Athletes prepared for national meet

The NCAA Track and Field Championships begin Wednesday and Minnesota will be represented in full force.
Six men and six women will compete in the meet for the Gophers, which lasts Wednesday through Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.
Men’s head coach Steve Plasencia said he thinks some of the guys will be able to score some points and compete with the top national competitors. Not much changed in practice recently, Plasencia said, because the six Gophers are comfortable with how they are competing.
All but one of the men (junior-to-be Ben Blankenship ) have experience in either indoor or outdoor NCAA championships. Plasencia said this experience has helped them know what to expect when their event begins.
Junior-to-be Hassan Mead said he had the chance to learn about many of his opponents when he competed in the 2009 indoor championship in the 3,000-meter run. Although Mead will be running the 5,000 in the outdoor event, he said the field has many of the same athletes, which has helped him practice for the race.
“I think the experience of being there and realizing the kind of athletes you’re running against, competitive-wise, helps you on the next one,” Mead said.
Having teammates around also helps preparation as well, Mead said. With five other Gophers around, he said it is easier to remain comfortable off the track.
“The rest of the day when you’re at the hotel and relaxing…you’re able to hang out with your teammates and relax. It feels like you’re just at home,” Mead said. “Having a couple teammates definitely, I think, helps you psychologically.”
Senior-to-be Chris Rombough will join Mead in the 5,000 during the meet. Blankenship will run the 1,500. Seniors-to-be Matt Fisher, Aaron Studt and R.J. McGinnis will compete in the high jump, shot put and decathlon, respectively.
On the women’s side, head coach Matt Bingle said he thinks the women are a little nervous for the meet, which is a great feeling to have before something of this magnitude.
“If you can’t get excited for nationals what can you get excited for?” he said.
Bingle said the six going to the championships have looked sharp in practice and might be able to earn Minnesota some points.
The women competitors include: seniors Heather Dorniden (800-meter run) and Liz Roehrig (heptathlon), senior-to-be Alicia Rue (pole vault) and juniors-to-be Amy Laskowske (10,000-meter run), Nikki Swenson (800) and Elizabeth Yetzer (1,500).
Of the six, only Swenson and Yetzer are participating in their first championship. Some of the others have experienced past success at the national level. Dorniden was a national champion in 2005, Roehrig finished second in 2008 and Rue has captured second place multiple times.
Bingle and Plasencia said the hot weather could become a factor in Fayetteville because it changes the dynamic of some of the races, but both expect it to affect everyone equally.
“That will be something they’ll have to overcome mentally and physically,” Plasencia said. “Aside from that I think we’re all ready to go.”