Saturday, March 6, 2010
Prerace Jitters |
| PRJ Exclusive: All Hail the Queen: Harrison Ready to Rule Posted: 05 Mar 2010 10:55 AM PST
She is on a roll. Queen Harrison has run sparingly so far but the 60m hurdler has been nothing short of spectacular in each of her meets during the 2010 indoor campaign. She is an Olympian. She is an All-American. She is one of America’s most talented hurdlers and sprinters. And Harrison is looking to continue on that success at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Champions by taking the meet by storm. Winning an NCAA title during senior season what it is about for Harrison. But it won’t come without it’s own set of hurdles to clear. “That is something I have had my eyes on, both indoor and outdoor, since I was a freshman here at Virginia Tech. My sophomore year before I got injured in the 4×1 during outdoor NCAAs, I really felt like it was my time to take the individual titles in the hurdles but I found out that there were other plans written for me that year making the Beijing Olympics. But I am definitely looking forward to NCAAs this year and all that could come out of it.” She gave an exclusive interview to PreRaceJItters. This is what she said: PRJ: Thanks for taking time to speak with us. Congratulations on running a new indoor personal best and school record, 7.99 seconds in the 60m hurdles at the VT Elite Meet– the no. 1 time in the nation. How did you feel in the race and what were your expectations? QH: Thanks and thank you for having me. I felt really great when I ran the 7.99, it was in the prelims so I had the ability to really focus on my race and work on the elements of my race that my coach and I have been really focusing on improving. In the finals when I ran 7.96 I felt like I put all those things together and with the help of the competition, I really pulled my best out that day. I didn't have too many expectations but after consistently running 8.0s at the last two meets I felt like I definitely had a sub-8 race in me. PRJ: Did you think going into the race you were capable of a sub-8 second race shape that early in the season? QH: I wasn't sure what I was capable of but I knew I wanted to go under 8 seconds. In practice I had been consistently running under 8 seconds but I knew that in order to do that in the race I would have to a really good start or have really great turnover at the end of the race. PRJ: You placed third time in 2008 in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships. What are your goals for your final NCAA Indoor competition? QH: I am usually not the type to really talk about my goals especially in huge championship situations, at least not place or time wise. I have a couple numbers in my head for prelims and finals but I like to hold on to those. However I do feel confident that I will run a very fast race. I have a couple weeks to really work on the sprinting aspect of my hurdle race and get quicker in between the hurdles so I have no doubt that NCAAs will produce some very fast times. PRJ: What do you plan to run at the indoor NCAAs and what do you think it will take to win? QH: To win I am sure it will take a sub-8 performance, I don't know how far under 8 but I know that 8.0 will probably not suffice to win the championship. PRJ: What would winning an individual NCAA title mean to you? QH: A LOT!! That is something I have had my eyes on, both indoor and outdoor, since I was a freshman here at Virginia Tech. My sophomore year before I got injured in the 4×1 during outdoor NCAAs, I really felt like it was my time to take the individual titles in the hurdles but I found out that there were other plans written for me that year (Beijing Olympics). But I am definitely looking forward to NCAAs this year and all that could come out of it. PRJ: It's crazy to think that the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships are less than a three weeks away. What are your goals for each week in training and competition to make sure that you are peak shape for conference and beyond? QH: My main goal for the next couple of weeks and for the rest of my career is to stay healthy. I have had more than my share of injuries so I am mostly focusing on staying healthy and taking all the necessary steps to do so. I am also going to be working on being quicker out the blocks and in between the hurdles. In the past, I always have had to come from behind in the short hurdles but now I feel like I am right there with my competitors going into the first hurdles. So now my goal is to be a step ahead of everyone going into the first hurdle and gradually accelerate through the rest of the race. PRJ: At the VT Elite you put on a show, lowering your school record to 53.54 in the 400 meters. What does that race say about where you are right now? QH: It tells me that the training I've been doing and the mind set I have this season is really paying off. I also think that is just a stepping stone to what else I can accomplish both this indoor season and outdoor season over 400 meters. PRJ: You're working your way back from an injury that ended your 2009 season and kept you from running in the outdoor NCAA Regional and Championship meets. How are you feeling and is the injury been completely behind you? QH: I am so happy to say the injury is behind me and off my mind. I am feeling great except for hurting from our difficult practices every week lol. But other than normal soreness, I feel great and ready to continue on a winning season. PRJ: What percentage of meets were you 100 percent healthy last season? QH: During indoor ACCs last year when I was preparing for the 60m hurdles is when I originally injured myself and with the urgency to get back healthy I am not sure how many races I was actually 100 percent healthy after that. But I am looking to the present and future now and am hoping and praying for a much healthier career than I've had in the past. PRJ: You competed in the 2008 Olympic Games as a collegiate sophomore – how has that experienced prepared you for this season? QH: It really allowed me to not get stressed or overwhelmed in large stressful championship situations. When you've been on perhaps the biggest stage possible for track and field, I am better able to calm myself before meet situations and enjoy the large demanding atmosphere rather than be nervous from it. PRJ: Who are some of the hurdlers that you look up to and strive to compare your self to? What have you learned from their techniques as you've watched them over the years? QH: Honestly, there aren't really any hurdles I would say I strive to compare myself to or really look up to. There are so many talented hurdles both in the US and other countries but I am looking to establish myself as a hurdler not short or long, just a hurdler and most of the hurdlers on the professional level are one or the other. Not to name names but I have seen a lot of passion in our hurdlers over the years and while some events are usually dominated by one select individual, the hurdles are pretty wide open to anyone so I am just looking to make my way right into that open space. PRJ: With all puns intended, what has been the most difficult hurdle that you have had to overcome? QH: I would say the changing of our coaching situation for the past two years. When you are really used to one coaching style and have seen the results from it, it is hard not to be skeptical of alternative workouts and coaching staff. So I would say that the large amount of changes, especially coming off of such a successful year as my sophomore one, and a couple injuries would have to be the most difficult hurdles to overcome. PRJ: What is like to practice every day with Kristi Castlin, one of the NCAA's top hurdlers? QH: I think that practicing with someone else that not only has a similar level of talent as myself but also wants success as bad as I do, creates a great training situation for both of us. We do not practice going over hurdles together all the time because all of our coaches think we get way to competitive and end up working harder than they intended, but when we do work together it is very beneficial because she can execute certain aspects of the race better than I can and vice versa, so we are able to push each other to our full potential in that way. PRJ: It's six or seven months away but have you thought much about transitioning into the professional ranks and where you might want to be to do that? QH: I have thought about it and I am both nervous and excited to transition into post collegiate track and field because it is like a whole new world out there. I think I will really have to adapt to not having that team comradery you have with your collegiate team but I am willing to take on the challenge. I am not sure where I want to do it yet because I am just focusing on the immediate future right now, but ask me the same question in a couple months and I'm sure I'll have an answer. PRJ: What skills do you feel you need to improve or work on at the next level? QH: Definitely work on my speed and coming out of the blocks more powerful. A lot of short hurdlers have very powerful starts which give them an advantage going into the first hurdle and beyond, so I want to make sure that is something I work on and get better at by the end of my senior season. PRJ: What are a few things people need to know about you personally and what you bring to the sport? QH: Know about me personally? Hmm I am a really fun person to be around, in my opinion. LOL. I dance a lot at practice to the music in my headphones and really try to create a productive but fun training environment for myself and teammates. I love to dance, sing, and travel to new exciting places (minus the actual plane/car ride). I am sure I can transfer some of my fun and outgoing personality to the sport of track and field. Also, Flo Jo has been one of my track heroes not only in her running but with her unique uniforms and appearance. I think a lot of times people mistake women who play sports to be rough or tomboyish in nature but I am very much a girl so I want to definitely bring the beauty and fashion side to the sport of track and field with me also. PRJ: You are from Virgina– which has been produced the likes of LaShawn Merritt and Charles Clark – just to name a few. Is Virginia underrated as a track and field powerhouse? QH: Yes, I feel like Virginia is underrated as a powerhouse mostly because unlike some other states, most people are not looking to our state to produce track stars instead they are looking to what we offer in football or other sports so our facilities we have to run in or at are not up to par with other fields of play. But I think that in the near future I definitely believe Virginia will transition into being one of the powerhouse states in the country.  Related posts:
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| PRJ Interview: Battle Tested Lacy Cramer Ready For Another Physical Race Posted: 05 Mar 2010 10:54 AM PST  Lacy Cramer, Photo Courtesy Cheryl Bridges/Specialty BYU Lacy Cramer is above average-height at 5-7, runs with reckless abandonment and is good at making the lives of competitors difficult. But as the reigning indoor 800m NCAA champion, Cramer has proven herself to be a smart racer. She took the inside lane in the final meter of last years indoor NCAA 800m race to claim her first individual title. Cramer is ranked seventh nationally in the 800 meters with a time of 2:04.85, less than one week before the indoor national championships. The last several NCAA indoor finals of the 800m races have been physical with jostling and elbowing. BYU runner Lacy Cramer couldn’t hide her glee thinking about running in the NCAA 800m indoor final in Fayetteville, Arkansas on March 15 to 15. “Oh, I expect it for sure I expect a physical race,” Cramer said. “I got spiked four times last year and expect this year to be even more rough because I am not going to come from last place like last year. I want to be up in all the action.” Cramer spoke exclusively with PreRaceJitters: PRJ: What clicked in the 800 meter final at the NCAA national championship 800-meter race, when you passed Phoebe Wright in lane 1 with less than 10 meters to win? LC: I was just at the right place at the right time. I could hear my coach just as the inside lane open up. You just can’t think - just act, so I passed her on the inside. PRJ: What thoughts were going through your mind as soon as you crossed the finish line to win the NCAA women's indoor 800m title last year? LC: It was almost unreal. It really did not even sink in for a while. It was just an amazing dream that I never thought was possible. It was probably the greatest moments of my life. Even as I watch the videos now I can still feel that magical feeling. PRJ: Last year you appeared composed in the 800 meters at the indoor NCAAs race. Were you nervous? Was it intimidating running against the likes of Geena Gall, Latavia Thomas, Heather Dorniden, and Phoebe Wright? LC: I was more nervous for the trials. I was ranked 13th or something going into nationals and just wanted to make all american. As for the finals I was just happy to be in the race and to be an all american. I did not know who any of those girls were till after the race. My coach just told me to be by Tennessee and LSU. I don’t remember girls until we talk to each other. PRJ: How many miles per week do you run in the fall and spring? LC: I usually get up to around 45 but it all depends on that week. PRJ: How competitive is training on the same team with 800 meter runner Nachelle Stewart (2:05:27)? LC: We do not work out together. She works out with the sprinters and I usually work out with Angela Wagner. PRJ: You come into the season with a season's best of 2:05.19, have you been able to handle more in terms of your training work load this season. LC: My coach told me I will and I think I have. We are doing the same work outs as last year and I think I am just feeling stronger which is good. PRJ: How has this season differed from last year? LC: Well I feel more confident this year. Even though I am not training with Katie Palmer who I really miss, I have Angela there who works so hard. So I am glad that I have someone who pushes me every day. PRJ: In big races, do you prefer to lead wire-to-wire or running in the pack? LC: I usually like to run in the pack, but lately I have had to lead some races which I am starting to like better. PRJ: What were your goals this year at the beginning of the season? LC: I just want to get faster every year and I will be happy. PRJ: Last years team included eight All-Americans, two nationals champions, and 15 Mountain West Conference champions while winning indoor and outdoor conference titles. What is this year's squad capable of producing with both national champions and all eight All-Americans returning? LC: I think this year is going to be even better. There are so many good girls on the team and I can not wait to see what we can do as a team. PRJ: Will you do anything different to prepare for conference and indoor NCAAs? LC: No just the same as last year. I might go to cafe rio a few more times more than last year just so I feel extra good. PRJ: What is the biggest lesson you have learned from coach Patrick Shane? PRJ: What influenced your decision to sign with BYU? LC: Umm…it was always something that I wanted to do. My brother and sister went there and there was never really other place that I really thought about going to. I still remember my dad making me go to the indoor track while we saw all the athletes working out there. My dad told me that I could run here one day. I thought it was a cool idea, but never thought it possible. PRJ: What do you think of this talented BYU squad? Do you and teammate Katie Palmer ever train together? LC: This is one of the most talented teams. Katie has been sick lately so I have been lucky to run with Angela. PRJ: There is a lot of excitement surrounding the third ranked BYU women's team, can you give me a sense of what the environment is like in the program? LC: It is just a fun environment. Every day is so fun because all the girls are awesome. PRJ: What motivates you? LC: I guess it the feeling after you are done with a race. The satisfaction that everyone thinks that the 800 is a hard race and I love the feeling of accomplishing something that I never thought I could do. PRJ: How did you get started running? LC: My family has always been very active and just being around my brother and sister as they ran I guess I just have always thought I was going to be a runner as well. PRJ: Who are your role models and why? LC: I think it has always been my sister. She is the most amazing person ever. She taught me who I wanted to be and how to treat people. We are best friends even though we are four years apart. She always done what is right and will always be my biggest role models. PRJ: How do you balance your academic workload with your running and social life? LC: It is really hard to balance all three. I really am trying to do good in school right now so I spend a lot of my nights in the library. I am also getting married in two months which causes a little more stress in my life. What fun would I life be if it was easy though. PRJ: What are your career goals if running doesn't work out? LC: I will go into coaching and teaching. I really want to pass on everything that I have learned to kids. I think I could help them love to work hard. PRJ: Do you get prerace jitters? PRJ: Good luck this season and we’ll certainly be watching. Related posts:
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