2008 Woodie Awards
High Hopes
Stanford tries today for three consecutive wins at Jack Skoog Open
By: Tim Ottusch
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Sports
Tempestt Stanford sat in the blocks for the 60-meter dash at last year's Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships, knowing she was going to run a fast time.
But she false started, ending her hopes for a title that year.
"It was unfortunate that it happened," the senior sprinter said. "It took me a while to get over it."
This season, she's exactly where she was last year when she thought she had a shot at a championship. Her times the last two weeks have been exactly the same as they were at this time last year.
"I want to win it. Last year I thought I had a good opportunity to win it, and I still feel the same way," she said. "I feel like a lot of the girls are just running around the same times, and I feel like I have a strong chance of winning."
Tonight, Stanford sees her last competition before the Indoor Championships. And it's a meet she's seen plenty of success in - the Jack Skoog Open.
More than first place
Stanford has seen more success in the Jack Skoog Open than any other runner. She finished second in the 60m her freshman year before winning the dash her sophomore and junior years.
She not only wants to three-peat the event, but also wants to earn a time that would put her in nationals.
"I race to win," she said. "But I want to go beyond and not just win. I want to go for provisional in the 60, which is a 7.44 (seconds)."
The Jack Skoog Open is the second and last home meet of the season for CMU because it hosts no events during the outdoor season. At the team's first home meet of the season, the Chippewa Open, Stanford finished third. Her time of 7.82 seconds is her slowest time of the year.
"The Chip Open was a disaster and I definitely don't anticipate my races to be like that anymore," Stanford said.
Mentor
This season, Stanford was named team captain by her teammates.
"She's one of those athletes who's a leader on the practice field, at the competition and verbally if she needs to be," Luztke said. "That's what you're looking for from your seniors."
But she false started, ending her hopes for a title that year.
"It was unfortunate that it happened," the senior sprinter said. "It took me a while to get over it."
This season, she's exactly where she was last year when she thought she had a shot at a championship. Her times the last two weeks have been exactly the same as they were at this time last year.
"I want to win it. Last year I thought I had a good opportunity to win it, and I still feel the same way," she said. "I feel like a lot of the girls are just running around the same times, and I feel like I have a strong chance of winning."
Tonight, Stanford sees her last competition before the Indoor Championships. And it's a meet she's seen plenty of success in - the Jack Skoog Open.
More than first place
Stanford has seen more success in the Jack Skoog Open than any other runner. She finished second in the 60m her freshman year before winning the dash her sophomore and junior years.
She not only wants to three-peat the event, but also wants to earn a time that would put her in nationals.
"I race to win," she said. "But I want to go beyond and not just win. I want to go for provisional in the 60, which is a 7.44 (seconds)."
The Jack Skoog Open is the second and last home meet of the season for CMU because it hosts no events during the outdoor season. At the team's first home meet of the season, the Chippewa Open, Stanford finished third. Her time of 7.82 seconds is her slowest time of the year.
"The Chip Open was a disaster and I definitely don't anticipate my races to be like that anymore," Stanford said.
Mentor
This season, Stanford was named team captain by her teammates.
"She's one of those athletes who's a leader on the practice field, at the competition and verbally if she needs to be," Luztke said. "That's what you're looking for from your seniors."
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