Nike Outdoor Nationals 2009

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.

Jaquon Peques of South Carolina talks about the pole vault.

Keri Emanuel of South Carolina talks about the meet.

Mann alumna Brittney Waller (S.C.) talks about competing in Nike Outdoor Nationals for the first time.

Micah Wessinger of South Carolina talks about Nike Outdoor Nationals and attending The Citadel.

Jorde Farmer of South Carolina talks about competing in the 800-meter run.

Warwick Valley 4x800-meter relay team of New York talks about their race.

Liam Tansey of New Jersey talks about the 4x800-meter relay.

Jasmin Stowers talks about defending her hurdles title.

Trevor Dunbar of Alaska talks about his two mile win and adapting to the weather.

Wayne Davis of North Carolina talks about his hurdles victory.

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.

Brandon Sanders of South Carolina talks about competing as a freshman in the meet.

Alec Faldermeyer of New York talks about winning the hammer throw.

Chelsey Sveinsson of Texas talks about winning the two-mile and running again the next day.

Dentarius Locke of Florida talks about his 100-meter dash win. Locke also finished first in the preliminaries.

Fordham Prep boys 4x400-meter relay team talk about their time.

Alex Hatz of New York talks about his second place finish in the mile.

Curtis Beach of New Mexico talks about his third place 800-meter run finish.

Christopher Stogsd of New York talks about his mile win.

Donnalee Hytlon of New York talks about her 400-meter dash finish at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Stephen Saenz of Texas talks about finishing second in the shot put at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Claudia Francis of New York talks about winning the 800-meter run at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Charlene Lipsey of New York talks about finishing second in the 800-meter run at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Erik Kynard of Ohio talks about winning high jump at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Alex Collatz of California talks about winning the discus as a sophomore at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Nick Vena of New Jersey talks about the shot put competition at Nike Outdoor Nationals.

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.

Robby Andrews of New Jersey talks about his 800-meter dash win.

  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 of Colorado talks about his Nike Outdoor Nationals shot put win.

Mann coach George Moss was named coach of the year by NSSF.

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. https://nc.milesplit.com/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.

Chalonda Goodman of Georgia talks about her record in the 100-meter dash and today's 200-meter dash event.

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

NON:Jenkins 6th 5k|Shirk 2nd JT|Lavong 3rd TJ|Miller 2nd JT-'Toona 41.29-3:13:38+PA 2-3-4-Nugent 2nd

Zachary Ornelas of Texas talks about the 5,000-meter run

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

Nike Outdoor Nationals, Greensboro, NC, 2009

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.