University of Tennessee Athletics
Olympic Trials Revisited with J.J. Clark
July 11, 2008 | Women's Track
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- University of Tennessee Head Track & Field Coach J.J. Clark returned to Rocky Top this week after spending the past two weeks in Eugene, Ore., at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials. Coach Clark, who will serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women???s Olympic Track & Field Team, shared his thoughts on the event as well as the performances of Lady Vols past, present and future.
On The Olympic Trials In General:??
???As a whole for the current, former and future Lady Vols, it was kind of up and down emotionally. We had some good things and some things that weren???t as promising as we had hoped. There were a lot of lessons learned. The atmosphere there also was very good, and the fans were very knowledgeable of track & field.???
On What The Three Current Lady Vols Gained From The Experience:??
???For the first time in a very long time, I felt that the student-athletes involved really grasped something from going to the Olympic Trials and competing at that level. Something clicked in their brains that said, ???I should be doing it this way, or I need to be doing things differently.??? From that standpoint, it was really exciting and rewarding.???
On The Performance Of Sarah Bowman In The 1500 Meters:??
???Being the only collegiate runner in the finals is an experience that has to propel her forward and keep her very positive about her future. She ran well to get into the final, and we were looking for a better race in the final. I???m definitely proud of what she???s done.
???She was one of those people I was talking about learning lessons out there. Things like positioning and having a proper attitude going into these races. She was one who benefited from that, so down the road she???ll be a better athlete because of it.???
On Lynne Layne In The 100 And 200 Meters:??
???I think what Lynne Layne got out of this is that she advanced and she definitely has the ability to be in an Olympic Trials final, going for an Olympic spot. She definitely has the ability to do that. She???ll have to press a little bit more and work harder in practice when she???s tired and things aren???t going well.
???This will be a motivating factor for her, I believe, to go the extra mile, so to speak. She???s willing to do that, and she was not short on effort or trying or running hard at the Olympic Trials. It???s just that she will need to do some more homework in the base and spring seasons, and I really look forward to seeing her in orange next year for fall training.
On Lynne Layne???s Upcoming Trip to the NACAC Under-23 Championships in Toluca, Mexico:??
???She also has an opportunity to run at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) U-23 Track & Field Championships on the 4x100m relay. It???s a nice reward for having a solid season, and she was picked by the coaching staff. They could have chosen anyone in the country, and it???s a great honor they selected her.???
On Phoebe Wright In The 800 Meters:??
???This whole year has been extremely valuable to Phoebe, but particularly the Olympic Trials gave her confidence. She was not in good position in the first round, and she came charging down the straightaway. It gave her confidence she could run with these top American athletes, and she had no idea she could until this meet.
???She learned that if she???s in proper position and uses her speed and strength, that she???ll be in a good place. She gained that experience and just kind of watched on video and realized that she can compete at the next level.???
On Former Lady Vol Dee Dee Trotter Making Her Second U.S. Olympic Team:??
???I have to tip my hat to Dee Dee Trotter. She really showed the willpower to persevere when things aren???t perfect. She had some rough and discouraging races coming into the Trials, and she got to the Trials and went to another level. That???s the sign of not only a champion, but of a great champion. I???m very happy to see her make the team, and as an assistant coach for the U.S. women???s team, I???m very happy that???ll I???ll be around to help and guide her as she prepares for her second Olympiad.???
