SycamoreStateofMind
10-15-2009, 10:21 PM
Notre Dame Invitational Meet Summary: Friday, October 2, 2009
Yes I know I am posting this really late - considering this meet took place almost 2 weeks ago now. I didn't really have anyone breathing down my neck asking me if I was going to do one for the meet - so I was not really in a hurry. I am not sure that anyone even cares to reed these articles - if your wondering, yes I am looking for a response. Readers do you actually read this?
My View
So here is the deal - the Sycamores are back on track after a 12th place finish at Notre Dame. We have traditionally struggled at this meet but this year the Sycamores were ready for a field that featured several nationally ranked programs. The Sycamores answered any lingering questions following the Indiana Intercollegiate meet, a meet which was dominated by a very impressive Indiana team. But as I said a few weeks ago this Sycamore team will rebound, they are young team and they don't know any better! Disher and Ski obviously went out a little "hot" and it came back to bite them in the ass. I am really surprised that Disher made this kind of mistake because he is such a strong racer - but you can't fault these guys for trying. I don't doubt that they wont bounce back on the big stage this week at Pre Nats.
News Flash! Scott Keeney is back - are you really surprised? What did you all think that he forgot how to race or something? I would suggest that the kid was never gone. Scott is just that good, he knows how to prepare himself and takes care of his body to well not to come on strong at the end of the season. He lead the Sycamores at Notre Dame placing 48th overall with a time of 24:43. This was a big step in the right direction for Scott and the entire team. It would seem that Scott is finding all the right answers at the right time - no surprise the kid is going to be a doctor someday!
Finally Eric Schuz seems to be going about his business as usually, he has been as consistent as any Sycamore on the team. He finished a strong 52nd with a time of 24:48 - All of this in the midst of his recent engagement to long time girlfriend Erin Gibson! Congrats to the both of them on this exciting news!
Post Race Interview:
sycamorerunner.com: Scott glad to see you back running well, I know you would still like to be running better. What was your game plan coming into the race? And did it go according to plan?
Scott: My game plan was the same as it is every year at Notre Dame: get out fast and hold on for dear life. This year, I ended up going out about as fast as I did last year, but I was able to hold on much better this year and my time ended up being 8 seconds faster on a course that was slower due to the rain. Thus, I would say that my game plan did work out well.
sycamorerunner.com: I would say so - hopefully all this rain moves out before Pre Nats on Saturday. Did the team do as well as you all had hoped? What could you have done differently as a team?
Scott: I think that all of us after the race knew that we should have been top 10 in this race. However, we are satisfied to have beaten quality programs such as Notre Dame, Georgia, and Florida. Everyone knows that Disher and Lepkowiski had an off day, which could have resulted from their extremely quick first 400 meters or so (I think Lepkowski was leading the race in the first 100 meters haha). Had those two been up with Schulz and myself, or even ahead, we could have easily been top 10. But, this is why we must maintain our depth throughout the rest of the season, so that if someone has an off day, another person is there to pick up the slack. I believe that Jeremiah Vaughan had an excellent race at Notre Dame, and I think he will be one of our top runners for the remainder of the season.
sycamorerunner.com: Yeah Vaughan like you seems to be comming on at the right time - that would be great for the Sycamores. It appears that the team moved up in the Regional rankings, what else do you guys need to do moving forward to solidify yourselves as a National contender?
Scott: During the race, it felt as if my first mile was very quick. However, it ended up being the same as last year (about 4:48). Even though it is important to get out hard at Notre Dame, one must also consider how he feels. I felt as if I was running as hard as I could without putting myself into complete oxygen debt. Some individuals get too caught up in getting out hard and immediately get into oxygen debt at the beginning of the race. I listed carefully to my respiration and didn't overdo it, and I felt like I moved up extremely well throughout the latter portion of the race, passing a lot of people that went out beyond their fitness level. So, to completely answer your question, my start may have appeared slower than others, but my intention was to get out as hard as I could maintain for the remainder of the race.
sycamorerunner.com: Yeah it must have been fun passing people all day - I would say you passing people was a better feeling than Disher and Ski had (I know that feeling, everyone who has ran at this level does). From the outside looking in it looked like you got off to a bit of a slow start? Did you feel you were off to a slow start or was that kind of by design? (Explain).
Scott: I really hope that we can surprise some people at Pre-Nationals. I don't think that we surprised anyone at Notre Dame, I feel most people expected us to finish around where we did. For us to shock the regional scene, everyone has to be "on" on the same day. And all that takes is for every team member to simply trust his fitness. I say that a lot at practice, and I truly believe it. Some of these guys are running unbelievable workouts that make me look like a 50 year old jogger, but they need to remember those workouts when they step on the line come race day.
sycamorehoops.com: And this is why you love a guy like Scott, I asked him a question that was directed toward him personally getting off to a slow start to the season and either he didn't feel he was off to a slow start to the season or he wanted to make it all about the team. I would say a little of both - but Scott is an excellent teamate, having been on the same team with him for 4 years I can testify to this! Thanks Scott and good luck this weekend! This is a big meet for the Sycamores!
Results:
Place TmPl Name School Class Time
1 JACOB KIRWA NEW MEXICO SR 23:44
2 BRANDON BETHKE ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SR 23:45
3 ANDY BAKER BUTLER SR 23:45
4 LEE CAREY PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SO 23:50
5 JOHN BEATTIE TULSA SR 23:51
6 BRIAN LEUNG PRINCETON UNIVERSITY SO 23:58
7 DAVID MCCARTHY PROVIDENCE COLLEGE JR 24:01
8 MOHAMED MOHAMED SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SR 24:03
9 KELLY SPADY WASHINGTON SR 24:05
10 CHRIS LEMON DAYTON JR 24:0511
11 JEFF SCHIRMER SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SR 24:07
12 CIARAN LIONARD FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY JR 24:08
13 COLTON TULLY-DOYLE WASHINGTON SR 24:09
14 CAMERON LEVINS SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY JR 24:11
15 BEN ENGELHARDT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY JR 24:11
16 DANIEL ROBERTS FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY SR 24:13
17 MARLON PATTERSON UCLA SR 24:14
18 EVAN WATCHEMPINO NORTH CAROLINA SO 24:14
19 LEWIS TIMMINS TULSA JR 24:16
20 MARCO ANZURES UCLA SR 24:16
21 CHAD HALL CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE SO 24:17
22 HAYDEN MCLAREN PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SR 24:18
23 ROB MULLETT BUTLER SR 24:18
24 BRIAN MCKENNA UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SO 24:19
25 MATT LEMON DAYTON JR 24:19
26 ADAM CUNNINGHAM NORTH CAROLINA SO 24:20
27 CHRIS BARNICLE NEW MEXICO SR 24:21
28 JAKE SCHMITT WASHINGTON SR 24:22
29 JOEY BYWATER WASHINGTON FR 24:22
30 SCOTT KRAPF ILLINOIS STATE SR 24:23
31 MATT MROCZYNSKI ILLINOIS STATE JR 24:24
32 DAVID BISHOP NEW MEXICO SR 24:24
33 WES RICKMAN FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY FR 24:24
34 MAX O'DONOGHUE MCDONAL WASHINGTON SO 24:26
35 MATT LEEDER FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY JR 24:28
36 MADISON ROEDER BUTLER JR 24:28
37 DOMINIC CHANNON PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SO 24:30
38 ANTHONY MORALES FLORIDA SO 24:30
39 DONN CABRAL PRINCETON UNIVERSITY SO 24:33
40 JEFF HELMER ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY JR 24:33
41 ROSS MILLINGTON NEW MEXICO FR 24:34
42 MARK DAVIDSON TULSA JR 24:35
43 KRIS GAUSON BUTLER SR 24:35
44 NICK HAPPE ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FR 24:37
45 DAN JACKSON NOTRE DAME JR 24:37
46 TOM BOARDMAN BUTLER SR 24:41
47 KYLE DEKKER TULSA SR 24:43
48 SCOTT KEENEY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SR 24:43
49 TOM WEBB PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SR 24:44
50 RORY FRASER NEW MEXICO SR 24:46
51 JASON HOLT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SR 24:47
52 ERIC SCHULZ INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SR 24:48
53 DANIEL HOWELL UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SO 24:48
54 HAYDEN HAWKS SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY FR 24:48
55 JASON ORDWAY SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SR 24:50
56 BEJAN ABTAHI GEORGIA SR 24:51
57 DYLAN HATCHER ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SO 24:51
58 MATT CLEAVER GEORGIA SO 24:52
59 ZACH DAWSON NORTH CAROLINA SR 24:52
60 STEVE STRICKLAND UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SR 24:52
61 MATT TERRY PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SO 24:53
62 MIKE ANDERSEN DAYTON SR 24:54
63 JOE STILIN PRINCETON UNIVERSITY SO 24:54
64 JACOB MATTHEWS UCLA JR 24:55
65 CRAIG PADGETT INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SO 24:56
Yes I know I am posting this really late - considering this meet took place almost 2 weeks ago now. I didn't really have anyone breathing down my neck asking me if I was going to do one for the meet - so I was not really in a hurry. I am not sure that anyone even cares to reed these articles - if your wondering, yes I am looking for a response. Readers do you actually read this?
My View
So here is the deal - the Sycamores are back on track after a 12th place finish at Notre Dame. We have traditionally struggled at this meet but this year the Sycamores were ready for a field that featured several nationally ranked programs. The Sycamores answered any lingering questions following the Indiana Intercollegiate meet, a meet which was dominated by a very impressive Indiana team. But as I said a few weeks ago this Sycamore team will rebound, they are young team and they don't know any better! Disher and Ski obviously went out a little "hot" and it came back to bite them in the ass. I am really surprised that Disher made this kind of mistake because he is such a strong racer - but you can't fault these guys for trying. I don't doubt that they wont bounce back on the big stage this week at Pre Nats.
News Flash! Scott Keeney is back - are you really surprised? What did you all think that he forgot how to race or something? I would suggest that the kid was never gone. Scott is just that good, he knows how to prepare himself and takes care of his body to well not to come on strong at the end of the season. He lead the Sycamores at Notre Dame placing 48th overall with a time of 24:43. This was a big step in the right direction for Scott and the entire team. It would seem that Scott is finding all the right answers at the right time - no surprise the kid is going to be a doctor someday!
Finally Eric Schuz seems to be going about his business as usually, he has been as consistent as any Sycamore on the team. He finished a strong 52nd with a time of 24:48 - All of this in the midst of his recent engagement to long time girlfriend Erin Gibson! Congrats to the both of them on this exciting news!
Post Race Interview:
sycamorerunner.com: Scott glad to see you back running well, I know you would still like to be running better. What was your game plan coming into the race? And did it go according to plan?
Scott: My game plan was the same as it is every year at Notre Dame: get out fast and hold on for dear life. This year, I ended up going out about as fast as I did last year, but I was able to hold on much better this year and my time ended up being 8 seconds faster on a course that was slower due to the rain. Thus, I would say that my game plan did work out well.
sycamorerunner.com: I would say so - hopefully all this rain moves out before Pre Nats on Saturday. Did the team do as well as you all had hoped? What could you have done differently as a team?
Scott: I think that all of us after the race knew that we should have been top 10 in this race. However, we are satisfied to have beaten quality programs such as Notre Dame, Georgia, and Florida. Everyone knows that Disher and Lepkowiski had an off day, which could have resulted from their extremely quick first 400 meters or so (I think Lepkowski was leading the race in the first 100 meters haha). Had those two been up with Schulz and myself, or even ahead, we could have easily been top 10. But, this is why we must maintain our depth throughout the rest of the season, so that if someone has an off day, another person is there to pick up the slack. I believe that Jeremiah Vaughan had an excellent race at Notre Dame, and I think he will be one of our top runners for the remainder of the season.
sycamorerunner.com: Yeah Vaughan like you seems to be comming on at the right time - that would be great for the Sycamores. It appears that the team moved up in the Regional rankings, what else do you guys need to do moving forward to solidify yourselves as a National contender?
Scott: During the race, it felt as if my first mile was very quick. However, it ended up being the same as last year (about 4:48). Even though it is important to get out hard at Notre Dame, one must also consider how he feels. I felt as if I was running as hard as I could without putting myself into complete oxygen debt. Some individuals get too caught up in getting out hard and immediately get into oxygen debt at the beginning of the race. I listed carefully to my respiration and didn't overdo it, and I felt like I moved up extremely well throughout the latter portion of the race, passing a lot of people that went out beyond their fitness level. So, to completely answer your question, my start may have appeared slower than others, but my intention was to get out as hard as I could maintain for the remainder of the race.
sycamorerunner.com: Yeah it must have been fun passing people all day - I would say you passing people was a better feeling than Disher and Ski had (I know that feeling, everyone who has ran at this level does). From the outside looking in it looked like you got off to a bit of a slow start? Did you feel you were off to a slow start or was that kind of by design? (Explain).
Scott: I really hope that we can surprise some people at Pre-Nationals. I don't think that we surprised anyone at Notre Dame, I feel most people expected us to finish around where we did. For us to shock the regional scene, everyone has to be "on" on the same day. And all that takes is for every team member to simply trust his fitness. I say that a lot at practice, and I truly believe it. Some of these guys are running unbelievable workouts that make me look like a 50 year old jogger, but they need to remember those workouts when they step on the line come race day.
sycamorehoops.com: And this is why you love a guy like Scott, I asked him a question that was directed toward him personally getting off to a slow start to the season and either he didn't feel he was off to a slow start to the season or he wanted to make it all about the team. I would say a little of both - but Scott is an excellent teamate, having been on the same team with him for 4 years I can testify to this! Thanks Scott and good luck this weekend! This is a big meet for the Sycamores!
Results:
Place TmPl Name School Class Time
1 JACOB KIRWA NEW MEXICO SR 23:44
2 BRANDON BETHKE ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SR 23:45
3 ANDY BAKER BUTLER SR 23:45
4 LEE CAREY PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SO 23:50
5 JOHN BEATTIE TULSA SR 23:51
6 BRIAN LEUNG PRINCETON UNIVERSITY SO 23:58
7 DAVID MCCARTHY PROVIDENCE COLLEGE JR 24:01
8 MOHAMED MOHAMED SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SR 24:03
9 KELLY SPADY WASHINGTON SR 24:05
10 CHRIS LEMON DAYTON JR 24:0511
11 JEFF SCHIRMER SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SR 24:07
12 CIARAN LIONARD FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY JR 24:08
13 COLTON TULLY-DOYLE WASHINGTON SR 24:09
14 CAMERON LEVINS SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY JR 24:11
15 BEN ENGELHARDT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY JR 24:11
16 DANIEL ROBERTS FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY SR 24:13
17 MARLON PATTERSON UCLA SR 24:14
18 EVAN WATCHEMPINO NORTH CAROLINA SO 24:14
19 LEWIS TIMMINS TULSA JR 24:16
20 MARCO ANZURES UCLA SR 24:16
21 CHAD HALL CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE SO 24:17
22 HAYDEN MCLAREN PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SR 24:18
23 ROB MULLETT BUTLER SR 24:18
24 BRIAN MCKENNA UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SO 24:19
25 MATT LEMON DAYTON JR 24:19
26 ADAM CUNNINGHAM NORTH CAROLINA SO 24:20
27 CHRIS BARNICLE NEW MEXICO SR 24:21
28 JAKE SCHMITT WASHINGTON SR 24:22
29 JOEY BYWATER WASHINGTON FR 24:22
30 SCOTT KRAPF ILLINOIS STATE SR 24:23
31 MATT MROCZYNSKI ILLINOIS STATE JR 24:24
32 DAVID BISHOP NEW MEXICO SR 24:24
33 WES RICKMAN FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY FR 24:24
34 MAX O'DONOGHUE MCDONAL WASHINGTON SO 24:26
35 MATT LEEDER FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY JR 24:28
36 MADISON ROEDER BUTLER JR 24:28
37 DOMINIC CHANNON PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SO 24:30
38 ANTHONY MORALES FLORIDA SO 24:30
39 DONN CABRAL PRINCETON UNIVERSITY SO 24:33
40 JEFF HELMER ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY JR 24:33
41 ROSS MILLINGTON NEW MEXICO FR 24:34
42 MARK DAVIDSON TULSA JR 24:35
43 KRIS GAUSON BUTLER SR 24:35
44 NICK HAPPE ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FR 24:37
45 DAN JACKSON NOTRE DAME JR 24:37
46 TOM BOARDMAN BUTLER SR 24:41
47 KYLE DEKKER TULSA SR 24:43
48 SCOTT KEENEY INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SR 24:43
49 TOM WEBB PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SR 24:44
50 RORY FRASER NEW MEXICO SR 24:46
51 JASON HOLT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SR 24:47
52 ERIC SCHULZ INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SR 24:48
53 DANIEL HOWELL UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SO 24:48
54 HAYDEN HAWKS SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY FR 24:48
55 JASON ORDWAY SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY SR 24:50
56 BEJAN ABTAHI GEORGIA SR 24:51
57 DYLAN HATCHER ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SO 24:51
58 MATT CLEAVER GEORGIA SO 24:52
59 ZACH DAWSON NORTH CAROLINA SR 24:52
60 STEVE STRICKLAND UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SR 24:52
61 MATT TERRY PROVIDENCE COLLEGE SO 24:53
62 MIKE ANDERSEN DAYTON SR 24:54
63 JOE STILIN PRINCETON UNIVERSITY SO 24:54
64 JACOB MATTHEWS UCLA JR 24:55
65 CRAIG PADGETT INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SO 24:56