Track & Field Report: Pat Henry, Aggies gearing up for NCAA Indoors

The 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships begin on Friday in Albuquerque, and the Maroon & White will be well represented. Head coach Pat Henry joined TexAgs Radio for another Track & Field Report as the Aggies wrap up their indoor season this weekend.

Key notes from Pat Henry interview

• Alan Jackson and George Strait are some of my favorites. I like Reba McEntire. All of the old guys like Johnny Cash, it's hard for me not to like those guys. I used to go to a lot of concerts when I was young, but we went and saw more rock concerts and country concerts. I know a little bit about some of that stuff.
   
• This week is what it's all about. We have a lot of rehearsals to get to this point and get to the national championship. Now it's time to find out if they can really do it. It's like taking the driver out of your bag, knowing that you can hit that shot. But can you do it every time? You have to step up when it really counts, and it really counts right now. It's a mental game. If you're not mentally strong and really prepared physically, it's going to be tough. This is the top 16 people in every event. It's prestigious to be here, but it's about winning.
   
• The lights can come on for certain people at certain points when they're ready to step up and do a little better than normal.
   
• Lamara Distin is the best high jumper that has ever come to A&M. She has been consistent and has done a remarkable job for us. I think she's very prepared, and Lamara is tough.
   
• Bára Sajdoková is developing. She has a lot of talent but isn't always there mentally. That's not anything that I wouldn't say to her or any athlete. She's learning how to do that. She's young, and she's getting there.
   
• Ushan Perera tied our school record and has done a really good job of coming in. The coaching staff has done a good job of managing him because working with somebody who is new is so tough. High jumpers are a very, very elite group of people that can jump that high.
   
• To have three female quarter-milers in the top 16 is a great accomplishment for this team. Tierra Robinson-Jones, Jermaisha Arnold and Kennedy Wade could get into that final round, or they could be 13, 14, 15, who knows. They got there, and they're talented. I think they'll be ready to go, and training looks really good right now. As a relay, they're really talented.
   
• I'm happy for Devon Achane, and it's great to see a young guy like him have this opportunity. We watched him, and we know what kind of football player he is. I don't think he gets credit for the type of guy he is. At 30 yards, there are not many that can explode like that. For the size and toughness that he possesses, he is a special guy. To me, I'm not a football coach, but it's fun to watch a guy that runs track get out there and get after it.
   
• To have Bryce Foster having knee surgery and get back into the ring to have a PR that quickly is impressive. To have that recovery shows a lot about who Bryce is.
   
• Auhmad Robinson cramped up. The doctor looked at him, and he had three cramps in the hamstring. I think it's fluid related. He has missed a few training days, but he's back in it. He'll run the open 400m and then be the leadoff leg in our 4x4. I hope he's ready to go.
   
• Just do what you did to get here. If you ran 45.2, run that again. The environment might dictate that you get a little bit better. Do it again. If Lamara jumps 6-5, jump that again. The environment will help her get a little bit better. Everyone has to have a great day on the same day because this is a team event. The Olympic Games is a team championship. We're trying to win more golds than everybody. At the collegiate level, you get points for it.