I sat down with runner Megan Krumpoch '14 before the weeknd when she finished 12th in the 400-meter to talk about the season, her favorite events and upper body strength.
At Heps, you had a really exciting hurdles race, winning by less than half a second. What was going through your mind during the final stretch and after you won?
MK: It was really nerve-racking. Obviously, I really wanted to win, everyone wants to win. The whole race, she was just right in front of me, but I didn't imagine it any other way except for me winning. Going down the stretch I was just like "Oh no, oh no, oh no, there's no way I can lose," so right after I got off the last hurdle I knew I just had to go for it and gave it all that I had left. Luckily, I was able to get it.
Is it hard having the winter ECAC conclude that season and have to start right back again with a new spring season?
MK: Yeah, it kind of is. We got a week off and a few went to nationals, and then had less than that off. It definitely segways really nicely though, since you just have a straight six months or so.
Was the weekend's ECAC Championship the final meet of the season? Can you qualify for anything further from there?
MK: Yeah. Basically, if you qualify based on times, you'll get to go to NCAA regionals. A lot of people this weekend are looking for times that they can get for regionals. ECAC is a lot like regionals where you have to qualify based on time. Then at regionals, I think it's the top 12 from that meet that will get to go to nationals.
What events do you typically run?
MK: I've usually done the 400-meter and the 400-meter hurdles. This year, I stared doing the 800-meter in indoor, which was a little more of an endurance race to see if that would help me in outdoor and so far so good, I guess.
Did you think there was a big change coming from high school to have the race change from the 300-meter hurdles to the 400-meter hurdles?
MK: I think during my junior year, we actually switched to 400-meter hurdles while I was in high school, but it definitely is a different race. I was a little better at it than the 300-meter hurdles, so it worked in my favor.
What's your favorite event to run?MK: I'm not sure. I like both of my races for different reasons. I like the hurdles because it breaks it up and you don't really have to think as much in the open 400-meter. In the open you just go and run as fast as you can. With the hurdles, there's always something you can work on to make it better and always room for improvement.
Do you prefer the indoor or outdoor season for track?
MK: I guess I like outdoor better when the weather's nice. I like indoor because it's louder and everyone is right there all in this little space, so it's really nice having everyone around.
What would be your favorite event to watch at a meet?
MK: I don't know, actually. I really like the distance races. They're very strategic and there's always room for somebody to just sneak out of nowhere and blow everyone out of the water. I think the uncertainty is just a lot of fun.
What do you think the most challenging things about your particular events are?
MK: Probably the obstacles. For me, it's definitely the hurdles just being in the way. It's very easy to lose their focus for a second and mess up. If you alternate legs, it's easy to just misjudge.
What's been your favorite part of the season so far?
MK: This was the first season that I've felt really good and strong. Last spring was really rough, for some reason I really struggled and it was just not very enjoyable. This year it's just been working and gradually seeing the results, finally. And that's been the best part, seeing the result of all this hard work.
What would you say the best part about track is?
MK: I think it's definitely the people that are with us. We're all just really driven and motivated, but we also have some characters that just make it really fun.
Are you going to participate in Ultimate Athlete day on Monday?
MK: I'm thinking about it, but I don't know what event I would do. I don't really have upper body strength, so I'll stay away from that and same with planks there's one girl that always does it on our team who can do 11 minutes and I don't think I could do that. There's a 4x100-meter relay that we could probably do really well in, but I don't know if anyone will really want to do it since the season will have just ended.