Northeast Regional
11/25/00
Van Cortlandt Park
Bronx, NY
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CT, DE, ME, MA, MD, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI,
VT, WASH D.C.
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Interviews
Julia Pudlin,
SetonMcAndrew
by Don Rich
Julia Pudlin - Seton
McAndrew
(reaction/peaking)
I'm very relieved. I've been racing real well, but I kind of thought that
I had been peaking before and there might be a let-down, but I'm really
excited there wasn't. It's been my dream since ninth grade to do this, so I'm
really very excited. I was running really good time three-four weeks ago, and I
was just worried I wouldn't be able to hold it that long. But I guess now
everyone's a bit more flat, so everyone's not on top of their competition.
(on the race)
I think we ran really smart. Our mile was around 5:30 which was really
comfortable. I'm glad that we did that, because I've heard all these tales
of Footlockers going out at five-flat. And even my freshman year we went out a
lot faster than today. I was leading for awhile, and then we got into the woods.
At the mile, two girls pulled away quite a bit. Then I dropped to fourth in the
woods for a good deal of the time. Then coming out, right before we got to the
bridge, then I pulled much closer to the girls in first and second. I think that
was my best move in the race. Then coming out onto the flat, I passed that girl
(Meghan Owen), but she got me right at the line. I was a little surprised. I
didn't know she was that close to me. I was disappointed that she got me at
the end.
I may have been fifth for a short bit of time. I was constantly counting
where I was.
(on Disney course)
I'm really strong on hills, but I'm hoping I'll be able to run a really
fast time. I did that Penn Charter (nation-leading 7:14 5K) on a flat course. So
hopefully I'll be able to do well.
Now that I'm going to go, I just want to have fun, and hopefully to get top
ten.
(on handling the pressure)
You can't let hype get to you. For example, this week I stayed off DyeStat.
I love DyeStat, but I think it's important not to let the hype get to you. I
mean I run for myself and for my own internal goals, and you shouldn't let the
external pressure get to you. I know most runners have enough internal pressure
and you don't need it from anybody else. You're not trying to please other
people. It's important to keep that in mind. You're doing this for yourself.
But obviously, you're doing it to make other people happy too, but you shouldn't
worry about what other people think about you. A lot of people were coming to
watch me today, like my cousins, and I just tried to keep focused.
(learned this year)
Keep everything in perspective. I've tried not to become too obsessed with
running. I'm trying to keep my life in balance, like going to the movies with
my friends.
(the race)
"I got a bad start. I got nailed. Everyone was in front of me, so I had
to start sprinting. We were packed three deep, and two guys nailed me. The right
side was open, so I got out to the front. I felt really, really good. Soooo good
the first mile. I was just coasting along. We went through the mile in 4:49.
Charlie Millioen was to my left. There were five of us the whole race until the
last mile or so. Charlie and I made a move at the bridge just as the second
uphill begins. We ran together in the woods, then at the last uphill before the
bridge, Brian McGovern made his move. I caught up to him and it was just he and
I down the hill. Then with about 500 meters left, I started sprinting as hard as
I could."
(time at two miles was 10:00, so second mile was 5:10).
(As for Disney, he was asked about the flat course)
"It's going to be weird because I have never run on a flat course. But
I want to get top ten, hopefully. Just gotta go with the top pack and run with
them."
(colleges)
Colleges. "I am looking everywhere right now."
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