Ricky's Notes
and Quotes - Girls
by Ricky Quintana
The girls were the first to start. After the lengthy introduction, the
runners were given just a minute or so before the gun went off.
The start begins with a slight up hill on a grass surface. The runners
then funnel into a three person wide wood chip covered path. The runners
could run outside the path in some parts, but the wood chips were thicker
in that area.
Once the runners settled into this area, some runners, including Katelyn
Kaltenbach, could be seen being bumped around pretty good. It was enough
that it knocked her off the path. Heidi Magill, the sensational 800m runner
from Utah, took the early lead.
The runners made their way down the path which then curved back up the
hill towards the half mile mark. The pack stayed tightly together with
no one taking the lead. Most of the runners chose to sit back during the
first half mile.
Caitlin McTague was not in awe of the field and approaching the mile
mark had a five meter lead. Behind her was a chase pack of four including
Zoe Nelson, Megan Kaltenbach, Laura Cummings, Nicole Blood and Ari Lambie.
At the mile, hit in 5:20, McTague was still the leader, but it was to
be short lived. Zoe Nelson, who has a knack for running hills, powered
her way up into the lead. Megan Kaltenbach covered the move as did McTague,
Blood and Cummings. Another 3 meters back was Amber Smith, Katy Trotter
and Sunni Olding.
The race made a long gradual ascent towards the start/finish area and
then started the second loop. The two mile was hit in 11:19 and Nelson
continued to lead over Kaltenbach opening a little more daylight. After
the two mile, the runners began to descend before tackling the hill for
the second time . Kaltenbach was five meters down and losing ground with
a chase pack led by Trotter bearing down.
Nearing the hill, Nelson continued to pour it on. She charged up the
hill, head slightly cocked, seeming to gain strength with every step.
Trotter caught Kaltenbach on the descent and in turn was passed by Cummings
and McTague who led Trotter up the hill. Olding was next, followed by
Geissler, Katelyn Katenbach, Megan Kaltenbach, Blood, Owen, Smith, Sikes,
Magill and Harper.. Kate Niehaus stumbled off the course just before beginning
the hill and did not finish.
Nelson barreled down the hill and then used the long ascent toward the
finish to gain even more on the field. She won handily. Trotter, with
her twin sister, Amanda, cheering her on was able to pass the surprising
duo of McTague and Cummings on the last ascent. Smith and Magill rallied
best after the hill and were able to collar fifth and sixth place.
Here is what they said after the race:
Zoe Nelson
"I never expected this to happen. I was hoping it would happen. I
really didn't know what to expect. I'm just really happy"
On breaking away so easily
" I didn't think so [being able to break away so easily]. I took
the lead and I thought they were going to come back up on me. They never
did. With about half mile left, I started thinking that I probably had
it, but I still didn't quit. I just kept going just to make sure."
Katy Trotter
"It was really hot. I'm not used to this weather, but it turned out
just they way I wanted to. I followed my race plan exactly. I don't think
it could have gone better."
On her sitting back early
" They did go out pretty hard. At northeast regionals,
everyone went flying out. I just hung to the back. I realized that
if I focused on picking off one person at a time, it would go my way."
On the last half mile
" I guess I just wanted it more. Laura Cummings pushed me. They're
great girls and great runners. I'm just so honored to be here."
Katy Trotter (green singlet)
is congratulated by her coach and Suzy Favor
as both Katy and twin sister Amanda (yellow jacket), who cheered from
the sidelines,
are shedding tears of joy for Katy's great second place showing.
Ari Lambie
" I didn't feel 100% coming in. I didn't want to really tell
anyone that. I thought that would get my spirits lower. I felt a little
faint and queasy doing strides, but I still wanted to give it my all and
I think I did that. I'm still faint. I gave it everything. That's what
I came here to do."
On being sick
"I was throwing up two nights ago. I rested all yesterday. I
think it's a bug that I caught back east, but it just started two
days ago so that's pretty frustrating. I'm normally pretty lucky
when it comes to injuries and health. But, these are the things that you
have to deal with."
Amanda Trotter
"Oh my gosh, she made me cry. She made me so proud. She
ran a great race. It feels great to be part of this. I'm really proud
of her."
On her feelings for her sister during the race
"Yeah, definitely [felt what she was going through]. I know what
was going through her head. I just tried to cheer her on and everything.
"Yeah, she can hear me. I'm really happy for her."
Nicole Blood
" It was all right. It's been hard. I've been kind of sick. I
felt better today. I had a pretty good race."
On being a freshman qualifier
" It's an awesome feeling. To make it here is awesome, let alone
to come in the top ten is an awesome feeling. I just can't even explain
it."
On her finish
" In the end, I just pulled everything I got left."
On her season
" Yeah, very long, but now indoors is starting so it's going
to be really nice. "
Caitlin McTague
" It went really well. I was just planning on setting my pace.
I figured, I'd be in the back of the pack because usually the girls with
longer legs out stride me so I was in shock when I was in tenth place
in the first 100 meters. It was really great because usually I'm in the
back of the pack and have to pass her and her. It's nice when to start
out well because I didn't have the pressure of just passing people. It
takes more energy to pass people because you have to change pace. I just
tried to keep a steady pace and focus on the race and my form. Usually,
I try to listen to my breathing because that calms me down and I can zero
in."
On hanging out with Nicole Blood most of the week
" We were trying to not actually talk about it [the race].
Last night when we were watching the regional races, we were getting butterflies
in our stomachs.
We just had a really fun time, We just went around the hotel. It was really
awesome, We went out to shop and stuff. We went to the beach and stuff.
We just tried not to think about it."
On her result
" Oh no. I was going to be so proud if I finished in the top
half. I was fourth in my region. I figured I wasn't going to be in the
top ten, let alone the top five so I'm so happy. No one in Niskayuna is
going to believe this I'm just so happy. I feels like a dream. My dad's
laughing over there. My mom's crying. It's just so amazing. I can't
believe it's happening. It's like a dream."
On her future
" I try to look at one year at a time. I'm kind of disappointed
because my ninth and tenth grade years were cut really short with stress
fracture. I'm so grateful that I'm healthy. This season, I tried not to
think about it. I was healthy and running. I love running so much.
The past two years have been depressing because I knew I could do well.
I just went out and was just happy I was healthy."
On changes that made her healthy
" I've taken a lot more rest. I always thought it was quality
and my coach is always saying it's quantity, not quality so I really cut
down the mileage. I would take a lot of Sundays off. It's such a long
season. It starts August 19th and it's December 14th. You just have to
pace yourself. Take rest just to stay healthy."
Katelyn Kaltenbach
" It was a good day. I ran how I planed on running. My last mile
is the best part of my race. I just kept picking off people. I had a good
kick in the end and that got me seventh. I'm really excited. I wanted
to get top fifteen and I got top ten, second team All-American"
On her slow start
" I was a little worried, but my coach was like 'don't
freak out, you're in fine position.' The front pack was like four seconds
ahead of me so I just kept moving up."
On track and how it effects her future performances
" It just gives me a lot of confidence that can run at
this level. Before I wasn't confident about that. It gives me more confidence."
Laura Cummings
"I wasn't really expecting to do that well. To come in fourth
is really exciting. It's a lot better that I expected to do."
On the northeast's performance
" These hills all didn't seem like much compared to sunken meadow
and Van Cortland The hills were our advantage. We're used to it."
On her performance
" Coming here, I wanted to get in the top half. The whole race
I was like "Where is everyone?" I was expecting a huge pack
that would suddenly pass me. I just tried to hang on."
On her successful race
" I'm happy that I'm doing this good."
Megan Kaltenbach
" That was bad. That was real real bad. It's ok though.
I was really crushed afterwards. It was really sad. Now I get to run track.
That's my favorite thing any way. Coach was telling me that no NCAA cross
country champion has ever won here.
I just choked pretty much."
Amber Smith
" I went great. I was in last in the beginning. I kept stumbling
a little bit. There were so many people around me. I just tried to keep
working my way up. With a half mile to go, I was in tenth. I just kept
kicking really hard and ended up in fifth. I was real happy.
I felt really good."
On her pre race prediction
" No. I was hoping for All-American, top fifteen so when I found
myself in tenth, I'm like "OK, this is where I want to be."
When I was passing people and took fifth, I was really happy. I was kind
of surprised."
The reason she did so well
" I think this course is better for me than Florida was because
Florida's was so flat with rolling bumps. I'm used to running on hills.
That hill wasn't too bad for me. The weather here was warmer than
where I'm from. It was better than Florida because it wasn't so humid.
I think overall all the factors were better for me."
On all the underclasswomen
" I want to make it back first. When I get here, I'd like to
improve my position. See how ell I can do."
On her clutch performance
" It will definitely give me confidence to run better times.
My PR's aren't that impressive in track because I run four events for
each meet. It will give me more confidence to run in big meets. I'll see
what I can do in track."
Meghan Owen
" I was really excited. People were falling in the beginning,
but I tried to remain confident and just enjoy it out there."
On her strong finish
" I kind of used the hill to my advantage because in the north
east we're used to running hills. Going up the last time, I picked off
a few people on the hill that actually helped me a lot."
On her placing
" I'm really excited. I didn't really expect to do this.
I was shooting for top fifteen, but getting top ten is awesome."
Heidi Magill
" I didn't really feel very good. I think I raced smart.
That's the only way I placed as well as I did. My legs felt like crap.
The second mile was death. I hated it. But the first mile was OK.
Knowing that I can finish strong...... it was ok. I knew I could catch
them. That's about it. "
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