2018 Quotes Thursday, March 29
Women's Hammer Throw Winner Brooke Anderson (Northern Arizona)
On winning the event: It was a good win. I wish I could have put more together, I had a few better warmups. It's great to win this event though.
On competing at Texas Relays: This is my third Texas Relays, I think. I love coming here every time. It's such a great facility y'all have and it's great competing here.
Heptathlon Winner Taliyah Brooks (Arkansas)
On winning the event: I'm excited. I'm happy to come back to Texas my senior year. I'm from Texas so to win it this year, it's a great feeling.
On competing at Texas Relays: Oh, I love the Texas Relays. I've been here since, well I've been competing since I was a freshman in high school. Before that we would come just to come because my family is a big track family. I'm excited to be here for the rest of the weekend to watch my teammates and my high school people compete. I'm excited. I love it, I love coming here and I'll probably continue to come here.
Men’s Hammer Throw Winner Denzel Comenentia (Georgia)
On winning and beating the meet and the facility record- It was amazing, I’m glad I won and I hope to build off that for the rest of the season.
On competing in the Texas relays- It’s always amazing to compete. I competed in the Texas Relays last year, it’s good to be here, and I will come back next year too.
On improved throw in round five that put him as No. 9 performer in collegiate history: That’s crazy, I didn’t know that, that’s amazing. I hope I can build of this and hopefully be number one spot one day.
2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
Decathlon Winner Hunter Veith (Wichita State)
On winning the decathlon: It’s a cool thing. I didn’t come here to win. I came here to compete hard, to put a good decathlon together and get a qualifying mark for the national meet so winning’s awesome and I competed against a bunch of studs. My main concern was to get a good decathlon in.
On competing at Texas Relays: This is a really cool place. We fought some weather, ups and downs, but it turned out being really nice. There’s a lot of great fans out here. There’s a lot of great athletes too. It’s awesome whenever you have the chance to compete with such good athletes as we did in this decathlon.
Men’s Pole Vault Co-Winner Brandon Bray (Texas Tech)
On winning the Pole Vault: It’s pretty good. Felt pretty confident coming to Texas Relays and winning. It’s always fun jumping here.
On competing at Texas Relays: It’s fun. Wind was kind of bad but other than that it’s great. It’s a great environment. It’s one of the most fun meets there is to jump at.
Women’s 800m Winner Ana-Rosa Gomez-Velazquez
On winning the Women’s 800m: I wanted to have a better time, because the best time is 2:04 and I wanted to do a 2:04:20 which is what they require of me for the American games and that was my objective. But since I have an injury, I had to stop some of my training and so far I haven’t regained my full strength to continue with my regular training.
On Competing at Texas Relays: It’s an excellent competition of high standards. I felt very comfortable here even though I was hoping for a better time.
Women's 3000m Steeplechase Winner Logan Morris (Clemson)
2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
On winning the event: I was super excited. I know in the middle I was falling off a little bit, but I closed strong. I am super excited to win at Texas and open up with a PR.
On competing at Texas Relays: This is my first year. I like the cityscape in the back and the perfect weather. To come here and actually win was incredible.
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Winner John Rice (Texas)
On winning the event: Every time you come to Texas Relays you don’t expect to take a W easily. I came here expecting a fight.
On preparing for the event: We had a few conversations before the race about just going out there, and just doing what we do at practice, and going hard until the finish. It’s called the ABC’s for a reason, “always be closing” so it was nice to go out there and execute.
Men's 1500m Winner Jose Eduardo Silvestre (Mexico)
On winning the event: It is my first competition in the United States and of this year. I started the season with 3:47. I'm not that satisfied because I wanted the Central American record which is 3:45. I feel like I opened the season with a good time. I'm not satisfied but I am happy because we were able to do things well.
Men’s 5000m Winner Eric Westog (Georgia)
On winning the event: I feel great. That was really exciting. I did not think I was going to win that race. I thought I would be in the elite pack, but I didn’t think I would feel that good.
Women’s 5000m Winner Allison Mendez
On winning the event: It’s amazing. I feel like I always run well on my home track. Having the fans and all my friends come out here, it is a once in a lifetime experience.
2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
On running after graduating: When I was in a Texas uniform I was so intimidated. Being a professional athlete, there is no pressure and I’m running for myself. I find that I am running a lot better.
Friday, March 30
Women’s Pole Vault Winner Andrea Willis (Kansas)
On winning the event: I felt really good. It took a long time to get in the rhythm, but after that it felt really good.
On competing at Texas Relays: It is awesome. The weather is great. The wind is great. I love pole vaulting. The environment is awesome too, just having all the really competitive races going on at the same time.
Women’s Javelin Throw Section A Winner Ariana Ince (Unattached)
On winning the event: Today was my season opener, so it was kind of working out all of the kinks. This is always a good place to throw. It was good to get the win, but I’m not necessarily happy with the distance.
On competing at Texas Relays: I have been competing at Texas Relays for fourteen years. I competed here in 2004 as a Freshman Pole Vaulter. I have been basically here ever since. Texas has a special place in my heart. It is always good to come back.
Boy’s Pole Vault Section B Winner Warren Miller (Tolar/Texas Commit)
On winning the event: It felt great. Last year I no-heighted here, so it was a great progression going from last place to first place.
On competing at Texas: It was awesome. I got to compete against really competitive guys who know what they are doing.
2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
On joining the team next year: I am really excited. This is where I have always wanted to go. My Dad went here when he was in college and he jumped really high. Hopefully I can beat him and maybe try to jump even higher.
Men’s Triple Jump Section A Winner Matthew O'Neal (Unattached)
On how it feels to win the triple jump: It’s a blessing. I mean, the whole crowd is great, the weather’s great. I’m really glad to have come out and jumped really good.
On competing at the Texas Relays: This is probably my sixth time coming out to Texas, so I’ve been here every year since my freshman year and then two years and then a professional athlete I’ve been able to come out here. Awesome atmosphere, the fans are really great so I’m glad to be here.
Women’s Triple Jump Section A Winner Tori Franklin (Unattached)
On how it feels to win the triple jump: It feels really great, I PR’d a few times and one of them wasn’t even marked. So I’m excited for the future, ready to go into the rest of the season.
On the difference with competing at the Texas Relays last year: I don’t know. I actually really like it here, I like the sunlight. I’m from Chicago, usually it’s cold and sunny, not like hot and sunny. So I really appreciate it.
Men's Discus Throw Section A Winner Reggie Jagers (Chula Vista Elite)
On how it feels to win the discus: I felt pretty good because my PR, coming out of college, when I was the NCAA runner up. I wasn’t able to get that title, but I’m feeling good to go from 62.51 to, I believe, 65.49. We got more in the tank, we’re just going to keep working.
On what it feels like to compete in the Texas Relays while not in high school or college: I had these guys that are like, “Oh, we look up to you.” We’re just learning how to throw far, just showing them that, in a year, you can go so much further than you went before.
Women's 400m Hurdles Winner Kymber Payne (LSU) 2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
On winning today: I'm very excited to be the defending champ, back to back. I had a bit of pressure on me but I wasn't nervous at all. I just knew that I had to get out faster than I did yesterday and just try to maintain my speed. It was actually a good race because there was no wind and I don't think I stuttered at all so I'm happy with my performance and happy with a good opener. So I'm very proud.
Women's 400m Hurdles Invitational Winner Ashley Spencer (Nike)
On winning the event: It feels good. I opened up faster than I had ever opened up. It was a really rough indoor season for me so I'm really happy.
On breaking a Texas Relays record: I wasn't even looking to break the record but I did so that means I'm on the right track for a good outdoor season.
Men’s 400m Hurdles Invitational Winner Kemar Mowatt (Arkansas)
On how it feels to win the race: It was a very comfortable win, I didn’t really have anyone to push me. But, I mean, I’m happy to get the first one in the books.
Men’s 400m Hurdles Winner Ilolo Izu (Texas A&M)
On how it feels to win the race: Very happy, very excited. But last year, when I came here, I didn’t run anywhere near what I did today. So I’ve always wanted to win at Texas Relays or to just be able to compete in it. So I’m just really happy and thankful for everything coming together the way that it did today.
On his experience so far of the Texas Relays: It’s been really good. I’ve been coming to this meet since I was a sophomore in high school and it’s been really nice to participate in it every year and to PR. This is always my favorite meet of the year.
Men’s Javelin Throw Section A Winner Sindri Gudmundsson (Utah State)
2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
On winning the event: It was fun. First Texas Relays for me, so I was honored to just be here in general. So winning it, it’s pretty awesome.
On his experience so far of the Texas Relays: It’s been awesome. It’s been warm, a lot warmer than in Utah. So it’s been great so far. So I’m definitely coming back next year.
Saturday, March 31
Women’s 4x800 Relay (Texas A&M)
On how it feels to win: I feel like it’s really an honor just to be here, there’s so many great teams and the competition is always really good every year. It’s just a blessing to have the variety we have on our team and just the bond we have working together. I feel like that’s what made us overall accomplish the goal.
On breaking the meet record: It’s just proving to us that our hard work is paying off in practice, and our 800 group has such great depth so I’m glad that we had the chance to run the 4x800 even though it’s not a main event in meets.
Girl's Triple Jump Winner Jasmine Moore (Mansfield Lake Ridge)
On setting the meet record: I'm happy. I made a bet with my dad that if I broke the Texas Relays record, I could get a new pair of shoes. So, I'm happy about that one.
On overall experience at the Texas Relays: It's been really good. I have to run the 4x100 later, it's good weather and the crowd is always good. I just felt good today.
Women’s Pole Vault University Elite Winner Jenn Suhr (ADIDAS)
On setting a Texas Relays record: You know, some days you go into a meet thinking you can jump high. Today was one of those days that I was pretty confident coming in, but then my legs just drained out fast. I think I was just so anxious to compete so I didn’t do a lot more technically and when I went to 5.01, I just didn’t feel like I had the legs anymore.
2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
On her input into the design of her pole: More the sticker… but honestly, I’ve jumped since 2004 and I’ve battled and gone through a lot of poles. I needed something that was going to react, that was going to lift me on takeoff and take me to the crossbar. I wanted something smooth in the bends and so we talked to Jeff Erickson, and he’s from Texas. We just went, “This is what we’re looking for.” He’s like, “I can do that.” So we ended up designing a pole and that’s what I jump on, that’s what won the high school division, that’s what won the high school nationals. I mean, it’s really coming a long ways.
Women’s 100m Hurdles Winner Rushelle Burton (Texas)
On how it felt to win the race: It was a great pleasure for me. Last year I got second, but my main goal was to come back out here and win so it wasn’t a failure.
On what it feels like to run a fast time at an event like the Texas Relays: I don’t know how, words can’t explain how happy I’ll be if I get that record.
Men’s 100m Hurdles Winner Damion Thomas (LSU)
On how it felt to win the race: It feels good. I felt like I had a well-executed race, so coming out with the victory was the icing on the cake.
On competing at the Texas Relays: It’s nice. The weather’s nice, there’s a nice little breeze. So, I’m willing to come here every year, it’s nice.
Women’s 100m Hurdles Invitational Winner Tara Davis (Georgia)
On how it felt to win the race: It feels really good. I was here two years ago and I fell and it hit pretty hard. But being back feels good. I mean, first hurdles race of the season, so it’s good.
On the experience of the Texas Relays: I’ve been here for only, about, three hours. I got in yesterday… I love this track meet and it just has a really good vibe.
Women’s Discus Throw Section A Winner Serena Brown (Texas A&M)
2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
On how it felt to win the race: It feels really good. I’ve been chasing after 60 for so long, we’ve been working on it in practice and everything. I think the main thing was a switch in confidence. After I hit that big one, I now have to be able to stay calm to be able to continue to improve. I just want to thank God, my coach, and everything. I only think that it’s up from here, I just felt really good coming off of injury. So I’m just really happy to get the opportunity to win out here and be representing everybody back home.
On the experience of the Texas Relays: It’s so much different than Penn Relays, because I went there in high school. Obviously, Penn is so much colder and here it’s hot. It’s such a wonderful atmosphere, people celebrating track and field is very important. It’s just wonderful to be able to be here and to represent the Aggies.
Women's High Jump Winner Susan Jackson (unattached)
On winning the event: I did, last year we had just moved, we moved in February, my husband is an offensive coordinator at WT (West Texas A&M). So we moved, new coach, didn’t change a whole lot, didn’t know how it was going to go. I mean I just tried my hardest, even I could throw down for an opener and coming back this year, I’ve never been that consistent. I don’t usually make things on my first attempt, so that was huge for me, so show me that I do have the confidence and the ability to do very good today.
On visualizing prior to jump: It actually comes from my high school coach, he told me way back in the early 2000’s, that you have to visualize yourself going over the bar first before you’re going to make it. You have to believe in yourself before it’s going to translate onto the track. So, I picked that up and I go step-by-step and I feel my entire approach before I go.
On status of current form: Not the greatest, there’s a lot I’m struggling with, but there’s a lot to work with. So, I know that with practices every day I can come back and improve.
Men’s Jerry Thompson Mile Invitational Winner Jose Eduardo Silva (Mexico)
On winning the race: I felt really good in the competition, I used it as a tactic. It is my first mile ever in my life. I have three years running in athletics, this is all new to me. My specialty is 1500 meters and 800 meters. I have two years running those distances. I feel really happy and proud 2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
because my family came down to see me and that’s what makes me happy. The time does not satisfy me because I am the type of guy that, if he wants to achieve something, it has to be in its entirety. It was a good time but I will not be satisfied until I make it into the big leagues.
Men’s Pole Vault Elite Competitor Armand Duplantis (Lafayette HS)
…it was a great competition. For sure, really happy with the world junior record.
On how Renaud Lavillenie made him better: For sure, it kind of just pushes you and gives you a little bit of motivation to make that next bar. It’s kind of just that competitive spirit in me, to where I want to win and I want to jump higher. I want to be able to compete with the best and I want to be able to just be with him (Renaud Lavillenie) at the top level.
On a new junior world record: After my first attempt I knew I could make it, for sure. Just had to get some of the numbers right and luckily it worked out on the last attempt. There’s really no way to describe the personal best, it’s a great feeling.
Men’s Long Jump Section A Winner Jarvis Gotch (Unattached)
On winning the long jump event: It feels great. Last time I competed here was 2016, got a meet record and I was trying to do that again today. The wind was a big factor today, but I’m happy with the win.
On competing at the Texas Relays: It’s great. I try to come here every year, it’s one of my favorite places to jump. It’s a great experience here, every year.
Men’s Pole Vault ELITE Winner Renaud Lavillenie (France)
On winning the long jump event: It was a great day. I mean, for me it wasn’t that easy because I flew on Wednesday. So it’s the jet lag, I have to deal with that. The good thing is that the competition was very interesting. Good atmosphere and energy, it was very exciting to be there. A very good time on the track.
2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
On competing at the Texas Relays: First experience. I’ve heard a lot about this place, a few friends talked to me about that it’s just a crazy place. A very interesting pole vaulter here (Armand Duplantis), very good fans. So I just discovered everything and I’m very happy. I have a very good first memory and I’m excited to maybe get back in the future because everything is made for us to go as high as possible.
Women’s Long Jump Section A Winner Fatim Affessi (West Texas A&M)
On winning the long jump event: It was a great competition, the weather was great, the people were great. It was just amazing.
On competing at the Texas Relays: Okay, so it’s my first time jumping here, which was crazy. I like it.
Women's Shot Put Section A Winner Jessica Woodard (OU)
On how it felt to win the event: It always feel good to get a win, especially at Texas. You know, being big rivals and everything like that.
On the experience of the Texas Relays: Texas Relays is a great meet and it's always great to compete against all these other great competitors out here.
Women’s 100m Invitational Winner Blessing Okagbare (Unattached)
On winning the event: I just want to thank God. It’s been a great year so far. It’s early, but I’m just happy running the way I’m running. It’s Texas Relays and it was really fun coming out here to actually run and get in a win. I know the race might not be legal but it’s Texas Relays, you just come and have fun and do your best.
Men's Shot Put Section A Winner Adrian Piperi (Texas)
On how it felt to win the event: Honestly, that's my opener for outdoors. I am very happy with how I did. I am still consistent staying in the 19.60-19.80 area. Hopefully, soon I can break out
2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
through it. That's showing the hard work paying off; staying consistent, making sure I can hit the numbers I need to hit and the sooner the better. It's going to start getting farther.
How much of a factor was the home crowd: It is very nice to have a home crowd, but it is still a meet. I psyched myself out for two hours I was over there, listening to music while getting ready. It is nice to have an amazing crowd here at Texas Relays and nothing really beats it.
Women's 200m Dash Invitational Winner Gabrielle Thomas (Harvard)
On how it felt to win the event: Really good, it feels good. Coming out of indoor and keeping up momentum, looking forward to seeing how the rest of the outdoor season goes.
On if she was expecting to win: I was really hoping to win. Especially after my 100 meter, I really wanted to go back out there and win something.
Women's 1500m Section A Winner Dana Mecke (Texas Pro Elite TC)
On winning the event: It feels great. That was my best season opener. I feel excited about that. It's always fun coming out to the Texas Relays. I was excited to run my fastest time coming into the season.
Men's 200m Dash Invitational Elijah Hall (Houston)
On winning the event: It felt good today. With Cam (Burrell) winning the 100, I come back and take the 200, we also won the 4x100 and 4x200, it was an awesome weekend. We work hard for meets like this, so we're just happy to come out and give our best with no injuries. Everybody's healthy. I couldn't be much prouder of my guys, the way we handled ourselves. Coach Carl (Lewis) and Coach (Leroy) Burrell do a good job of coaching us. We're just proud to make out of this meet with no injuries and still be able to run fast."
Men's 4x400 Invitational Winner Michael Cherry (USA Red)
2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -
On winning the event: We all just wanted to come out here and get a good workout in. I feel like we did that today, so we accomplished that. We just finished up healthy and finished up with a pretty good time. It was a great race and the other competitors were cool too.
Women's 100m Winner Aleia Hobbs (LSU)
On winning this event: I feel pretty good. It was my opener and I planned on running faster than I ran yesterday, which I did. So it was a good day.
On competing at Texas Relays: I have competed at Texas Relays but I don't think I've competed in the 100m finals. I was supposed to last year but I wasn't feeling too good in the prelims. This is my first time competing in a Texas Relays finals.
Men's 100m Winner Christian Lyon (Barton County CC)
On winning this event: It feels phenomenal. I woke up this morning to do a pre-interview just in case I was to win. I just went out there with confidence.
On his expectations today: I was honestly just trusting my coach and my training. I just went after it. I wasn't worried about who was to my right and left. I was just confident and stayed humble and believed in myself.
On his first time competing at Texas Relays: I love the atmosphere here, it's great energy. I don't even know the people that were cheering for me. I love it so much.
Women's 4x400m Invitational Winner Ashley Spencer (USA Red)
On wining this event: I feel good about winning but I'm not pleased with my individual race execution but with it being the first meet of the season I can't really go anywhere but up.
On running the Sanya Richards-Ross Invitational: Sanya has always been the queen of the quarter. She went to Texas, she has a legacy here. hope that I can someday leave my mark like Sanya did. Just being able to compete in her name is a blessing.
2018 Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays Built By The Home Depot - QUOTES -