Track & Field Report: Henry's Aggies to compete in NCAA West First Round

Texas A&M track & field continues its postseason campaign with the NCAA West First Round on Wednesday. Legendary head coach Pat Henry joined TexAgs Radio to discuss the Aggies' approach to the week as they wait for storms to pass in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

Key notes from Pat Henry interview

• We are ready to compete. It is whether or not we get to compete cause of the weather. It's raining and lightning. We are already delayed six hours. We are an outdoor sport. We are four days of competition, so a delay can really affect us and how we run. 
   
• A normal warmup for a 400-meter race is 50 minutes, and you have to check in, too. It takes about an hour and 15 minutes. The hardest part, sometimes, about running the 400 is the warmup if you have to do it twice. It’s tough on an athlete. Few great things happen when there is a delay like that.
   
• This is about advancing the top 12 people out of 48 in every event. As I told our team this morning, someone will advance. It might as well be you. You have to beat 36 people, and that is the only way you will get to the national championship.
   
• Half the country is here, and it is tremendous competition. It’s just too bad we have the weather we do. 
   
• This is the first round, but you cannot look at it that way. You cannot take it easy. Sam Whitmarsh cannot think he is the best and think he will beat everyone. There are a whole bunch of people trying to beat Sam.
   
• Today is the men’s competition. Tomorrow is women’s. Timara Chapman looked good in practice. She is a senior. She knows what is going on. It is such a tough competition for a multi-event athlete. Delays are going to happen. You have to be prepared.
   
• All of these great athletes are in a good position right now. We are healthy. We haven't lost anybody in the last three months.
   
• Everything you have done the entire year has been a rehearsal. This is the first time that the play starts. Everything you have learned about yourself, you use it. They are seasoned.