Skype Chat: Stephanie Jenks Pumped for Brooks PR

Iowa sophomore Stephanie Jenks talks about goals for Brooks PR and reflects on Dream Mile & New Balance Nationals.

Skype Chat: Audrey Belf ready for Dream Mile

Michigan junior Audrey Belf chats with Oceane Maher before the Adidas Dream Mile.

Desiree Freier Remains Undefeated for the Season

Desiree Freier ends her high school career with a third state championship. The high school national record holder for the pole vault was undefeated this season, and came into her last meet feeling confident.

“I have to say I didn’t have nerves today which is really weird. I usually have some sort of butterflies but I didn’t today, and I don’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing but I love jumping here and I think it was a pretty good day.”

Although Freier didn’t break her national record from Texas Relays, she ends her season with her head held high.

“I came out here to do my best. Maybe I didn’t the height but I got the medal which is pretty exciting.”

Freier will be attending the University of Arkansas next year, but she has something big on her mind before she switches gears and enters college mode.

“This summer I’m going to try to go to the worlds (juniors).” Freier was 9^th at the World Youth Championships last year, clearing a height of 12”11.5. She went 13”6 on Saturday, and her national record is 14”3.25. This puts her above last year’s Youth Champion who cleared a height of 13”11.25.

“My long term goal of course is to go to the 2016 Olympics,” says Freier. A three-time state champion and national record holder? The next Olympics is definitely within reach for Desiree Freier.

Regionals Recap

Hi this is Oceane, here to recap the regional track meets! The competitors for the state meet have been determined, and there were some incredible performances along the way.

Kira White (SO) ran the fastest 100m time of 11.64 at the region 1-5A meet. Danyel White (SO) had the fastest 200m time of 23.63 also at the region 1-5A meet. Jarra Owens (JR) ran the fastest 400m time at the region 3-5A meet of 54.91.

The leading time going into the state meet in the 800 is Kristyn William’s (JR) 2:11.19 from the region 3-4A meet. Anna Cozart (SR) was the region 4-5A champion with a time of 2:13.12, and I was able to interview her after her race.

In the girls 1600, we had a fantastic race in region 4-5A with Devin Clark (JR), Morgan Szekely (12) and Paige Hofstad (10). Clark was the winner after outkicking Szekely and running a time of 4:46. Szekely placed 2^nd with a time of 4:48 and Hofstad was 3^rd with 4:51, a time that would’ve placed first in any other region. The previous day Clark was the 3200m champion with a time of 10:27.13, and Hofstad was 2^nd with a time of 10:27.99. Here is my interview with Devin Clark.

Alexis Duncan (10) continues to lead the hurdles, winning region 4-5A 100m hurdles with a time of 13.44.

Other highlights from the girls were Fort Bend Bush’s 4x4 relay that ran a time of 3:45 and Converse Judson’s 4x2 winning with a time of 1:37. San Antonio Brennan had a good lead in the girls 4x2 relay running a time of 1:42.18. I was able to interview them after their race.

Based solely upon the regional meets, Desoto is the favorite to win the 5A girls state championship and Texas City is the favorite to win 4A.

Some highlights from the boys race: Darrion Flowers (11) ran a 10.34 in the 100m at the region 1-5A meet. Devante Lacy (12) ran a 46.88 400 at the region 2-5A meet. Robert Ford won the boys 800 at the region 4-5A meet with a time of 1:53, and I was able to interview him after his race.

Austen Dalquist (12) ran a 4:13 1600, and still holds the fastest time of the season of 4:09. Norman Grimes (10) ran 36.90 in the 300m hurdles leading the 4A boys by almost a full second.

Summer Creek dominated the relays, leading 4A with times of 40.93 in the 4x1 and 3:14 in the 4x4. Katy Morton Ranch is the leading team for 5A boys and Fort Bend Marshall is the leading team for 4A boys.

This was a fantastic weekend with tons of fast times, and I can’t wait for the state meet! The girls performance of the week goes to Devin Clark once again for running a 4:46 1600 and 10:27 3200. The boys performance of the week goes to Devante Lacy for being the first boy of the season to break 47 in the 400.

Congrats to all of the state qualifiers, and thank you for watching Stride by Stride!

Area Track Meets Recap (4/19)

Hi it's Oceane, here to recap the area track meets. There are only 3 weeks left until the state track meet, and we're starting to get an idea of who's in contention for the state titles.

I'll start with the most impressive performances of the week coming from districts 25 & 26 5A. Devin Clark, Morgan Szekely and Paige hofstad took 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the 1600 with times of 4:46, 4:48 and 4:50. Earlier that day Clark ran 10:20 for the 3200 and Hofstad was 10:25. 

Other standout performance from the area meets include Austen Dalquist's 4:09 1600 and Zach Kirkland's 4:14, both from districts 3-4 5a. Efrain Fernandez ran 1:52 in the districts 7-8 5A 800.

In the boy's 300 m hurdles, Kendall Sheffield set a new season record in districts 21-22 4a with a time of 36.73. 

Some impressive sprinting performances were Taylor Bennett's 24.15 200 for the girls 13-14 5a meet. In the boys 400 Devante Lacy set a new season record of 46.95 also at the district 13-14 5a meet.

In the boys 4x2 relay, Lancaster and Desoto are now ranked first and second with times of 1:25.20 and 1:25.50. Desoto is ranked 3rd in the girls 4x1 with a time of 46.69.

I interviewed the two time 3200 meter champion from districts 15-16 5a meet, Melanie Enriquez.

Madie Boreman, last year's 1600 state champion won the 1600 and 3200 at the districts 25-26 4a meet. I was able to interview her after her races.

Another big competitor from the districts 25-26 4a area meet is Steven Galli. He won the 800, 1600 and his 4x4 team (Dripping Springs) placed 3rd advancing to regionals. I interviewed him as well.

Lots of amazing performances this week, and the girls performance of the week goes to Devin Clark. Her 4:46 1600 should get her a ticket to the Adidas dream mile and that's after running a 10:20 3200. The boy's performance of the week goes to Austen Dalquist for running a 4:09 1600 and 9:01 3200. He's been topping the charts all season long, definitely the favorite to win the state titles.

That's it for this week, please tune in next week for a recap of the regional meets! Thank you for watching Stride by Stride.

Texas Relays Recap

Hi this is Oceane, and today I will be recapping Texas Relays. There was so much great competition, fast times and new records, this year’s relays was definitely a success. I must admit it was a rather stressful event-I was initially refused a press pass because of my age, but I conducted interviews outside the stands and eventually was given a pass.

On Thursday, Olympic medalist Leo Manzano beat his previous record and ran 1:47.34 in the 800, a new meet record. I was able to interview him after he signed autographs on Saturday.

Also on Thursday was the steeplechase, and Gabby Thompson left everyone in the dust after running 7:29 for the 2000m steeplechase. I was able to interview her after her race.

Friday consisted of prelims for relays and the 1600m run for high schoolers. This was a fast race for the girls, Morgan Szekely came in with the fastest time of 4:56 and led the pack for most of the race. All of a sudden sophomore Aaliyah Miller stole the show, running 4:50.17, destroying her previous time of 5:12. Here is her interview.

Brendon Taylor came all the way from Arkansas and stole the gold for the boys 1600 with a time of 4:14.

Another interesting race was the girls distance medley relay. Manvel led the way, but Paige Hofstad was the standout after running a 4:55 1600 as the anchor and gaining a lot of ground.

Saturday was packed with talent, and arguably the most competitive race of the event was the girls 3200m run. The field was filled with state champions and record holders. Madie Boreman and Julia Heymach controlled the pace for the first mile, but once Hofstad made her move the race was hers. Hofstad finished in a time of 10:27, and following 3 seconds behind was Devin Clark. I was able to interview her after her race.

Unfortunately Austen Dalquist, who holds the fastest time of the season wasn’t present, but Carter Blunt won the boys 3200 with a time of 9:06 in a perfectly executed race.

Houston St. Thomas won the 4x2 and won the 4x4 by 4 seconds, running an incredible time of 3:38.26. Lancaster was 3^rd for the girls and won the boys 4x4 in a time of 3:14.12.

Four time Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross made an appearance, and I was able to weave through a mob of adoring fans to interview her.

Thank you so much to everyone who interviewed with me, and to my brother Everest for filming some interviews and my friend Gema Sanchez for helping me out when Everest had to leave. Full interviews of Leo Manzano and Sanya Richards-Ross can be viewed on my blog stridebystriderecaps.blogspot.com. Thank you for watching Stride by Stride. 

Leo Manzano Interview @ Texas Relays

Olympic medalist Leo Manzano talks about racing strategy, 2016 Olympics.