Many people around the world are dedicated to a sport. Countless hours every week are sacrificed to honing specific skills, managing technique and creating an overall performance that is constantly better than the last.

Looking at the results for the 2009 Nike Outdoor Nationals, the Kentucky performances were outstanding.  Without actually looking it up, I am assuming Kentucky had the most athletes participate in Nike Outdoor Nationals probably ever, which is great.  To try to shine a light on the experience, KYtrackXC.com gave all the Kentucky athletes who attended a chance to write what they wanted about the experience.  Thanks go to Courtney Siefert, Dalan Carter, Emma Brink, Justin House, Kyle Hocker, Leigh Allin, Matt Hillenbrand, Nathan McKinney, Patrick Stuart, Robbie Scharold, and Ryan Smith for taking the time to answer my question.  The guide question is in italics below and the responses follow each athlete’s name.

Sheepshead coach John Padula was given the Rising Star coach's award at the Nike Outdoor Nationals Saturday.  Since Padula took over as boys head coach in 2004, every one his athletes have graduated to college, expect one that enrolled in the Marines. In five years, he's built one of the top sprint teams in state and won the 4x100 national title at the Nike Outdoor Nationals last year.

Andrew Hendrix grabbed the North Carolina flag from one side of the medal podium. His twin brother Anthony snatched the American flag from the other end. They both took off, along with Fuquawn Greene and Miles Sparks for the only victory lap of the entire meet.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Andrew Hendrix grabbed the North Carolina flag from one side of the medal podium. His twin brother Anthony snatched the American flag from the other end. They both took off, along with Fuquawn Greene and Miles Sparks for the only victory lap of the entire meet.

Mason Finley threw 71-8.75 to win the Nike Outdoor Nationals shot put competition. Photo by Matt Shatkus, njrunners.com.

GREENSBORO, N.C.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – When it was finally over, Robby Andrews laid flat on this back, raised his arms in the air, and said thank you. Not just because he won but because it was over.

Zach Tennant a recent graduate of North Marion High School placed 10th at the Nike Outdoor Nationals (NON) in the 1500m enroute mile with a time of 3:59.19 and finished the mile in 15th place in 4:19.09. The meet was held at North Carolina A&T University. Congratulations to Zach for this top 10 finish at a National meet.

http://nc.milesplit.us/meets/44103/results/93771

Bethel girls are All-Americans in 4 relays including state record 3:43.03 4x800

Tynita Butts inch away from two national titles as 5'10.50" HJ winner and 19'11.50" LJ runner-up

Blacksburg girls just barely dip under old DMR state record in 11:57.18 run

James Taylor 3rd in 200, inch away from win in LJ

Stutzman and WA boys fall just short in valiant challenge for DMR victory

No national champions from the first two days of competition at the 2009 Nike Outdoor Nationals. Will an individual or relay quartet step up an deliver a national title today or will the state of Virginia experience a rare shut out of any national titles? James Taylor and the Western Albemarle DMR came close in pulling off victories for the Virginia boys, but it ended up being Tynita Butts in the high jump as the lone champion from Virginia. Two state records were produced in the meet though by the Bethel girls in the 4x400 and Blacksburg girls in the DMR. Read entire summary of Saturday's events...

Nike Outdoor Nationals - Saturday Results 

Photos and more coverage from NON coming

Kentucky excels in the Emerging Elite 800m and Shot Put at NON.

Kentucky athletes competed in the 400m, 1600m Sprint Medley, and Pole Vault Friday.

Trevor Dunbar made his move with just over two laps to go and no could have expected it would look quite the way it did. No one could have expected that the senior from Alaska's Kodiak High would drop the curtain on the race, that he would bury everyone before the bell lap.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Jasmin Stowers finished first overall to defend her 100-meter hurdles title at Nike Outdoor Nationals Friday evening.

Brooke Regan, Laura Tremblay, and Liz Tremblay celebrate a new best effort in the 4 X 800 Friday night at NON. Photo by Ken Regan.

Ohio put on another good showing at the Nike Outdoor National Meet in Greensboro, North Carolina this weekend.  Above: Zach Wills of Mason finished second in the 2 Mile in a time of 8:55.18.

A summary of performances by Virginians fairing well in Friday's events at the 2009 Nike Outdoor Nationals included the Blacksburg 4x800's running fast including a 7:45 Group AA record from the Blacksburg boys, the Bethel girls running a state top 5 all-time performance in the 4x200, and Sydni Cobb winning the emerging elite division of the girls shot put. Also standing out individually were Thomas Porter joining a small group of sub 9 milers with an 8th place 8:59.08 performance in the 2 mile run and Briana Hudson became an All-American in the triple jump. Read more...

Nike Outdoor Nationals - Friday Results

MileSplit US - Friday Story

GREENSBORO, N.C. – She had every right to cry. Sometimes there’s too much emotion for anything else.

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Even when Solomon Haile didn’t look as indestructible as people have been accustomed to, his pace still proved abusive to those that followed. Even when his stride length shortened and his lead shrank, he surged again and stifled any hope of chasing him down.

Let Nike Outdoor Nationals begin!  Three Kentucky athletes kicked off the weekend running the 5000m Race tonight in North Carolina. 

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Even when Solomon Haile didn’t look as indestructible as people have been accustomed to, his pace still proved abusive to those that followed. Even when his stride length shortened and his lead shrank, he surged again and stifled any hope of chasing him down.

A breakdown of when all the Kentucky entries are competing this weekend at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Quick Striders coach Kwabene Brown talks about preparing for Nike Outdoor Nationals and the rest of the outdoor season.

Greenville rising senior Sandi Morris describes her trip to Portland, Ore. to work with pole vault coach Rick Baggett.

A list of Virginia girls competing at the 2009 Nike Outdoor Nationals to be held this weekend in Greensboro, North Carolina.

A list of Virginians entered in the boys' events at this upcoming weekend's Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Is one noted Floridan’s national record destined to be taken down by another Floridian?
 
     “Youbetcha,” say flocks of Sunshine State track fans who’ve been fortunate enough to see Ebony Eutsey in full flight.
 
       The sensational junior at Miami’s Southridge High School has been a state champion since her freshman year and heads to the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C. as both America’s fastest girls scholastic  400-meter runner (at 52.42) and a soon-to-be threat to Sanya Richards’s USA all-time girls best (50.69) notched for St. Thomas Aquinas of Fort Lauderdale in 2002.

Quick Striders teammates Briana Nelson (Mann) and Jasmin Stowers (Pendleton) competed in the Great Southwest Classic at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque June 4-6, a week before USATF state Junior Olympics and two weeks before Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Just like a Broadway star, Danny Neff (white top, purple shorts) from Vandalia-Butler likes to perform in front of a crowd. The bigger the better for the senior, who stated “Big crowds, that’s the best, It’s just so awesome.”