Interviews

Candice Baucham (Poly, Long Beach)
LJ winner 19-04 -
When asked about Jumping so early in the morning, she said, "I like it better in the middle of the day or the evening." When asked the reason for her big improvement in the event here, "It was not too hot." The Relay, "made me quicker and think about faster steps on the run-way" (she ran a leg on the winning Poly 4x100 team who won in the mid-46's. Goals, "I would like to get the National Record in the Triple Jump, which is somewhere in the mid 44 foot range, and go 20 feet in the Long Jump." When asked what else she was doing today, "I am running the sprint medley relay." She was then told to hit Coach Charles Clinton in the arm because Doug Speck owed him one!!!! (joke)

Amber Steen (Newport Harbor, Newport Beach)
1500 winner.
Strategy coming in: "I wanted to push the third lap more than I have in past races."
What was it like to have foreigners that you do not know in the race with you? "It was good, they did a good job of taking the lead and running exactly the pace that I had hoped for."
Happy with time? (when told it was 4:27) "Yeah, I am really happy, as that is much faster than I thought that I could run."
Where to College, "I am going to the University of Arizona."
Goals for the year, "To go all-out, to win CIF, Master's Meet, State, then go on to the National meet in North Carolina! I would like to run in the low 4:40's, but now think I can race in the high 4:30's!"
When asked how fast she thought she could run an 800, "I have run 2:15, but think I can get under 2:10 in a good race."
Lashinda Demus (Wilson, Long Beach) 100 Hurdles winner
General thoughts on the race, "This was my first race of the year in the event so I was very excited!"
When asked what it was like to run in the 13.60's her first race out, "Wow, I am very happy. This is not my first race ever in the 100 hurdles, since I have run it a great deal in other years, but a personal best in my first race is great!"

Monique Henderson (Morse, San Diego)
100 Meters
General thoughts on the race (which she won at 11.68), "Well, I usually do not run the 100 so it was very different."
Asked what it was like to have Angel right on her shoulder, "I definitely felt her there the entire race."
When asked what she thought about doing mechanically the final part of the race with Perkins very close, "I forgot about mechanics, and everything except running really hard to the finish!"
What about the rest of the season after the prep season is over, "I am not sure what I will be running after the high school season. I may take some time off during the summer and get ready for College."

Phillip Francis (Fairfax, LA) -
10.52 100 Meter Winner
Thoughts into this race, "I wanted to improve today towards my goal of a State Championship."
Fairfax does not have the track tradition that some other schools do, and how has he developed the confidence to compete with the athletes at the top level as he has, "It is my personality to run to my maximum, and not choose the minimum in any area of my life."
Asked his goal for this meet, "To run 10.3."
His mind set going into Arcadia (previous weekend where he handily taken both the State's best in both the 100 and 200), "To survive," asked what that meet did for him, "It showed me my potential and gave me confidence. It forced me to try harder in practice and to push myself beyond what I had done before. The meet last weekend and this weekend are part of a progression to the State Championships."
Other sports, "I play football, and was a tailback on the Varsity team this past Fall. I gained 760 yards. Our team record was not that good this year, but we are a good program, and in a couple of years they will be a super team."
College plans, "I do want to go to a four year school. I hope to do football and track in college. I like Idaho State at this time."
Family members in sports, "My mom was very athletic and did a number of sports basketball, volleyball, and track and field. Both my parents are from Jamaica. I was born in the U.S. and am a United States citizen."
Goals for the end of the season, "To win the State Meet, but also to have fun! I would like to run 10.28 for the 100 meters and 20.8 for the 200."
With that we let Phillip go stay warm for the 200.

Matt Bates - Los Gatos
Anchor Distance Medley Relay winners - 10:11
Asked their schedule, did they plan on coming down here to run these events, or was it a result of their own Top 8 Meet being rained out last night, "We planned on coming down to run the 4x1600 later today, but when we were rained out we decided to do the Distance Medley Relay also."
Goal, "To try to break the school record of 10:23. We ran right at that time last weekend, but tried to break it this weekend, and I guess we kind of destroyed it!"
Thoughts when he lined up even with JJ Duke of Clovis, State Cross-Country champ, for the anchor 4-lap leg. "Mainly I hoped that I could stay with him. I thought that I had a better kick, but he is very good in Cross-Country."
Thoughts on his overall 4:15 effort, "I was very happy with my time because it was kidn of windy down the backstretch."
Goals for the 4x1600 later today, "Not sure, probably to try to break the school record and run another state leading time."

Anita Siraki (Hoover, Glendale)
Distance Medley Relay
Asked what she thought at the start of her leg (which had her in about sixth place): "I just wanted to catch the first place runner. I knew she had a big lead, but I thought that I could do it."
Asked where she was in training, "We ran a lot of miles this week. This is kind of a build-up time to get ready for our peak for the state meet, and I have been working hard."
Asked her goal for the State Meet, "To run under 10:00!"