|
2012 SEC Outdoor Track
& Field Championships
Team Quotes
Chris Bucknam
Arkansas Head Coach
2012 SEC Outdoor Men’s Team Champions On their men’s team win …
“It was a full team effort across the board, from the decathlon all the way to the pole vault the end. We
had some national and world‐class performances thrown in there, along with some outstanding
individual efforts by our guys. We put this many points up at an SEC Championship, so I think we’re
pretty good. I think depth‐wise, we’re awfully good.” On achieving the SEC triple crown …
“It was really important, because it’s hard to do, to be able to spread your scholarships and your
coaching staff over that great range to win all three of these championships. It’s not easy. I don’t think a
lot of programs try to do it, but we do. It’s nice to see it come together like it has. It goes back to our
cross country title last fall, all the way to seeing a pole vaulter make the Olympic A standard. It gives you
the range of depth of the kind of program we have here.” On the performance by the Decathletes …
“It was very important. I think we had planned maybe 22 points on our score sheet. To score that many
more sent the message to the rest of the team that we were going to put our foot down on the pedal
and really get after this thing. We didn’t envision scoring 196 points, but it steamrolled after that and we
got the job done. “ Omar Craddock, Florida
Men’s Triple Jump Champion
“To come out here and get 10 points, that's what our team needed. I feel like I'm getting better every
competition and I'm just pumped that I can go out and score points for my team. I'm also really proud of
Marquis Dendy. He came into his first SEC Outdoors and scored in the long jump and the triple jump.”
“I'm really proud of the triple jump tradition at Florida. I try to do my part to keep the legacy Christian
(Taylor) and Will (Claye) builtand I'm so glad I've been able to have the success I've had this year. The
work Coach O'Neal has been putting in with us has helped me improve and continue to work hard.” Stephen Saenz, Auburn
Men’s Shot Put Champion
On his winning throw …
“I was in second place going into the finals. I was messing up in the first round, but I got to the finals and
got my bearings again. I hit my positions and I felt pretty good. I hit it pretty good and wen 19.57. That
tied my outdoor PR for the season, so I was pretty excited.” On
Auburn’s dominance in the shot put …“90 percent of what Auburn has been
able to do is Coach [Jerry] Clayton. His workouts are gearedtoward us
peaking at this time of the year. He’s a master with our workouts of
when we will peak. He’s great at that and great at motivating us. It’s
not just me. [Fifth‐place Teammate] Marcus [Popenfoose]
PRed too. He knows what he is doing in the weight room and with training. It gets you ready for these
big meets.” On any added pressure that he feels because of Auburn’s success in the event …
“I definitely feel pressure, but its good pressure. It’s good to have that pressure, because otherwise,
where does the adrenaline come from? You have to have a little bit.” Marek Niit, Arkansas (Anchor Leg)
Men’s 4x100 Relay Champion
“I think we came into the race as an underdog, but Caleb (Cross) had a good start and Akheem
(Gauntlett) kept us there. Once the race got off and I got the baton, I just wanted to go for it.” Barrett Nugent, LSU
Men’s 110 Hurdles Champion
On being the first to win three straight SEC titles in the 110 hurdles at LSU …
“It feels pretty good winning and winning all three times, especially by the fact that I always get to go
against tough competitors. With everything we go through, it’s just nice to win. It’s great winning a race
at home.” On winning the title at a home meet …
“There’s a special value in the fact that [the meet’s] at home. I have a lot of people from Vermillion
Parish here, a lot of people from back home and my family. Especially for Mother’s Day, it’s just nice to
have my mom and everybody here.” Tony McQuay, Florida
Men’s 400 Meters Champion
“I felt like I'm getting back into it. It's been a while since I've competed so to come out here and get my
first SEC Outdoor championship feels good. It wasn't my best race, but we got 10 points and that's all
that matters.”
“A lot of us run both the 400 finals and the 4x400‐meter relay, so my mindset is as that I have the Gator
across my chest and I get to run for the University of Florida, so I'm going to give it all I have until it's
finished.” Keenan Brock, Auburn
Men’s 100 Meters Champion
On the last 20‐30 meters …
My closing has always been the best part of my race. In the past few months we’ve just been working on
my drive phase and the acceleration zone. I needed all of it today.
On how it feels to win …I actually wanted to win the relay too, but unfortunately Harry cramped up in the 100 meters yesterday.
I’m feeling great. I’m ecstatic. On the quick turnaround to the 200 meters …
I’m just going to rest, do some drills and try to stay hydrated. Aaron Evans, Georgia
Men’s 800 Meters Champion
“This is my last year and I have already finished twice at SEC meets so I was looking for two SEC wins to
end my year as a Georgia Bulldog this year. I'm happy with it. My goal was to simply win this race and
that's what I did. In this race, I went out slow because there were a lot of Arkansas guys that I had to
move around. I waited until my last 100 (meters) to make my move and it paid off.” Isiah Young, Ole Miss
Men’s 200 Meters Champion
“I just came off the turn hard and tried to finish strong. It should bump up (our team score) a little bit.
I’m just running trying to help the team out. I lost the 100, so I was kind of upset and tried to bounce
back in the 200.” Andrew Irwin, Arkansas
Men’s Pole Vault Champion
“I felt pretty good after my warm‐up when I came in at 5.30 (meters). I had a little road bump there
missing my first attempt so I made some adjustments on my run and squeaked over that bar. Tweaked
my run again and got it dialed in where we wanted it, and I was able to finish the rest of the day on it.”
“It was a good win for me. I was struggling there a little bit but I was really glad to see that I was going to
end up winning. Being able to jump 5.72 (meters) is a big deal for me. That qualifies me for a few things
and gets me some records. That is the Olympic ‘A’ Standard which not many people get to experience,
especially being a freshman in college. That’s also the American junior record, and not a lot of people
get to reach that, either.” Dwight Barbiasz, Florida
Men’s High Jump Champion
“I didn't really know what to expect coming in here because I was coming off of an ankle injury and I
haven't really been able to train the way I would have liked, but Coach Welty was really patient with me
and worked with me and it really paid off. It was great to get a PR and prove to myself that I can do it.”
“Winning today means a lot because this is what I promised Coach Holloway when I came to Florida. I
was leaving the University of Maryland and coming here and I think we had to trust each other. I trusted
Coach Holloway and Coach Welty enough to leave what I knew behind because I wanted to compete for
championships and they trusted me enough to deliver and today just proves that all of the hard work all
of us have put in has paid off.” Lane Boyer, ArkansasMen’s 5,000 Meters Champion
“To know we already had the triple crown wrapped up freed us up to run the race we needed to run.
This is my last SEC competition. I’m a senior, so I’m out of here after this year. My number‐one goal was
to win something. I wanted to get an individual title to go along with our team crown.” Dedric Dukes, Florida (First Leg)
Men’s 4x400‐Metere Relay Champions
“It felt so great to be able to contribute and win as a freshman. I try to go out there, do what I can, start
things off well and get us in good position and I just felt great out there. To have two freshmen on the
opening legs, it shows the coaches really trust that we can come out and contribute to the team."
|
