Diana Pickler - Washington St.
Heptathlon University/College Champion
There is so much tradition here, we have been here since we were freshmen in high school. We talk about this meet at the beginning of the season and in our fall training. It’s always an exciting meet. It’s kind of sad because we have been coming here for eight years and this was our last year.
It’s amazing having someone like that [Julie Pickler] to train with and practice with every day. We have been doing this our whole lives. It’s an advantage to have her here. She [Julie] is trying to get back after having a procedure at the beginning of the year, she will get her times back down.
I’m not thinking there [about the Olympics] yet. I’m still thinking about Pac-10 and Nationals, so I have got to focus on those before I can focus on that [Olympics], but its still in the back of your head.
Brandon Buteaux - UT-San Antonio
Decathlon University/College Champion
I wasn’t even thinking about it [winning] going into the pole vault, but then the opportunity arose for me to win it and I just knew how to run with the guy. I just came out here to qualify for Nationals because this is my first decathlon in over two and half years so I wasn’t looking for anything big. I think I left a few points out there, but that happens at every decathlon. I’m actually happy that the opportunity arose to win it. I like it a lot.
I had to redshirt for a shoulder injury, so I haven’t competed in the decathlon for over two years. I was happy to be back until the 1500 [laughs]. I was just happy to compete and get back on the track again.
I’m actually glad that a few of the guys that were out there, were out there. When you’re not putting up a number and there are other people out there pushing you in other events, it helps. It’s kind of like legos, you just build on each other. You are competing with one guy in this event and the next guy in another event and you end up with a good number without even knowing it.
Thanks to Coach Fox for helping me in everything and my family who comes to every meet with me. I like that they get the chance to see me compete and they got to see me win in my last year here.
Jenny Dahlgren - University of Georgia
Women’s Hammer Throw University/College Champion
It feels good. I used to throw here in high school at the Texas Relays. This is the first time I have come back for a collegiate meet, and it feels really good.
I knew it was going to be crazy, and a lot of cool events were going to go on, so it’ll be exciting to watch and be a part of.
Egor Agafonov - University of Kansas
Men’s Hammer Throw University/College Champion
I’m glad to have won here at the Texas Relays. It’s great for me to win here in the outdoor season.
I like the competitions here, and the weather is always good here. It’s one of the biggest meets in the United States. The biggest guys came here, and I liked the competition.
Temeka Kincy - Texas
Anchor of the Women’s 4x800-Meter Relay University/College Champion
It means a lot to win here. We practice on this track every day and we can’t lose at our house. I was just thinking of how my teammates, my coaches and my team were depending on me, so I gave it all I had.
I felt great coming through the 400 and I knew I had enough to kick it in. We practice 200s everyday at practice so I knew I had what it takes to kick in that last 200 to finish.
Duane Solomon - USC
Anchor of the Men’s 4x800-Meter Relay University Champion
We wanted to get the record, we were a little bit off. The win is just good enough because we lost to Oral Roberts last year by a little bit. To get that win, we had to get here again.
When I got the baton, I knew I had to get out because my team was a little bit back. So, I took the first lap hard, and by the second lap, I just held on and pushed as hard as I could. I kept looking back to see where the guy was and he was a little bit back. It felt pretty good and I’m excited.
