News

Press Conference Highlights

Many of the star athletes who will compete in tomorrow’s New Balance Indoor Grand Prix addressed the media on Friday morning.  A few of the highlights:

3000M: Galen Rupp, who ran a 3:50.92 mile last week to become the fifth-fastest indoor miler in history: “Obviously I had a good race last week so that’s given me a ton of confidence coming in. I love racing on this track. I’ve had some great races here in the past. The people here are great, very welcoming, and the fans are unbelievable at the meet, and I’m looking forward to moving back up in distance where I feel a little more comfortable.”

On the mile, especially the last lap: “I think there’s still room for improvement.”

3000M: Dejen Gebremeskel (ETH) 2012 Olympic silver medalist at 5000 meters, who in 2011 here defeated Mo Farah at 3000 meters despite losing a shoe early in the race: “This year I hope it’s two shoes.”

On goal for tomorrow night: the win, and “I need a personal best, especially.”

3000m: Donn Cabral (USA), 2012 Olympian in the steeplechase, who competed at the Reggie Lewis Center in the New England Championships as a prep athlete:  “[I expect] a lot of family and friends, and a good New England crowd showing up to support me. And I’m looking forward to this track. I love the bank on it; it’s a little more of a distance-runner-friendly bank. “

On his competitors tomorrow night: “I’m really looking forward to getting pulled to a time that is unheard of for me.”

3000m: Andy Baddeley (GBR): “They’ve sold out meets like this meet quicker than they’ve ever sold out before and that’s because people are desperate to see the guys they saw on TV last summer [at the Olympics] … so it’s our job, I guess, to keep going.”

PV: Jenn Suhr (USA), 2012 Olympic Champion:  “Boston is a great place to come and jump. I think I have good visual clues here, the runway’s good, but it’s really the fans, the way that the pole vault is presented. The crowd is involved; that really gets you up for. And the closeness.  I’ve had good luck here and I hope to continue it tomorrow.”

2-Mile: Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH), 3-time Olympic gold medalist: “There’s always a very high turnout here in Boston. It’s like a second home to me, and it’s among the best places I compete at. I’m trying to go for the meet record (9:10.50). That’s what I’ve been training for and that will be my aim for tomorrow.”

2-Mile: Brenda Martinez (USA), who had a breakout year in 2012: “I still feel I have a lot to learn. I’m always going to be a student of the sport, so every year I’m going to learn. I feel like I’m coming along.”