TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

What does it mean to have three athletes – Steve Esler, Allison Laske and Laura Olson – advancing to the NCAA Championships, which will take place between Wednesday, June 9 and Saturday, June 12? What expectations do you have for your athletes at the meet?
It is an excellent step for our athletes and for our track and field programs at UB. The NCAA Championships are the highest level of collegiate competition – to qualify and compete at this level demonstrates the commitment that our athletes have made to their training.

The expectation is simple: perform at their best level on that day. They have done that all season long and because of that they have achieved a level of great success.

How proud are you of the progress that each of those seniors has made throughout their UB careers?
Allison, Laura, and Steve have all shown consistent progress over their careers at UB. All three possess similar qualities of commitment, dedication and courage. As a coach, it is very rewarding to see them reach the pinnacle of their collegiate career as a senior at the NCAA Championships.

The meet will take place in Austin, Texas. What day will you be leaving UB? What type of adjustment period do you feel that your athletes need because they are going to a different venue?
The women will leave on Monday with competition beginning on Wednesday for both Allison and Laura. The men will leave on Tuesday with competition beginning on Friday for Steve's decathlon. This travel schedule builds in a day or two for the time change adjustment. We will have an opportunity to do a light workout at Texas’ track complex on Tuesday to get a feel for the track, runway, etc.

It is important to have both a physical and mental feel for the facility to optimize preparation. The heat and humidity of Austin will be much greater than we've faced most of this season. Allison and Laura had an opportunity at the NCAA Regional meet in Gainesville, Florida to compete in similar conditions. It will be particularly important to stay well hydrated and avoid sun if possible when not competing. Due to the nature of our sport, we compete at different venues almost every weekend, which forces upon us the ability to be able to adjust quickly. Our athletes are great at making necessary changes.

As a seven-time NCAA Champion (including cross country and outdoor track and field), what advice have you offered to your athletes regarding the upcoming meet?
The NCAA Championships, just like any other competition, are an opportunity to achieve success. The competitors are means to raising your own performance to a new personal best. In preparing for a meet like the NCAA Championships, it's important to reflect on the reasons that you are there.

In track and field there is no such thing as a "fluke." You do not get to a meet like this based on luck – you earn it. You've trained your body physically for this level of competition and this is the perfect opportunity to let it all out and reach for the next level.

Along with getting Allison Laske ready for the NCAA Championships, you are also helping her prepare for July’s Olympic Trials, which will be held in Sacramento, California. What has that process entailed?
Allison's training has been right on target this year. We've had to look at an extended season, rather than the typical mid-June end. Therefore her training cycle has been a little different. Right after the NCAA Championships, she will have a short recovery phase and then another short build-up to the trials. The combination of workouts that she has done so far has worked just right – hopefully we can continue on that trail.

Allison has made big leaps this year in her performance. During the full training cycle – from last July through the current time – she has committed herself to every aspect of her training, which has included running, lifting, healthy eating habits and good sleep habits. She has seen the benefits of the sacrifices that she has made by qualifying for the Olympic Trials.

How did you feel about your team’s performance at last month’s Mid-American Conference Championships?
Both the men's and women's teams competed very well at the Outdoor MAC Championships, achieving the highest point totals that UB has scored at that event. Several individuals peaked at just the right time, such as Brian Heim and Jenny Koeppel who both won individual titles. We also had very strong leadership from our upperclassmen. Allison, Laura, and Steve were an integral part of the overall teams' motivation and drive.

Most outside of track and field view it as an individual sport. While you do compete in various events, it is very much a team-oriented sport. This theme is most prevalent at a meet like the MAC Championships where teammates are on the sideline cheering during the shot put, pole vault, or 10,000 meters, for example. They respect each other’s events and realize that everyone must give 110 percent on competition day. The level of energy that our team carried throughout the three-day meet was tremendous.

Junior Jenny Koeppel became UB’s first MAC track event champion at that meet. As a distance runner yourself, what did having one of your athletes accomplish that mean to you?
It was absolutely fantastic. Jenny ran the perfect, controlled race. It was her first 10,000 meters of the season and only her third-ever in her life. It was a thrill to watch her execute that race and show the rest of the conference that UB does in fact have talented athletes. Other schools were surprised by Jenny's win – I was not.

I knew the workouts Jenny had done leading up to that point and the races she had run in preparation for the 10,000 meters. I also knew the capabilities of her competitors. She was in position to win that race and took advantage of it by doing everything right and running a very strong, focused race. Jenny does everything possible within her control to be a great runner and is more focused and determined than most of her competitors.

Triple jumper Rayshon Higgins and hurdler Brian Heim both had excellent freshman seasons at UB. How significant were the impacts of freshmen on your squad this past year?
Our freshman class really shined this year. They are the future of our program and for freshmen to step into the MAC and compete at the level that Brian and Rayshon did is great. They had the leadership of our upper classmen, they listened to their coaches and worked with intention this year. It has paid off – both have also qualified for the USA Junior National Championships, along with Dan McKenna (1500 meters) and Paul Riley (800 meters).

In 2001, you were invited to join the Fila Discovery USA Training Program, which was designed to develop American distance runners into elite marathon runners. What was that experience like?
The Fila Discovery USA Training Program was an opportunity to not only train with other elite American distance runners, but to learn from some of the most knowledgeable coaches and exercise physiologists in the realm of distance running. My experience was terrific – I grew as an athlete and learned as a coach. It has influenced many aspects of my coaching philosophy.

The environment (6000 feet above sea level at the top of Mount Laguna in the Cleveland National Forest) was challenging. Going from Buffalo to that altitude with mountains and different air pollens was tough. Running 100-mile weeks was draining. However, the view from running alongside the Pacific Crest Trail and looking into a desert valley 3000 feet below leaves you in awe for hours. Also, the chance to push my physical and mental limits every day was one of the most exciting times that I have had as an athlete.

Do you still run competitively? What type of events do you still compete in?
Currently, I run about 50 to 60 miles per week – just enough to stay moderately fit. Due to some health problems, I have taken time off from racing and training, and have decided to let this Olympic year go by without a push for making the team. I have entered in a couple of low-key races this year just for fun. My heart is in road racing, five to 10 kilometers in distance – and perhaps another marathon.

My priority is my team at UB. My athletes inspire me and give me reason to stay fit enough to be able to run with them. I love running – any opportunity that I have to be able to run is a gift.

-The "10 Questions with…" feature is compiled by Geoff Nason.