt the strongest I have ever been. I was focusing on that race first. I knew I had to get it done, and was able to execute my race, and get a championship.
Men’s Pole Vault Champion
Jason Colwick – Rice
I felt a little off considering how I did in conference a few weeks ago. I was able to shake it off and I had a couple of good practices coming into the meet, which made me very confident. For most of the season I have been jumping alone for the last couple hours of the meet so it was nice to come in and have guys to jump against. This is all happening very fast, but I am sure I will catch up. I have never been an All-American before so this is all very new to me. I am just glad my parents were able to see me win this.
Women’s High Jump Champion Quotes
Destinee Hooker - Texas
I just have one word – Blessing. It truly is a blessing, having the coaches – Bev [Kearney] and [Rose] Brimmer looking over at me and smiling, and then to see my family in the stands, it is just truly a blessing.
Men’s Long Jump Champion Quotes
Nicholas Gordon – Nebraska
It felt great to come out and jump today. I really love this venue. I won the Big 12 Championship here and I think that really helped me out coming to nationals. I have been jumping really well lately and it really showed today.
Women’s 200m Champion Quotes
Murielle Ahoure – Miami
I am really excited. I am just so thankful. I came in ranked and had a lot to live up to. I felt great coming into competition today, very relaxed. I have been training hard for the past three weeks and everything just came down to the right time, the right place. I am just ecstatic.
Men’s 200m Champion Quotes
Trey Harts – Baylor
I just made sure that I got out of the blocks hard and that I allowed my body to do what I have trained it to. I had a great time out there. It has been a long time since we have had a 200 meter title come to Baylor. It feels good to get it back. I really want to help build Baylor’s prestige in the short sprints.
Women’s DMR Champion Quotes
Tennessee
There were a lot of good teams out there. We just came out and did what coach told us and ran our own race. I would say a world record and a national championship is a pretty good race.
Men’s DMR Champion Quotes
Oregon
This was awesome. We knew we had a great chance to win. All we had to do was come out and execute. It was a battle. No race goes perfectly, but it couldn’t have gone any better for us. This was a tactical race, where everybody had to do their thing and we did.
