University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Drake Relay Quotes -- April 26, 2008
4/26/2008 8:00:00 AM | Track and Field
April 26, 2008
Ehi Oamen
UNI -- sophomore
Champion, men's high jump
On winning a Drake Relays title;
"I was 0-for-4 at Drake through high school and in college, so to get one on the fifth attempt, I'll take it. (In the high jump) usually I only get three attempts."
On clearing the bar at 7-0 1/4 on his first attempt:
My goal at the beginning of the day was to get back to jumping seven-foot on the first attempt, so when it came to that I was thinking, 'I need this one to get back on track.'"
On the windy conditions at Drake Stadium:
"Since I'm coming from the left, that wind was kind of a crosswind from the back and it would push us toward the pit, so we had to resist that or get pushed into the bar."
On the atmosphere during the final jumps against teammate Julian Morris:
"I like jumping at this track, but I've never liked the Drake Relays. Since we jump one-on-one a lot, that wasn't so special, but I wanted a Drake Relays title and he wanted to defend it, so it was special. And with us being from UNI, the crowd got into it, and it was fun."
On competing against Morris:
"When it comes to meets, we just know that he's going to be there at the end and I'm going to be there at the end. It's us against each other even though we're on the same team. When it comes to conference, that's when it's about team points, and at nationals it will be about team points."
On getting support from Morris:
"In a way, it's like he's cheering me on for his own good and I'm cheering his on for my own good, so we have somebody to push us."
Julian Morris
UNI -- sophomore
Champion, men's high jump
On disappointment with second-place finish:
"It would be nice to say I'm not, but I am. It's a teammate I lost to, so I guess that's the best-case scenario if you're going to lose to somebody."
On competing with teammate Ehi Oamen:
"It's a constant competition and it's so easy to get better. Every week one of us is going to push the other and every week one of us is going to do something amazing. Every day is a great opportunity to improve."
"We try to keep our emotions low because sometimes you get to excited when you make a big height, and if you don't have that you'll probably make the next one. We try to just stay even-keeled like we do every day."
On when he realized he would often be competing with Oamen for the win:
It occurred to me back in January when I transferred to UNI. I knew Ehi was going to be a good jumper, and I knew nearly 90 percent of our meets, it would be me and him left (at the end)."
On the importance of making the bar on a first attempt:
"Today's a great exemple of that. I had no misses up until my last jump and I was very, very close. I just barely nicked (the bar) and it fell off. The next jump at that height I was over by a couple of inches, but it didn't matter. Every jump is so crucial, especially when you get up over seven feet.
On his only miss at 7-0 1/4:
"I thought it was good. It was tough for me to take. I thought I was over it. Every time the height comes up I say, 'This is not the winning height.'"
Dorian Ulrey
UNI - sophomore
Anchor leg, distance medley relay (second place)
On losing the lead so close to the finish:
"That's the toughest way to lose a race. You're already out of it a little mentally by the time you get the baton being (so far behind the leaders). I had confidence in the way I race that I can go out smart, control my pace and work my way back to the top."
On the race not going as expected:
"I figured once I got out front it was over, but things just don't happen that way. Sometimes and you have to take these bad races and learn from them. It's a good reality check, I guess, having problems like that."
Chris Bucknam
UNI - Head Coach
On team's Drake Relays performance:
"Overall, I'm thrilled with how we competed. To win the 4x800 relay and be right in the mix in three other relays is outstanding considering this is just our third meet of the outdoor season."
On team's progression through the outdoor season:
"We're not in meet shape yet, and it showed a little bit today. We hadn't competed in a two-day meet yet this year, and I don't think we have our sea legs yet. With our slow start to outdoor, we're just about three weeks behind where we'd like to be. We just have to put in some work to get in championship meet shape."
On the 1-2 finish in the high jump by UNI's Ehi Oamen and Julian Morris:
"What a great effort and a great competition between two of the best high jumpers in the nation. It's amazing to think about what those two are capable of as they continue to develop."
On defending the team's title in the men's 4x800 relay:
"The 4x800 we ran was just outstanding. Winning a Drake Relays championship is always a special thing, and to be able to defend one successfully is a great accomplishment for anyone."
Players Mentioned
