Blogs : NCAA Division III Blog

Post-Regionals Quotes: Part 1

ATLANTIC

Peter Kosgei, Hamilton, 1^st: "For the Regionals, I would say that it went well.  I am glad that I had some people to push me through the third and fourth mile, which is always slow because people are tired by then.  Anyways, I did what I was supposed to to get me there and we'll focus on nationals now.  For the nationals, it's hard to tell because all people have equal potential of doing good.  I just want to go out there and have some fun, especially in XC where time isn't an issue.  At the end of the day, the best man will win."

Shamus Nally, SUNY Cortland, 7^th: "Regionals played out reasonably well.  I had some stomach problems that affected me during the race but my teammates stepped up really well.  Seth ran great taking third place.  We went there hoping to win but knowing that top two was what really mattered.  Getting second has in no way deterred us from our goal for this Saturday.  My teammates and I are going out there to try and win a National Championship.  Our season has been a series of steps towards accomplishing that goal.  Regionals was just another step for us and we are ready to toe the line with the best in the country.  I feel very confident in my ability and the team's ability to run our best race this Saturday.  We are excited for the gun to go off.  [Talking about teammate Jerry Greenlaw, who ran almost the entire race without one shoe:] Jerry's foot was a mess right after the race, he had a good amount of gravel mixed in with all the blood.  He had to take a trip to the emergency room to get some of his toes patched up and some antibiotics in him to prevent infection.  He ran a tremendously selfless race; Jerry is more willing to go through pain for his teammates than anyone I have ever met.  Jerry is a real tough kid and will be ready to go this Saturday, regardless of how much skin he has on the bottom of his foot."

Jon Phillips, NYU, 24^th: "I think it went according to plan.  I would have liked to be a little further up with James and Spenser, but as the early pace felt a little quick, I decided to drop back and run my own race.  So I just sat, felt comfortable and pushed the last two miles.  It was a tough effort, but a great feeling to know that I can race competitively and feel strong. I was wary about my fitness level before, but right now I am exactly where I want to be.  As a team, our plan was executed quite well, but I know we can race better.  We are happy with the win, but still very focused on what it will take to win this week.  For me, confidence has been an aspect of running that I had been recently nervous about; however, with the support of my team and one race down, I know that I have to ability to achieve the goals I set out for myself in the beginning of the season (All-American) and we have a very good chance of capturing our first national championship. We have the talent, we have done all the hard work, now we just need to put it all together on Saturday."

Liz Montgomery, SUNY Geneseo, 1^st: "Regionals was a big race for our team, because we knew it was going to be really competitive this year with Plattsburgh. In fact, it was as competitive as it gets, since we ended up with the same exact score. I was excited with the results, but as a team we are definitely looking ahead to try and improve for next weekend. I have a lot of faith in my teammates- We can't wait to get out there and run! Good luck to everyone!"

Toni Wiszowaty, SUNY Plattsburgh, 2^nd: "Regionals was the first time I had raced in about six weeks due to a foot injury I had suffered for most of my season, so I was just glad to be back racing. It was a test effort for a bigger race, Nationals, so I can't be to upset with the outcome because my team did great! We tied for first against a competitive team, Geneseo. I was just glad to finish with so much left in me. Heading into Nationals I am pretty excited because our team is strong and ready to do some damage. Regionals was the first time we have raced together in awhile as a team and were ready for bigger and better things. Individually, I don't know what to expect because I've been out for so long but I am ready to be strong and competitive again."

GREAT LAKES

Esther Erb, Case Western, 1^st: "Well, I took it out fast from the start and ran the first mile or so with Gwen Kemple (Anderson) with Christina Overbeck (Calvin) close behind.  After a 3:18 first 1k and a 5:26 first mile, I slowed down considerably and got into a groove.  By the 4k mark, I had gained about a 40-50m lead on Gwen, which I kept for the remainder of the course.  It wasn't the smartest race, but I learned something from it.   As for my team, we had a couple great finishes, especially from our number 2, Kristen Bowhers, who passed about six people in the last 500m of the race, and Joy Zhu, our 5th, who also caught a few in that last stretch.  I'm pretty sure those strong finishes ended up saving us from an upset with DePauw.  I'm just trying to enjoy every moment I have left on this team.  It's been a great ride, and while I'm not really ready for it to be over, I'm really looking forward to nationals.  It should be a really exciting race.  There are a lot of really strong candidates this year, and although Zerzan looks like she's the strongest in terms of times, I think there are a lot of girls who will try their hardest to be right with her, and I hope to be in that pack.  In terms of the team, I think that if we all just get out there and have fun and do what we've done all season, we can end up in that top 5 just like any other team ranked in the top 10.  The goal has been for us to get on the podium, and that would be awesome.  The competition is strong, so if we want to accomplish our goals, we'll just have to be stronger."

Jed Christiansen, Calvin, 1^st: "A few guys from the region and our Calvin pack went out together and set a good quick pace.  After two miles or so a couple of the guys from the region started falling off, and just after three miles the last one was dropped.  Our guys did a good job helping each other out and running with each other.  We ran the race exactly how we needed to and the results were just what we were looking for.  I am excited and ready to finally get to race at Nationals.  I feel really fresh and ready to go.  We just want to go out and run the best we can with what God gives us on that day.  It has been awesome running together this year and we need to finish the season out with no regrets, which if we give everything we have, I'm sure it'll be a great memory.  It's the trials in your life that make the biggest difference in who you are."

MIDWEST

Paul Zdroik, Wisconsin-La Crosse, 3^rd: "Two words best describe the Midwest Regionals, 'fast and unrelenting.'  The race pretty much went like this for the majority of the field, a quick start, a surge in the middle, a hard finish, and than holy crap a PR.  Personally I'm feeling great mentally and physically, obviously I want to finish near the top [at Nationals].  As a team we are looking to accomplish a goal we set for ourselves moments after the 2006 CC Nationals: fast, strong, and bringing home some hardware."

Brian Butzler, Wisconsin-Whitewater, 4^th: "Regionals went just as I thought it would. I ran very much within myself and felt fine during the entire race. I figured (along with everyone else) Tyler Sigl would get the win. He is a very talented athlete and did what he had to do to get the win. I think the only down part of the day for me at least, I had my shoe come untied around the 2 mile marker and ran with it like that the rest of the race. It was very uncomfortable and I really had to dig deep mentally to keep myself composed. The chip kept hitting me and it was very annoying. But I think I did ok. I'm feeling good heading into Nationals. I think that I will have a better day than last year. I feel strong and fast so I think I have a chance of being close to the leaders. My team didn't make it (which sucks), but I will be looking to just stay relaxed the whole week and not think too much about the meet.  I run better when I don't put too much pressure on myself to do well."

Becca Jordahl, Wisconsin-River Falls, 1^st: "Regionals went really well. My goal was to improve on last year's finish of 12th place, and I did that and set a new PR and school record. My whole team did amazing, everyone PR and we had five girls under 24:00.  I am nervous and excited! I'd like to improve on my finish of 19th place last year at Nationals. I feel prepared to run a great race, the best of the season, I hope!"
 

Tricia Frisella, Washington, 9^th: "Regionals went really well. We were aiming for less than 50 points and we almost went under 40. Our top 5 had a 30 second spread and our 6^th and 7^th had outstanding races as well. I personally didn't feel great, but it's hard to be disappointed when your teammates rocked it.  We're remaining optimistic for the big show. We'll be looking to run and compete like we normally do with no break through races necessary. If we keep our tight pack up front, good things will come."

NEW ENGLAND

Jennifer Adams, Keene State, 1^st: "My coach and I had a plan that I would hang back for the first two miles and then start going with about a 1.6 left. It seemed to work out really well and I felt really smooth and comfortable. I was thrilled when I came across the line and happy to know that my hard work paid off.  Next week I will be looking to basically do the best that I can. I hope to go out with the leaders and do what I can from there. It is a very talented group of girls so I know that it will be hard race but I am basically just hoping to do the best that I can and I am hoping for another All-American."

Heather Wilson, Amherst, 2^nd: "Regionals was a lot of fun. Neither our women's or men's team had won that meet before, so for both of us to capture the championship was awesome. After running well at our conference meet, we (the women's team) went into Regionals with high expectations for ourselves. We got out well and finished with all 7 of our runners in the top 25, so we were really happy with that result. Next weekend we want to go after the national title. This is the meet we've been preparing for all season long and we're excited to finally go head-to-head with all of the best teams in the country. It's definitely going to be an exciting challenge."

Cat Beck, Tufts, 4^th: "It was awesome to get to run at Conn because the course is awesome and the competition is fantastic. Being able to race alone side Katy is amazing because we can draw off of each other and run our own race as we have our own chase pack everywhere we go!  I am so excited for nationals, I think it is going to be a blast.  It's my last collegiate xc race so I just want to lay it all out there. Not only do I feel a lot less personal pressure because I didn't started running until September, but it will be great to be out there with Katy and Steph, the men's team, and of course our amazing road trippers!"

Edgar Kosgey, Williams, 1^st: "The NCAA regionals was fantastic to me. The weather was awesome, although it was windy. I was expecting that it was going to be rainy and windy. I felt so good during the whole race, in fact when I was at the 4-mile mark, I could believe myself because I was still full of energy. This even made me think that maybe we were still to make another loop. Winning the regionals was surprising to me since at the beginning of the week I was battling with a sore knee which I picked up when I was riding a bike. I knew I could do well, but still I was expecting a lot of competitions, but surprisingly I didn't see any. Right now I am staying relaxed waiting for Saturday. I know it will be really tough. There are lots of guys better than me, but it will be the battle of the wits."