Women's Pre-Race Quotes

Reported by Parker Morse, Photos by Alison Wade

Shalane Flangan

Shalane Flanagan of UNC.

Shalane Flanagan of the University of North Carolina may be the current NCAA carrier of the "best runner never to have won a major title" tag. Last year, the day after being announced as the NCAA Runner of the year, she made a strong move to the front about a mile from the finish, and then fell apart, eventually finishing 22nd. She arrived in Terre Haute as the only undefeated athlete in the Nationals field, winner of one of the two Pre-Nationals races on the Indiana State University course back in October, ACC champion, and South East Regional champion. Her UNC team is ranked 18th, but after a 7th-place finish last year, Flanagan says her focus is on delivering a strong finish for her team.

Most importantly, however, Flanagan may be the only athlete in the women's field to have reached first-name-only status among track fans -- just say "Shu-LANE," and everyone knows exactly who you mean.

On her fitness coming in to the race:
"Every year, I feel like as I get older, I get stronger. My training hasn't changed that much from year to year, I just get stronger. So I'm definitely fitter than ever."

On how she's approaching this year after last year's race:
"Last year obviously wasn't my best race, but I think I've learned a lot from it, and I'm a better person and a stronger runner because of it. I'm more excited this year and less nervous, so I think that helps. I'm excited for tomorrow."

On her strategy for the race:
"I want to be the best I can for my team, score the least amount of points, and if I have success with my team, I should have individual success also. That's my race plan, the rest is top secret, sorry."

On learning from the Pre-Nationals win, where she set a course record which lasted half an hour before being lowered two seconds by Vicky Gill:
"At Pre-Nats I was pretty calm and confident, and so I guess I'll take away those two feelings. I have a good emotional feeling about this race because I had a good race last time I was here. I'm just excited. I felt like I found a great rhythm on the course, there was nothing that was strenuous, I could really just get in a groove and go."

Michaela Manova

Michaela Manova of BYU.

Michaela Manova of Brigham Young University was a surprise last year when she finished fifth, but after producing an NCAA steeplechase win in the spring, she won't be overlooked this year. The Czech citizen was BYU's top runner this year in just one meet -- last week's Mountain Region Championships, which she won -- but she clearly has experience in racing well in a big Nationals meet.

On her conditioning:
"I think I'm in OK shape. I can't say what will happen tomorrow, I don't want to predict anything. I'll do my best, and that will show what shape I'm in. I don't think it will be that bad. I ran well at Regionals a week ago, so I should be OK."

On her race strategy:
"I don't have a specific race strategy just because this course is like a track. You don't have to run uphill, downhill, so there's no certain way to run the course. The only thing is, you have to be in the top pack at the beginning, because there's a lot of girls running, and there's no way to get through them if you're 150th at the beginning. The only other plan would be to run with my teammates, because I think it's very important to have people you work out with around you. It helps mentally, and makes you relax, if you're with them."

On how her steeplechasing career is affecting her cross-country:
"I did the mile and 3,000m before, so it wasn't that big a change. It wasn't my first steeplechase, but I liked it. I get bored running around the track. Steeplechase is very fun. I used to run 400m hurdles when I was very little. I don't think it has any effect on my cross-country, it just destroys my ankles."

Lauren Fleshman

Lauren Fleshman of Stanford.

Lauren Fleshman of Stanford is a perennial contender, winning three NCAA titles on the track and placing third at last year's championships. With Renee Metivier of Georgia Tech not running, Fleshman is the top returnee, and the only senior among the three at today's press conference. However, Fleshman also represents the team most likely to challenge BYU for the title, and to her, that's more important than her own performance.

On her race preparation:
"I'm having a good time with my team. We just went out for a pre-race jog. I'm very excited to race, and take advantage of this opportunity. I'm in good shape. I'm not really very worried about performance, I think I will perform well, who knows about exact numbers, but I don't care, as long as I'm happy after the race. That's my number one goal, be happy."

On approaching an individual race as opposed to approaching a team race:
"They're inseperable for me, because in order to have a good team performance, I need to score as few points as possible."

On Stanford's much-discussed team chemistry:
" think what it does is multiply everything, on a daily basis, at practice. That team chemistry is one of leaving a legacy, raising the bar, and setting a standard for cross country. I think that drives me on a daily basis to strive for really high goals, to not sell myself short, ever, and that comes over into my racing."