Athletes Discuss First Impressions Of New Hayward, Assess Performance At USATF Grand Prix

Editor's Note: All interviews from Saturday's USATF Grand Prix at Hayward Field were done virtually through two Zoom stations. Athletes were ushered to seats in front of cameras and a moderator asked questions that were submitted by reporters. Between each use, headsets and chairs were wiped down. 

Here is a collection of quotes, with corresponding photos, of athletes who spoke to the media after competing. 

OREGON RELAYS VIDEO COVERAGE | MEET RECAP | RESULTS

 

USATF Grand Prix Flash Quotes - April 24, 2021

 

Eilish McColgan (Great Britain), winner, women's 5,000m (14:42.44)

How did you feel about your race today?

“I surprised myself that I wasn’t too far outside of my PB.”

What do you think of the new Hayward?

“It’s incredible. I was here for the Prefontaine meet, back in, a long time ago, maybe 2014 … It is truly incredible, even walking through to the call room. If I was a student, I was 10 years younger, I would certainly go back and come here.”

 

(Photo by Tim Healy)

Tori Franklin (USA), winner, women's triple jump (14.10m)

What did you think of your Hayward experience? 

“It was really exciting. I came in here just reminiscing about the NCAA games, Olympic Trials, just imagining what this atmosphere might be like.”

Was the track slick because of rain? Were there problems? 

“No, it was fine. Had no problems, everyone who was working out there did a great job to make sure it was a safe atmosphere.”

How has your training been during COVID-19? What are you able to do/not do?

“I’ve been all over the place since the pandemic began. Obviously, initially it was really hard trying to find somewhere to train, but going into this year, 2021, things have been a lot easier to train for me with my facility.”

 

Rudy Winkler (USA), winner, men's hammer (71.98m, WL/PB)

You got your personal best and the world leader today, how did that feel? 

“It was great. I opened up definitely a little nervous today. The first big meet of the year, I've been feeling really good in training.”

What were the effects of the pandemic on your training?

“Pandemic was obviously tough to navigate for everybody… Having had COVID in April, I had to take that entire month off… It reminded me that it’s okay to take time off, it’s okay to take rest.”

On moving up to No. 2 on American all-time list:

“It’s great to be in the ranks with people who I’ve looked up to my entire life… I hope I can inspire other people the way they inspired me.”

 

Rachel McCoy (USA), winner, women's high jump (1.87m)

In terms of your event today, did you have a specific plan coming in that you wanted to execute? 

“Just try my best basically, and go out there to compete. We had a few things that we've been working on in practice, mostly the penultimate (step) and staying back. So just executing those game plan strategies.”

Is there anything specific you need to do to get where you want to be in the next month and a half for the Trials and the Olympics? 

“That standard of 1.96 still, so put that on the to do list and just keep working. Stay disciplined, and stay focused.”

What was it like to compete in the new stadium? 

“Oh, it's so beautiful. It's so beautiful here. I've been telling people it's about time we have a track stadium rather than a track field. So the University of Oregon did an excellent job on providing that.”

 

(Photo by Tim Healy)

Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bahamas), winner, women's 400m (49.08, WL, Hayward Record)

Did you have a specific plan for today’s race?

“No, the 400 is my favorite event, I love coming in and trying to figure it out and having some fun with unraveling the secrets of it. Same thing we've been working on for years, trying to perfect the race model.”

How does it feel to break the Hayward Field record?

“To break it from a great like Sanya (Richards-Ross) is a great feeling. I came here two years ago and I raced and opened up a 49.5 so that’s a pretty decent opener.”

How does it feel to set a world-leading time today?

“We’ve been really working on getting our strength up and now that we are in the middle of the season we are going to work on speed and getting ready to put down some great performances in the 200s.” 

(Photo by Tim Healy)

Laura Muir (Great Britain), winner, women's 1,500m (4:01.54)

Did you have a specific plan coming into today, and how do you feel you executed?

“I was planning to run really really fast. I was on pace for the first and it was just really really windy, that was really difficult to do in those conditions at top end speed. I didn't actually run as fast as I wanted to.”

Did the conditions change your mentality during race?

“I try to not think about it on the first lap and just to catch a time. Trying to run three- and three-quarter laps when it’s that windy, when you're by yourself and trying to run at max speed is difficult.” 

On the challenge of running solo

“It was really difficult, actually, I’m usually known for solo running quite a lot but usually that's the second half of the race. That was really tough especially with the wind as well.”

(Photo by Phil Yearian) 

Madeleine Kelly (Canada), winners, college women's 800m (2:02.87)

On being injured (sacral stress fracture in summer 2020):

“It was really hard emotionally at first, but it forced me to work on a lot of little things.”

“It’s no fun while it’s happening.”

On preparing for the Olympic Trials and Olympics:

“We’re just going to keep going out at 59 flat.” 

 

(Photo by Tim Healy)

Allyson Felix (USA), seventh place, women's 100m (11.30)

How do you feel?

“It's not the greatest day for me.”

How has your motivation been?

“I think my motivation has been great, it's been hard with how this year has been with COVID.”  

(Photo by Tim Healy) 

Trayvon Bromell (USA), winner, men's 100m (10.01)

What was your plan coming into today?

“Staying healthy. We knew that the weather was going to be a factor. They were saying all week that it was going to be raining so we just wanted to make it through the race healthy.”

Is there a specific plan you have that is different if it's raining?

“Just run through the phases. Just try to stay poised.”

At this point in the season is there a specific time you're looking to hit or are you just trying to go as fast as you can? 

“I’m not looking at times. My purpose is just to show the world who God is. That’s all I’m here for.” 

Looking towards the Trials and the Olympics, is there anything specific you or your team feel you need to do to get there?

“The main focus is not to get complacent. We have to make sure we’re working hard day in and day out, and that’s what we are doing. I think everybody in our group knows and understands that.”  

 

(Photo by Phil Yearian)

Noah Lyles (USA), second place, men's 100m (10.17)

On Hayward Field:

“The amenities around the track are the cool and exciting parts.”

What are your goals?

“So far it’s just getting races underneath me.”

“It takes a little bit more out of me for the 100 than the 200.”

How was your training during the pandemic?

“For a while we were just training in parks.”

How do you feel about the build up so far in 2021, to get back to where you were in Doha?

“It's taking one step at a time… and improving on each one of those.”  

 

Donald Scott (USA), winner, men's triple jump (16.89m)

Going into your event, what was your plan?

“My plan was to execute my phase two into my phase three. We have been working on a lot of that this preseason. It’s not there yet. I have a lot of time to work on it still.”  

 

Isaac Updike (USA), winner, men's 3,000m steeplechase (8:17.74)

How is your training going?

“We tried to reevaluate the workouts, whether that be more intensity or more volume on a week to week basis.”

On today’s result

“I had hoped I was in 18 shape. Obviously every race is not going to be that fast.”

On Hayward Field:

“It's magical as always.”

“Even without the spectators it’s electric.”

On setting a personal best:

“I wasn’t expecting this time.” 

 

(Photo by Tim Healy)

Adelle Tracey (Great Britain), winner, women's 800m (2:03.25)

How did you feel about how close the race was?

“I was just concentrating on running through the line.”

“It was a really fun race.”

Did you expect to win?

“I think you always have to believe in yourself… it was an amazing line up.”

“It’s really nice to come away with the win.”

 

Raevyn Rogers (USA), third place place women's 800m (2:03.89)

Did you have a specific plan coming into this race and if so, how do you feel you executed it?

“I did have a specific plan and I executed it perfectly. I feel like the hardest part is having a plan and staying patient. Today I wanted to make my focus on executing the plan, so I’ll take that as a W.”

How do you work on specifically being patient in those races?

“It’s tough. I feel like today was one of the hardest challenges with that. I feel like out of a scale from 1-10, it was definitely a seven.” 

 

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (Puerto Rico), winner, women's 100m hurdles (12.46)

Did you have a specific plan coming into the race today?

“I just had to keep in mind to get out and remember everything I've been doing in practice. Just get a good start and hold it.”

Does the rain affect your race or performance?

“It’s just kind of crazy that it started raining right as we walked out. I came here for nationals in college so I’m used to the cold weather and the rain. It wasn't a shock to me.” 

 

(Photo by Kim Spir)

Marquis Dendy (USA), winner, men's long jump (7.98m)

You fouled on your first two jumps. What did you change after that?

“It was a little difficult mainly because, you know, my coach was out there kind of giving me my checkmarks. So I just kind of really went ahead and just kind of went, went back to my old high school style, take it back two and a half feet, keep it light to moderate on the on the push down, and then just kind of want to pretty much aim for the back of the board, just so I can get in.”

What were some of those check marks? 

“Every single meet that I come to, I aim for the Olympic standard, you know, 8.22. And you know, no matter what the conditions are: rain, sleet, hail, snow doesn't matter, I definitely just want to kind of come out here and have that goal in mind.”

“It's a little nippy, but you know, I’m not gonna make any excuses. I'm from Delaware. So I really can't make too many excuses. I've ran and jumped in snow before, so that was my only advantage of being from Delaware.”

You’ve said you almost prefer to train than to compete. So why is that, and is there anything specific about training that you prefer? 

“I'm just a meathead. I love to train. I love that aspect of you know, just kind of waking up every day. Mondays are my favourite days. I get to start the week off really strong. Monday, Tuesday, wrestle my Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, what's on the weekend? And so when I get into that training mode, I kind of go in, like into that Zero Dark 30.”

What did you think of competing at the recently renovated Hayward Field? 

“Oh, it's amazing. The last time I competed at Hayward Field was what, 2016 Olympic Trials? Which, by the way, was the greatest long jump competition I think I've ever been in.”

“It looks great out there. Runway feels great. So many seats. It's just great. I'm at a loss for words. Really. I mean, it's really, really good. It's crazy. I love it. it's again, I'm just speechless. It's so good. I can't wait to jump on it. I wish I had more meets. I actually would like to stay out here for a while to keep jumping.” 

 

Jereem Richards (Trinidad and Tobago), winner, men's 200m (20.26)

The conditions were a little slick today, it was raining earlier which is normal for here. But does that change your block work at all or your race at all?

“No it didn’t, I expected it to do this. I think it was actually a blessing that it stopped raining and it got sunny a little bit.” 

(Photo by Phil Yearian) 

Ollie Hoare (Australia), winner, men's 1,500m (3:33.54)

How will you make your case to make Australia's Olympic team?

“To make my case, I just have to keep running races like this.”

“For me, Keep pushing, keep running fast and I’ll hopefully make my case.”

What was the decision like to stay in the U.S. to train during the pandemic?

“It was a tough decision… I had 15 minutes to make the decision.”

“I was risking a lot making that decision in that short period of time.”

“I obviously wanted to finish my degree and have a professional career here.”

On Hayward Field:

“It was fantastic. The last time I was here I won the national championship in the 1500 (in 2018).” 

 

Michael Norman (USA), winner, men's 400m (44.67)

How do you feel?

“I’m mixed about the season opener. I haven’t (raced outdoors) in over a year.”

“I just want to go back and study the execution.”

How did the pandemic affect your training?

“It was tough. We lost our training facility… we didn’t know what we were training for.”

“At the start of the season, we finally got a training facility.”

On Hayward Field:

“The facility is beautiful… I wish there was a huge fan base out here to cheer us on.” 

(Photo by Phil Yearian) 

Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria), winner, women's 100m (10.97)

Is there a specific plan you had coming into the day?

“I just wanted to execute this the best way I can, from what I've been training and working on and see where that puts me even with the conditions. So, I think that was the goal today and pretty much, I think we achieved that.”  

What have you been working on specifically in your training?

“Trying to really get fit and healthier this year. I've had a couple of years with the setbacks of injuries, and it was really hard for me to train effectively and stay fit to go through certain plans of my races. This year is just staying fit so I can go through the rounds and get faster through the rounds.”  

How did it feel to compete at the recently renovated Hayward Field?

“It feels great. It looks really great as well. The first time I was here, I think it was nationals, 2010, when I was a collegiate athlete, and this is completely different and amazing. This is actually my first time winning here at this track. I've been coming here forever, but this is my first win year. So it's amazing.”