2005 NCAA INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Interview with Anne Shadle
Reported by Parker Morse

Anne Shadle wins the mile at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. (Photo by Alison Wade/New York Road Runners)

Nebraska's senior Anne Shadle was the surprise winner of the NCAA indoor mile, setting a new school record of 4:38.23 (the old record, set by Fran ten Bensel in 1992, was 4:38.33.) Shadle, a native of South Sioux City, Nebraska, had only run 4:47 coming in to the 2005 season; her NCAA nationals experience was limited to the indoor DMR in 2004 and the steeplechase outdoors in 2003 and 2004. She finished 20th in the 2003 NCAA steeplechase, and 25th in 2004, behind her better-known former teammate, Ann Gaffigan.

Fast-Women.com: So, you moved up and took over the pace early in the race. Was that part of your plan?
Anne Shadle: It wasn't the plan at all. I wanted to make sure I covered everyone else's moves. But they kept going slower and slower, and it was uncomfortable, so I just decided, 'That's it, I just need to go.' I thought perhaps I would have to lead for a couple of laps, then someone would come up and take it from me, or take over, but they didn't. So I just kept hammering away, and didn't let down.

FW: What's the mindset when you're up there and have everyone behind you?
AS: Today, I just relaxed. I felt like my rhythm was really, really good, and I just stayed comfortable and ran the pace that I knew I could. It was really comfortable.

FW: Did you have any idea what was going on behind you?
AS: I looked up at the big screen a couple of times. I knew people were behind me, but I could feel that they weren't right up on me. They were close, but they weren't right up on me.

FW: Did it feel like a workout, after a while?
AS: Kind of. I felt like I was all by myself. There were people right there with me, but I kind of felt like it was really comfortable.

FW: What was your confidence like coming in to this race? You ran well in the rounds yesterday, so did that give you a boost coming in to the final?
AS: Yes. I knew it was a possibility, I just knew I would have to run smart. I actually felt like... I've never been in a national race. I knew I wasn't one of the favorites. I knew, personally, what I could do, but I knew I wasn't picked as one of the favorites, so there wasn't any pressure on me, because I guess no one really knows who I am!

FW: You guys [Nebraska] are having a good meet.
AS: Yes, we are having an awesome meet! I am so proud of Ashley [Selig], our multi-eventer. When she won, I was like, 'That's it, I see her working every day, I can do it too.' That was a really good confidence booster to see her win. We have a lot of respect for each other, and seeing Priscilla [Lopes] last night in the hurdles [Lopes was second], she's in the 60 today, and we had a pole vaulter [Christi Lehman] on the runway, and I could hear her screaming for me. Having that team support there, it pushes us all.

FW: Have you had a chance to let this sink in yet?
AS: (Laughs) No! I crossed the finish line, and they announced, 'Shadle!' and gave me this flower, and I thought, 'What, am I going to take a lap?' I was thinking, 'Okay, what's going on?'

FW: What does this mean for the spring?
AS: This means I do not have to run the steeplechase outdoors. I get to run the 1,500 and 800 outdoors, which I am happy about.

FW: So you prefer the shorter stuff?
AS: Yes, but the steeple has always saved me because I could always get to the national meet and score high in the conference meet. But now I get to do the 15!

FW: Is that a coaches' decision, or is that your confidence?
AS: It's a little of both. I like the steeplechase, but I wasn't as confident in the national ranks. I'm more confident in the 1,500, because that's what I love.

FW: And that gives you the confidence to keep pushing in the last quarter with everyone behind you waiting to make their moves.
AS: I was like, 'I've led for this long, no one is going to pass me now!' With 300 to go, I was like, 'No way.'

(Interview conducted March 12, 2005, and posted March 18, 2005.)