Quotes from Saturday winners
Heptathlon, Katherine Evans, Texas State (5,007 points, school record)
REACTION: “I'm a fifth year senior and this year is different than all the previous ones. There were two other girls battling in previous years and we all brought out the best, and the worst, in each other. One would get first, and the next time, she'd be third. It was nip and tuck. Now was my time, and not having them here, was bittersweet.
“But I finally got 5,000 points, which is a big milestone. It's the third time I've broken the school record, but this is the best because it's 5,000. Every coach remembers their first 5,000 scorer so I'm proud of that. It's bittersweet because it's my last year, but I finally got it.
WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME: “I redshirted last outdoor season, and I didn't have any eligibility left indoors, so it was an opportunity to train hard. I was really diligent, to get my rest, to really eat well, and all my marks have exploded this year. This weekend I didn't PR in the events I wanted to, but the ones I needed, I got, and it got me to 5,000, which is really cool.
MINDSET ENTERING THE LAST EVENT (800): “I knew going in I had about a 100-point gap on the girl in second place, and I had done my research and knew what she could do, so that told me what I needed to do to win first of all. I knew that if I was within a certain distance of her, I'd be OK. But I wasn't trying to get a certain mark, I was just trying to get 5,000. “
Men's Long Jump, Jaron Criswell, Central Arkansas (24-9 ¼)
WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE: “I just ran out there and jumped, and I did what my coach told me to do. That's the only thing I did. “
REACTION: “It feels pretty good.”
ON HIS WINNING JUMP: “I put everything together. It begins from the run through, to the pop, and to the landing. It was good.”
Women's Shot Put, Kaitlyn Andrews, Stephen F. Austin (51-0)
REACTION: “It's a great graduation present. Our commencement is this morning and I am graduating in education and kinesiology with a business minor.
TODAY'S OUTCOME, UPSETTING TRECEY REW: “Trecey and I have been going back and forth all season. Today was just my day, tomorrow could have been hers. She's a great competitor and in my senior year I wouldn't have had it any other way than to go against her and all the other girls.
“Having my family and coach here, all the support … having the fans here watching the shot. It doesn't matter where they are from, they cheer for all the girls, and we all cheer for each other. It makes for a great atmosphere.”
Women's High Jump, Chelsea Dockery, Nicholls (5-9 ¼)
TALK ABOUT THE COMPETITION ENTERING THE DAY: “I knew personally that is what I had to do, and I knew there were three other girls tied at 5-8. I was just going in, give it my best -- honestly that is what I needed to do. I have been at this height and needed to peak at it all year and finally did today.
REACTION TO WINNING CLEARANCE IN A JUMP OFF: “I just thought, “Yeesss! Finally!” It feels incredible. I have stayed here for my fifth year and it's been all I have ever wanted – finally!”
Men's High Jump, Keith Benford, UTSA (6-10 ¾)
TALK ABOUT THE COMPETITION: “The competition was good today. It was cold and windy, but everybody suffers from the same weather so that's no excuse. Everybody came out and did well and I saw a lot of good things out of all the teams today.”
HIS PERFORMANCE: “I was looking to do a good amount better than I did, but first place is all you can ask for. I just wish I could have done a little better than that.
TRYING TO CLEAR SEVEN FEET IN LAST ROUND: “I was thinking I wanted to clear it. I wasn't thinking about winning. I wanted to get this height, and get up to 7-2 and get over that. I was trying to hit a nice PR and pick the team morale up and win the meet.
REACTION TO WINNING (EMOTIONALLY): “I feel good. I was watching the 100-meter and everybody was doing well, I won the high jump, and we have a lot of people going to the finals. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.”
Decathlon, Romain Martin, Texas-Arlington (7,556)
TALK ABOUT THE COMPETITION OVER TWO DAYS: “I am really satisfied with my total overall. I had one PR, in the discus, and I am happy about that. It was not really the moment to score a big total. Nationals are in one month and that's where I want to do something big. Here it was just about scoring points for the team and I did, so I'm happy.
DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING FROM THIS MEET THAT CAN HELP YOU AT NATIONALS?: “The conference was just one month after Texas Relays, and the way I performed here gives me confidence that having a month before the national meet is the right amount of time for my training to peak at the right moment.
Men's Shot Put, Jon Arthur, Stephen F. Austin (58-8)
HOW DID THE COMPETITION GO?: “It started a little rough. I had to work some things out, but I get better as I go, and luckily I made the finals and I was able to pull it out on the last throw.
WHAT WAS YOUR APPROACH ON THE LAST THROW?: “Just to go after it and give it everything I've got. I knew I had to get one out there because Richard (Garrett, UTSA, the leader at the time) had one more throw, and he did a great job. That's a fun competition.
WHAT WAS THE ADJUSTMENT THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?: “I was having a little trouble on my release, the ball coming out wrong, and I was able to fix that, get it in my hand right, and that's what really helped out a lot.
REACTION: “I'm just excited. It's great to win first place, but the main thing is getting points for the team, and that's why I'm here.”
Women's Long Jump, Ernestine Cray, A&MCC (19-2)
ON WINNING EVENT: "Well, coming into the finals my hamstring was very tight so I had to have my trainer come and help me. I just gave my best one jump at a time and did what my coach asked me to and my jump came.
ON COMPETITION: "I had Crystal Walker from SFA who was a pretty good jumper and I was very nervous jumping against her. Before jumping against her my coach told me just to take it one jump at a time and that I would be ok.
ON WEATHER CONDITIONS: "The weather helped me a lot with the wind being against my back but not so much for my body overall because of my hurt hamstring."
Women's 3000 Steeplechase- Kadi Whisnant, Nicholls (10:47.15)
ON REPEATING AS CHAMPION: “It's really exciting. I know it's a competitive field and it's pretty stacked up front for the most part. I really just wanted to get a good time in and try to qualify for the NCAA first rounds, which I didn't quite get, but it still feels great and I get a lot of support not only from my team but everyone else. Randi (Wymer SFA) and I kind of kept up with each other so it was very exciting.
ON COMPETITION: “It's such a large field, I think it is one of the largest the conference has. The top ten is really packed and is competitive, especially in the steeplechase where on any given day anybody can do anything. Just following other colleges all over the United States, a girl can run a 10:40 one week and then the next week run like a 10:20. So it's really hard to base your competition based on times. You just have to be mentally strong, and be ready to bring it at all times.
REACTION TO THE WIN (EMOTIONALLY): “It's a great win, it is so exciting, and I'm so honored. There are not too many people who get to say they came and did the same thing they did a year ago. Today is my birthday, and I kept telling myself what an awesome birthday gift to come and sweep.
Men's 3000 Steeplechase, Adam Saloom, SFA (9:07.46)
ON WINNING: “I knew coming in that it would be a tough fight and that it would come down to the last three laps. I just got my mindset right to fight for that last 1000 meters.
ON FINISHING 1-2 WITH TEAMMATE: “It feels great. We work hard and every team works hard here but it is just good to be able to finish alongside my teammate. The competition between Xavier (Rodriguez) and I is just amazing. We push ourselves and to be able to finish 1-2 is an amazing feeling.
ON COMPETITION: The Southland Conference has one of the best steeplechase competitions and to be able to compete against the best is awesome. You don't want to go too early because the runners will end up catching you. You have to focus on when to make the move and if the other guy's can hang with you. The tough competition just pushes you to do your best.
Men's Javelin – Sam Vidrine, McNeese State (218-6)
ON WINNING HIS SECOND CONSECUTIVE TITLE DESPITE INJURIES THIS SEASON: It's a great feeling knowing what I've had to battle through with the injuries this season. Just doing rehab, rehab, rehab.”
ON WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN INJURY AFTER HIS THIRD THROW (throwing arm elbow injury): “I'm not sure exactly what happened but will have some tests done to see what the problem is. I felt great coming in but it just wasn't what I was expecting today.”
Women's Javelin, Jessica Talley, Northwestern State (145-11)
GOING FROM A WALK-ON TO CONFERENCE CHAMP AS A FRESHMAN: "I didn't think about track until October, and I talked to Coach Mike. He brought me out to practice and I became a part of the team, and now I've made it all the way. I'm very happy, ecstatic, about how it's worked out. Hopefully what I did, and we did, today can help us get up the standings.
TODAY'S CONDITIONS: "The wind was horrible. It was hard to maneuver and throw. It makes the javelin die, but we all had to deal with it. I got what I was shooting for, first, and that's what matters, not my distance."
