TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

You were a part of the school record-breaking 1,600-meter relay team at the East Coast Athletic Conference Indoor Championships that came in with a time of 3:46.05 and you also qualified with the 400-meter team for the NCAA Regionals. Do you enjoy individual events or relay races more?
Without a doubt I enjoy competing in individual events. However, it's a wonderful feeling to compete at great track meets such as ECACs and not only bring yourself but bring three other individuals to have with you to compete. You don't feel as though you’re out there by yourself but rather you’re out there with your team.

You ran the third leg of the 1,600-meter relay at ECACs. What are some of the differences between the first leg, which Celestine Coney ran, the second leg, which Patrice Coney ran, and the final leg, which Stacey Downer ran, as far as race strategy is concerned?
Well, to begin with, every leg of any relay plays a crucial role in that team’s success. As far as our 1,600-meter relay, I believe the first leg (run by Celeste Coney) is a very important and stressful leg because not only must she run to establish a time but three other legs are relying on her and she must establish a lead for us. Second leg (run by Patrice Coney) is very important as well because once Celeste comes in, everyone is usually bunched together and Patrice must get away from the pack and then cut into lane one. Lastly, the anchor (ran by Stacy Downer) is extremely important because her leg rests on the final decision in which we place. Through it all, our relay has done extremely well in race strategy regarding the different legs because each of the four ladies (including myself) have run every single leg of the relay.

As the year moves towards the Mid-American Conference Championships, how does your training change?
Our training changes as the Mid- American Conference Championships approaches because we have to get prepared for the conference meet. Usually we have a hard workout the week before the conference meet but the week of the conference meet, our training is usually light so that we won't experience soreness and fatigue before competition.

How does the training for a sprinter differ from the training for a distance runner?
Totally different. Our distance runners go on 80-minute runs while the longest run in which we may go on is 20 or 30 minutes. We work on speed and short bursts of energy while they work on endurance. Most sprint races last at most one minute while a distance race can range from 15 to 20 minutes.

Everyone has their own strategy on how to run their best race. What is yours?
Get out there and be confident. Don't worry about who my competition is because deep inside I know that I am prepared mentally and physically.

In high school, you were a part of an AAU team, the Western New York Jets, which placed sixth at the National Junior Olympics. What was the experience of running at that event like?
That was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I ran in front of about 8,000 people or more and the best part of it was that. Jenny Koeppel (my current teammate) was also part of my relay then as well. To be honest I wasn't going to run at that meet because I am a 400-meter runner and that was the 4 x 800 meter and I had never ran a quality 800 meter. However, it was Jenny Koeppel who talked me into it and to run the first leg and the outcome was great.

As someone who has lived in and around Buffalo all of your life, what is your favorite thing about the Queen City that people from outside Buffalo might not see or understand?
I'm not a huge Buffalo fan even though it is my hometown. I would have to say UB and my family are among the best things in which Buffalo has to offer me.

In the last four years, you’ve seen UB adjust to being a member of the Mid-American Conference. You’ve gotten to watch the men’s basketball team reach the brink of the NCAA Tournament, Jenny Koeppel win the MAC cross country title and Jenn Brankovsky earn MAC Player of the Year honors among so many other things. How exciting has it been to be a part of UB’s athletic family as all of these remarkable things have happened?
It's a wonderful experience to see other athletes excel. When they achieve, I feel as though I have achieved as well. I feel especially happy for those who came into the UB athletics family when I did (four years ago) and now to see them competing and doing an excellent job in their sport is amazing.

With a season that extends almost throughout the school year, how have you been able to juggle academics with athletics and become a UB Scholar-Athlete?
I always remember that I am a student first. I can break all the records, and compete at as many track meets but if my grades aren't up to par then I won't obtain a degree, which is my No. 1 reason for being here.

What has been your favorite moment as a UB athlete?
My favorite moment as a UB athlete has to be the individuals whom I've met and come into contact with. I've met lifelong friends, especially my sprinter group of Charrise Everett, Dana Ventrone, Stacy Downer, Celestine Coney and Patrice Coney. These ladies mean so much to me and I will miss them greatly when it's my time to leave as a UB athlete. We have had bad times, good times, and memorable times that will never be forgotten.

“The 10 Questions With…” feature is compiled by Joe Guistina.