Steele claimed the NCAA outdoor title in the 400 meters (Minnesota sports photo) |
1. Describe the last two weeks of the season where you claimed the NCAA title in the 400 meters and then competed the following weekend at the USA Championships. What was the experience like for you?
The experience was very long. Mitch and I competed in 8 races over the course of 9 days, which will eventually wear on you mentally and physically. By the time I got to the U.S. Championships, I was burnt out, consequently the busy schedule took away from the quality of the U.S. championships.
2. Minnesota has developed a strong talent of 400 meter runners over the years. What is it like to have such strong training partners, such as Mitch Potter, and how has head coach Phil Lundin helped you along the way?
Not only is it nice to train with Mitch, Mikael Jakobsson, and Andy Wohlin (the other 4x400 members), but I believe that we have a good group of underclassman that also add to the mix. We all take turns leading intervals during the season which I believe builds team trust in one another and also helps everyone get through workouts.
As for Phil he is the master mind behind all of the workouts that we do on the track and the hills. I also think that a big part of my success came from sessions in the weight room. Our coaching staff for the Olympic lifts has done a fabulous job with me during the past two summers to increase my max's in all my lifts. Combine the strength from the weight room and the speed that Phil brings to the training aspects and I have been able to PR every year that I have been in college.
3. After improving so much on your personal best in the 400 meters, what did you work on the most in practice heading into the end of the season so you could peak at the right time?
The biggest thing that I need to work on was my starts. Having a distance background in high school I never had used blocks in the proper way or seen a weight room in my life. In the off-season I worked on gaining muscle mass and in the last few weeks in the season I focused on my starts, which by any means are not text book.
The other aspect that needed work was the first 200 meters of my race, I needed to get out and compete in the first 200 meters. If I was not within striking distance of the leaders at 200 meters I was not going to catch them down the homestretch.
4. What are some of the more difficult workouts you had to endure this season?
We spend a lot of time building a base during fall training. During that time we run hills twice a week which is always a killer. The other workout that our team does is what we call 600 meter breakdowns. It is a continuous run broken down into 3-200 meter segments. The first 200 is run in 30 seconds, followed by a 45 second 200, and then finish up with a 30 second 200. Those two workouts get to be very tough, but those are the ones that you feel as though you have not been worthless for the day.
5. Do you plan to focus on the 200 meters as well in competition or do you feel the 400 meter race can take care of itself?
I feel as though the 200 can help me run a better 400. The 200 is very good for me because it allows me to concentrate on my start and develop fast turn-over in a competitive atmosphere. I have only run it 3 times in my life so I am not sure that I can be an elite athlete in this event, but it sure helps with training and development.
6. During your first year on campus, you redshirted both the indoor and outdoor seasons. How much of an advantage did that have for you in knowing you have an extra year to train and compete?
I really did not have a choice in the matter of red-shirting. I had a foot injury in the fall that needed surgery to correct so I could return to running. This injury did not allow me to run for approximately nine months. After sitting down and thinking about it, I felt as though it was to my advantage that I will have the college system to prepare me for the Olympic year.
7. What do you enjoy the most about the campus life and atmosphere at Minnesota?
The large urban campus allows for a lot of entertainment opportunities. I also feel that when I finish my running career I will have many opportunities to find a job. With the large number of students on campus it also provides many ladies to choose from.
8. Just how big is the team concept at Minnesota and what was it like to capture the Big Ten and Regional team championship titles?
BIG! Our main focus for the majority of our team is the Big Ten meet. Winning the Big Ten title at home was one of the best experiences of my track career. It is one of those things that you can not describe to anyone unless you can experience it personally. It made it fun because our entire team had something to celebrate that night and that is what our emphasis is here at Minnesota -- the team.
9. Do you still keep in touch with some of your old teammates, such as Tom Gerding, and do they still continue to train?
As you know running after college is a difficult task if you do not have a big shoe contract or other financial support. Tom's work schedule keeps him from the track during our workouts, but I do see him on occasion working hard to reach his goals.
10. What are your plans for the rest of the summer as the fall semester is right around the corner?
Well Mitch and I just returned from tune-up meet at Mt. SAC. We are going to train hard for the next couple of weeks in preparation for the Pan American games. Mitch and I will run the open 400 and the mile relay. We will also be part of the relay pool for the World Championships in late August -- that should keep us busy until school starts in September.
11. Obviously the Olympic Trials next summer will be on your mind and is a goal well within your reach. How much do you think about the possibility of representing the United States at the Olympic Games?
This is a topic that I think about when it comes time for determining what work-outs and what competitions I will do this fall and next spring. Right now I need to just concentrate on preparing myself properly for the Olympic trials. Part of preparing for the trial is training hard and staying healthy, if I accomplish both of those objectives then I can start to think about representing the United States in Athens.
12. How do you like to spend your free time when you don't have to think about track or your studies?
One of my favorite things to do is just sit down and relax. This summer I have spent a lot of time out on my neighbors porch just watching people walk by in Dinkytown. I just sit and talk with people and enjoy the weather, no one can beat that. If I have a week to spare I will go backpacking with a good friend of mine, Adam Lindahl. We have made trips to camping areas in Northern Minnesota like the Boundary Waters, Isle Royale, and the Superior Hiking Trail.