Mann senior throwers Naomi Atkins and Brittney Waller share their views on this weekend's Taco Bell Classic.
Interview with Naomi Atkins
atkins: My season is going great! My throwing has improved a lot since last season!
What are wanting to achieve this weekend? I want to achieve a new PR in discus and in shot put! To me it’s not all about placing, I want to get my stats up.
scrunners: How do you see Mann doing as a team at the meet?
atkins: I see the team coming together and everyone doing their part in the meet to help the team come out on top and do very well!
scrunners: What does it mean to you to be competing in the Taco Bell Classic?
atkins: It means a lot to me because I’ve worked so hard this year with my throwing and Taco Bell is one of the biggest meets besides State. I feel honored to be throwing among the best throwers around and competing with and motivating my teammate Brittney Waller and vice versa!
scrunners: How do you feel this meet will prepare you for the rest of the season?
atkins: This meet will make me mentally tougher and more focused because of the competition level. At State I’m just competing with Class AAA in the state of South Carolina, but with Taco Bell I’m competing with athletes all over from different states and region levels.
scrunners: How many years have you competed in the Taco Bell meet?
atkins: This will be my second year competing in the Taco Bell Classic.
scrunners: How do you want to remember the Taco Bell meet?
atkins: I want to remember the Taco Bell meet as going out strong! Since I am a senior this will be my last Taco Bell Classic I will compete in. I want to go out with a bang, not just me, but for all the seniors to put in their all and leave at the track as they say! I want to remember Taco Bell as a success, for my team, my teammate Brittney Waller, and for myself!
Interview with Brittney Waller
waller: My season is going well. We have only had three meets but when I have been able to compete, I've rounded out consistent throws and PR's.
scrunners: What are wanting to achieve this weekend?
waller: This weekend I want to PR. Even if it's a quarter of an inch, a PR is a PR.
scrunners: How do you see Mann doing as a team at the meet?
waller: I would love to see us defend our team title. We have a young, but yet experienced team. Our girls know what is a state. Its not a dual meet, there will be over 2,200 athletes willing to put it on the line. Coach Moss said it best,"Every girl counts. Every point counts. Every effort counts."
scrunners: What does it mean to to you to be competing in the Taco Bell Classic?
waller: It means a lot competing at Taco Bell Classic. Not only is it an adrenaline rush from a team pride aspect, but just showing off what our state has to offer for Track and Field.
scrunners: How do you feel this meet will prepare you for the rest of the season?
waller: This meet is a great start to the rest of the season. There will be so many athletes, fans and excited coaches ready to watch great performances.. With that said, great performances equal great competition. Everyone is going to be pushed to perform and I think it will give me a bit of insight of how my training has paid off.
scrunners: How many years have you competed in the Taco Bell meet?
waller: This will be my fourth year competing at Taco Bell.
scrunners: How do you want to remember the Taco Bell meet?
waller: I want to remember Taco Bell as a meet where not only myself but my teammates were satisfied with the results. I'm not sure of what the outcome will be but if we did it as a team, whole-heatedly, I'll be happy. But on the other hand, I'd be lying if I didn't say I would love to bring home another trophy back to Greenville.