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Interval Session #46 - Ryann Krais

April 10, 2008

With the final pentathlon event looming at this past winter's Nike Indoor Nationals, Methacton PA star and defending champ Ryann Krais had a choice. She could stick to her planned pace in the 800-meter capper, and guarantee she'd have no shot at a Shana Woods national record she clearly coveted, or she could pursue a 2:15 PR that seemed perilously out of reach. Showing the grit she's displayed in so many past high school competitions, Krais elected to go for it. Her body paid the price, and she came up short of the record, but it made for a riveting conclusion to the NIN girls' multi.

Soaring through her final year of high school competition, the UCLA-bound senior is wrapping up a career that includes a runner-up finish in a Nike Outdoor National 400H final that long-time track reporter Elliot Denman called, "one of the most exciting 400-meter hurdles races in NON annals," and a berth on a World Youth team which saw her bring home a bronze in the 400H and a relay gold with her Team USA running mates. Somehow managing to simultaneously be one of the best multi-eventers and one of the best hurdlers in the nation, Krais has nothing but big things in her track and field future.

DyeStat Assistant editor Dave Devine returns to his home state of Pennsylvania and knocks out in a few lead-leg drills with Methacton's multi-event maven.
1) A few weeks ago you won your second Nike Indoor National pentathlon title in a row, and recorded the second best score ever in that event. With a bit of time for that accomplishment to settle in, how are you feeling about the weekend and your final high school indoor season?

Looking back on the weekend, I definitely see spots for improvement, however, I am pretty happy with the results. I didn't reach my original goal, but the majority of the events went as planned. Overall, my last high school indoor season was definitely memorable. It had high points and low points, but I wouldn't change a thing either way.

2) You sort of had your back against the wall at the end of that pentathlon, knowing you needed a 2:15 in the closing 800 to surpass Shana Wood's national record. What was your reaction when you realized the time required, and how did you mentally prepare yourself to go for it after all the events you'd already contested?

Well, my initial reaction was basically just, "Oh, great!" When I got a chance to talk to my coach, he calmed me down and explained that I had two options- to run the original pace, or to go for it. We decided to at least attempt it. I went out way too fast the first lap, but at least I don't regret not trying.

3) When we spoke after the long jump at NIN, I asked if you were looking forward to a few days off and you said you'd requested a hard practice the very next day so you could work on the hurdles. With so many events to prepare for, how do you squeeze it all in? Are practicing in the dark? Under the stadium lights? Is Hard Work one of the things you pride yourself on as an athlete?

I have never practiced in the dark, and we don't have stadium lights either! As a team, we take the time that we have and make the most of it. As the weather becomes nicer in PA, it is a lot easier to get everything in that we would like to. For the most part, we take things week by week to form a practice schedule. Whether everything fits in as planned or not, the team is always working hard. We have plenty of motivated girls trying to reach their goals.

4) You're obviously an excellent hurdler, and one of the best long hurdlers in the nation. Do you ever think, 'Geez, if I wasn't spending time working on my shot put or high jump I could really focus all my energy on perfecting the hurdles,' or do you enjoy the variety and challenge of so many events?

I definitely enjoy the variety. I'll admit that there are practices where my head is in a different event than what I'm working on at the time. The hurdles are my favorite event and they are my main focus throughout the spring and summer seasons. For the most part, I get my heptathlon event practices in during dual meets, "rest-days," and whatever I can squeeze into a regular practice after I'm done running. There aren't many dull moments.

5) Like so many of the high school stars who've risen to the top this year, you had an opportunity to compete on the World Youth team in Ostrava, Czech Republic, last summer. What did you take away from that experience as an athlete? Are there any particular memories or moments that stand out from the time you spent on Team USA?

The trip to Ostrava was just awesome! Meeting people from all over this country probably meant the most to me as an athlete. It was really cool to actually become friends with the people I read about. The meet itself also helped me become more independent. We were guided by great coaches, but in the end, proper eating, sleeping, and warming-up was up to ourselves. I have plenty of memories of the trip, but the one that sticks out right now actually happened before we left. I remember a couple of us lining up on the ground and Wayne Davis doing a flip in the air over us. It was pretty cool!

6) How did you initially get involved in track and field? Was there one person or experience that steered you toward and the sport, and have you had strong coaches or mentors along the way who've guided your progress?

My middle school track coach, Merscher, was the one who initially got me started in the sport. I played on his basketball team (not very well) and that is where he noticed that I was fast. I didn't have a sport to play that spring, so it was fairly easy for him to convince me to come out for track. I had a great time running, but was still set on playing soccer in the spring for the high school. That summer before high school started, I ran the 400 meter dash at an AAU national meet and ended up winning it. It was a complete shock to my family and me. That's really the point where my focus started changing from soccer to track.

My coaches over the past few years have meant the world to me. I started out not knowing a thing about track, and they built me up to this point. I can't say thank you enough to them. I wouldn't be anywhere close to the level I'm at without them.

7) If you could switch out one event in the pentathlon for any other event in track and field, which event would you take out, which would you add, and why?

I'm going to have to pick shot put. Although every event has been frustrating at points, shot put is by far the leader for me! I would replace it with a 200 meter dash because it is a less stressful event. There are no fouls in a 200, and it is impossible to no-height! Might as well practice that for the heptathlon outdoors, anyways.

8) Let's say you could assemble an all-star multi-event clinic, with your choice of pro athletes to help with each event area. Who would you invite, and why?

Jackie Joyner-Kersee!! Why not? She is the greatest.



Photo by Vic Sailer, photorun.net


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