University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Quotes
6/1/2008 8:00:00 AM | Track and Field
June 1, 2008
Chris Bucknam
Head Coach
On the women's and men's teams' finishes:
"I couldn't be more pleased with how we competed today in what I believe is the toughest region in the country. We toed the line and performed unbelievably well. I can't say enough about how our kids perform and how they step up to the plate when it counts."
On the team's strong performances Saturday:
"At the highest level, with the most on the line, look at how we performed. Tyler Mulder with a school record, Dorian Ulrey with a school record, Rachel Jansen with a school record and one of the fastest times in the nation with a 4x400 team that kind of came limping into the race. To do those things against this caliber of competition, that gives you an idea of how our team competes. It's a credit to my staff and to our athletes."
On team's progress in the last month after a slow start to the outdoor season:
"We knew we were behind, and in some events we feel like we still haven't caught up because of the weather we've had, but in some events we're hitting on all cylinders. It's a credit to our kids on both the men's and women's side the way they were able to step up in the last month. It's nothing short of amazing. It's a reflection of the type of athletes we have at UNI, and I'm thrilled."
Rachel Jansen
Senior
Regional Champion, NCAA Championships qualifier - Women's Shot Put
On qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in three events:
"It feels amazing. I finished on my best throw of the day, and that's the way it should be. It's just starting to sink in that I'm going to nationals in all three events. After yesterday I was excited, but you don't want to get ahead of yourself and I knew I still had to focus and get after it today."
On winning a regional championship:
"Really it wasn't my goal. I knew I had to get in the top five, and that was my main goal, but to win it at regionals is really special."
On her progression through the season:
"I'm starting to click at the right time. Last year I felt really burnt out at this point and kind of fell apart, but this season, even though it's been more inconsistent and up-and-down, I feel like it's starting to come together for me at the right time."
On the opportunity to compete in Des Moines for the NCAA championships:
"I'm just excited that nationals my senior year are at Drake, because it's like a home-field advantage. I love Drake Stadium, and it just can't get much better. It should be a lot of fun."
Dorian Ulrey
Sophomore
NCAA Championships qualifier - Men's 1,500 Meters
On winner Leonel Manzano pulling away over the final 100 meters:
"I had no counter for it, not today, but two weeks from now (at the NCAA Championships), it'll be a totally different story. That's what we're working for - two weeks from now, not this weekend."
On his approach to the race:
"I knew from the way the first lap went out and being in the top five that no one was going to come by me. My strength is good, but that was my first fast race in quite a while."
On the importance of his performance heading into the NCAA Championships:
"This is just one more stepping stone. I'd say it's a confidence boost because I bump up two spots from last year and I'm a second back of the No. 1 guy in the world, so it's definitely a confidence boost."
On breaking his own school and Missouri Valley Conference record:
"It felt good to hit a record time knowing that I eased up the last 25 meters."
On the way strategy played out in the race:
"It was a great race strategically. I'm not used to this heat so I tried to conserve as much energy as I could and make it as effortless as possible. I had to make a couple of moves to stay out of traffic, but other that that, it was a pretty good tactical race."
Tyler Mulder
Junior
NCAA Championships qualifier - Men's 800 Meters
On qualifying for the outdoor championships in the 800 after missing out last year:
"I knew I had it in me, and it was just a matter of getting out with other people who will set the pace instead of me setting the pace. It's time to run fast now and I'm just looking forward to nationals and making the finals, that's my one goal."
On his runner-up finish to Jacob Hernandez:
"I would have liked to win ... but I just didn't have enough gas in the tank to kick it in that hard. Congrats to (Hernandez). That's a good race for him and he's looking good."
On the progression that led him to a school-record time:
"All season long my goal has been to run in the 1:46 range, and now that I've got it I want to get it down to 1:45 and, by next year, 1:44. Things are looking good for me, and at each benchmark I set for myself, I've been able to hit it."
Terrance Reid
Senior
NCAA Championships qualifier - Men's 400 Meters
On racing in lane eight:
"It was tough because I didn't know how to gauge the race, so I just decided to go out and hold on, but I had to run my own race. I wanted to get out hard and make them come catch me for a race at the end."
On his strategy for the race:
"I wanted to hold them off for as long as I could, and I knew if I was in the mix with 150 (meters) to go I'd be in pretty good shape."
On qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the second-consecutive year:
"It feels good. I want to make it a little deeper than I did last year and avoid a first-round exit. I just feel blessed to be able to run, and to run this fast this late in the season. It's a testament to coaching we have and the regimens and the progressions, and mostly the knowledge of the coaches that have brought our team this far."
Players Mentioned
