Head track and field director Steve Rainbolt, sophomores Rayvon Allen and Jacque Darby, fielded questions, Tuesday afternoon, on the previous Air Force Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo.
 

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HEAD COACH STEVE RAINBOLT ON...

...team's performance over the weekend:
"I was really pleased with the weekend at the Air Force Academy and I was really excited about the distance team at Pitt State. We are right smack dab in the middle of the indoor season and we are beginning to catch a vision for the conference championship meet and we are trying to analyze how the other schools in the conference are stacking up."

...effect of redshirting athletes last year:
"We had a lot of athletes redshirt last year on the women's side to try to build for the future and it looks like mission accomplished. It looks like we have successfully prepared our team for the future and the future is now. We're competing well and I think our team is coming together. I was really pleased with the women winning the American conference cross country championships and to me, that was an indicator that we had successfully strategized to building for the future."

...Jacque Darby:
"I enjoy watching Jacque Darby compete well, she had a rough season last year with injuries and to see her back in form is just awesome. I'm excited about her developing as a sprinter in a Wichita State uniform."

...Rayvon Allen:
"Rayvon is a special track and field athlete. He represented the United States at the World Junior Championships last year and he is prepared to do anything he can to help the team. One example of that is obviously he is a great long jump and triple jumper, but then gets in the 200m and competes, 21.59 in the race and that is one heck of a run that puts him in the top-10 of the American Athletic Conference."
 

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SOPHOMORE JACQUE DARBY ON...

...Air Force Invitational:
"The meet was really good, everyone had good races and we faced some good competition. Everyone has good days and bad days, but overall it was a great meet. We have some young athletes that are and developing that will do really well this season."

...sprints competition in The American:
"The sprint competition will be good and it's a hard league to place in, but as a sprint group, we have the capability to compete and have some good finishes."

...team's spirit:
"Our atmosphere is amazing this year and we've really come together as a team and have the one goal that we want to go out and win conference. Last year it was a little difficult to not compete and not travel with the team."
 

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SOPHOMORE RAYVON ALLEN ON...

...Air Force Invitational:
"The whole team we had about 50 personal records which is always a good sign. The guys were pretty banged up and not having a full team we still competed very well. As the season goes on everybody will get healthy and be ready for the conference championships."

...jumps competition in The American:
"I know Jared, Kaden and I haven't jumped nearly what we are capable of, with that being said we are still in the top-5 in the long jump and when we peak at the right time we can win it and go 1-2-3."

...competing at the World Junior Championships:
"It gave me a sense of knowing that I can do anything I put my mind to. I can compete with those guys because some of those guys I was competing with are at the upper level of the NCAA ranks. Being able to go up against those guys and compete, it boosted my confidence a lot."
 

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NEXT UP
The Shockers will host the Wichita State Invitational on Friday, Feb 1, at the Heskett Center. Admission is $5, three years and under is free.