Trey Hardee Interview on Trackshark.com

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.trackshark.com/interviews/20 ... hardee.php

Interviews : Trey Hardee of Texas

by Tom Borish (1/23/05)


1. For everyone that doesn't know, you transferred to Texas from Mississippi State who dropped their indoor program a few years ago. Is this one of the reasons why you wanted to compete for Texas now that the heptathlon is an NCAA Championship event?


It was definitely a factor in making my decision, but ultimately, a few other things led to my leaving Mississippi State. Along with a coaching change, the new opportunities at Texas, and the advent of the indoor heptathlon, I feel that the Lord has had his hand in my life, and that became more prevalent when I came to MSU. It is that same hand that has led me here to Texas. And I have never been more excited to show everyone how good he is.


2. At Mississippi State last season, you finished second in the decathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a score of 8,041. What are your goals and expectations for the 2005 indoor and outdoor seasons?


My goals this year are not necessarily based around a points scale, but they are banked heavily on event improvements and technique correction. When you're just learning, or re-learning in my case, your marks tend to suffer and it's easy to get discouraged. So I'm trying to avoid getting caught up in point totals and am just trying to score some big points for Texas at the Big XII and NCAA Championships.


3. What has it been like so far to train along side Donovan Kilmartin, who won the NCAA title in the heptathlon last year as a true freshman?


Donovan is unbelievable. He's so talented. However, we had conflicting schedules this past semester and could only work out together a couple times a week. It was more like a "what did you do today?" type thing. But since we came back three weeks ago to UT, we've worked out together everyday. It's going to be fun to see what happens from here because we're both so competitive that I think something big will have to come out of it.


4. When will you open up with the heptathlon this season and what events have you been working on the most that you feel you need to improve upon?


I open up the heptathlon season next week at the Univ. of Houston. We competed there this past week and it should be a good facility to get a qualifying mark. I've been spending a lot of time trying to figure out the shot put! It has been my worst event the past two years. Mario and Bubba feel that if we can just get that and the javelin up to average and make my strong events stronger, then this will be an exciting year at Texas.


5. Now that you call Austin, Texas your home for most of the year, how is the overall campus atmosphere and training facilities?


Texas has one of the biggest student bodies in the country, but it doesn't feel like it to me. It's only as big as you want it to be. I spend most of my time with the guys on the team at the ''Track Houses" right off campus. As far as the training facilities go, I can't complain. No one here can. I couldn't ask for a more knowledgeable coaching and training staff.


6. When did you first realize that the decathlon was the event you could really focus on to become successful in?


Out of high school, all I wanted to do was pole vault. But as my senior season progressed, MSU saw something in me and told me that they wanted me to train for the decathlon in the fall of 2002. After a really depressing pentathlon at the 2003 Indoor SEC's, I didn't want to do it at all, but I got lucky and hit a provisional mark at the Texas Relays a month later. But it wasn't until the 2003 NCAA Championships that I really thought I was good enough to compete at this level in the decathlon.


7. Not many people in this world know what it's like to compete in such a grueling two-day event. Take us through all the mental and physical preparation that you take when you compete in a decathlon.


Physical preparations start way back in late summer! But a week out, usually 9 days, I really focus on what I'm trying to accomplish. Like at the Texas Relays, I will just try to auto-qualify. At the Big XII Championships, I will just try to not get hurt and win. And at the NCAA's, let it all hang out. The most important thing to me is sleep. I need a lot of sleep if I expect to perform well. Also, everything I eat is under a microscope. I try not to waste energy getting excited or worked up worrying about what might happen. I trust my God and his plan for me so there's nothing to worry about.


8. 8,000 points seems to be the barrier that every decathlete wants to achieve, which you have already done. Does that take a lot of pressure off or does that just make your goals that much more difficult now that you know what you can possibly reach?


Last year I backed into that big score. It was just a product of being on that day. Doing it again without having to PR is going to be my next big thing. If I can get 8,000 on an average day, then I'll be able to compete at the next level. Last year there really was never any pressure for me to win, there never is when you're not supposed to be number one. I don't know how I will deal with the pressure this year, if there is any. I certainly don't feel any for indoor, this being my first season at Texas and these my first ever heptathlons.


9. What will your training consist of over the next month as we head into the conference and national championship portion of the indoor schedule?


We plan to train hard through every week leading into conference and try to qualify somewhere along the way. The NCAA's will be fun this year. We are planning to down load the week(s) before so we can put up some big numbers. We've got some really talented guys over here at UT and we've got a chance to be a part a something big as a university.


10. Who are some the people you look up to for advice on and off the track?


I look to my Mom for almost all of my advice off the track. This year I have the privilege of having three coaches: Bubba Thornton, Mario Sategna, and Tye Harvey. All three have collegiate experience and Mario was former NCAA champ in the decathlon. Tye has been making a living pole vaulting going on a decade now. So I feel that there is no question in regards to training or competition that I can ask that these men don't have the answer to. I am truly blessed.

[ccpvus]

I saw Trey win the AL HS Indoor Championship several years ago in the PV and Hurdles. I was disappointed when he got injured late in the outdoor season. It was obvious he was very talented but his 8000 dec. score blew me away. God bless this year Trey. Hope you have a great year. My son vaults this weekend at the AL HS Champ. 1A-4A.

[TreyDECA]

I saw Trey win the AL HS Indoor Championship several years ago in the PV and Hurdles. I was disappointed when he got injured late in the outdoor season. It was obvious he was very talented but his 8000 dec. score blew me away. God bless this year Trey. Hope you have a great year. My son vaults this weekend at the AL HS Champ. 1A-4A.

that's cool, thanks for the blessing, what school does he go to?? i went to vestavia hills.

[ccpvus]

He actually attends Centre Middle School. He vaults for our high school - Cherokee Co HS. It is located up in the NE corner of the state. He is in the 8th grade and vaulted 11'6 at the state indoor. FYI there is an 8th grader at Pizitz, which I think is Vestavia's feeder school - I think he vaulted 12' at an indoor meet earlier this year. Trey, can you compete this year or do you have to sit out a year?

[TreyDECA]

He actually attends Centre Middle School. He vaults for our high school - Cherokee Co HS. It is located up in the NE corner of the state. He is in the 8th grade and vaulted 11'6 at the state indoor. FYI there is an 8th grader at Pizitz, which I think is Vestavia's feeder school - I think he vaulted 12' at an indoor meet earlier this year. Trey, can you compete this year or do you have to sit out a year?

yeah, i went to pizitz, 12' is impressive for 8th grade. i only vaulted 10'2 my freshman year and 13' my soph. yes, i can compete and am competing this indoor and outdoor season. what's this kid from pizitz's name?

[ccpvus]

name is Will Henley. A bigger than average kid for 8th grade.