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Interview with University of New Mexico stars Lee Emanuel and Chris Barnicle
Posted by admin in Featured, News
5/17/2010 – runsub4
We sat down with Lee Emanuel and Chris Barnicle who are 2 athletes leading a resurgence in what we really appreciate in the growth of collegiate programs. Chris Barnicle is fresh off of his stellar 10,000m performance in the 10,000m at Stanford where he ran 28:10.59, and Lee Emanuel, the back to back NCAA Indoor Mile Champion. Lee who has a punishing kick over the last 400m and Chris Barnicle bring great visibility to the University of New Mexico program led by Joe Franklin. Our lead correspondent sat down with these 2 athletes last week to talk about their Conference Performances.
1. In the days of so many high school athletes feeling the need to go to Colleges that get the largest number of recruits, how have you seen a benefit in competing in a program like UNM and Coach Franklin? (Both guys are currently top 2 favorites in their respective events for the NCAA Championships 1500m, Lee, and 10,000m, Chris).
Lee – Well, I just liked Coach Franklin from the first time we spoke, it was just a guy whom I could trust to make the right calls for me and my running career in college. Joe has always been a coach that I can talk to about anything and always wants us (the young athlete) to do our best. I am very thankful to have run for Joe at UNM and would make the same choice if I had to do it all over again.
Chris – Well, for me it was going from a big program to a smaller on in terms of SEC to MWC, which seemed to make things simple to include running faster.
2. How has the 2010 season progressed, and how do you see your season ending as it moves into the summer?
Lee – Honestly, I would like to run 3:33-3:34 and maybe try for a PR in the 800m if I can get in a race, as I think I can break 1:47 as well, in the right race. Getting the A standard in both events could get me on the World Championship Team next year for Great Britain and that is something I would like to do.
Chris – I would like to break the 4 minute mile at the Falmouth Mile in August and I am still putting together racing plans, which may include the 5k at USATF Championships in Des Moines, IA with say a 5k on the track in good condition, possibly in Europe.
3. How does the altitude suit your training, and what modifications have you made to get the most benefit out of your running here? What is different at altitude and how has it made you better?
Both – there is no doubt that is it tough but it makes you stronger almost each day. Chris, well, I just had to adjust my racing to being a follower most of the race and not do much leading as I had done in the past and the PR’s came this year.
Lee, well, the altitude has only helped me because I like to be on top of my game before I go to a race and it is harder or slightly harder to really feel race ready, when all your efforts are at altitude. I had to tell myself that I was fit and believe in myself, especially before races like the indoor Mile in Indiana this year where I ran 3:57 off of just distance training and a few strides, no intervals or gauge of fitness at the time.
4. Currently running for and studying at a school and program that has not traditionally been known as a running powerhouse, how have you enjoyed the support that the City of Albuquerque and UNM have shown you and the sport in general?
Both – having the USA Track & Field Championships here in Albuquerque was just overall great for the sport, The City of Albuquerque bid on the USATF meet and won the right to host the championships through 2012 and this sparks more interest and support locally in track and field locally with the billboards and marketing that came with the 2010 USATF meet. We are lucky to get to train and race often on our home track, ie, MWC May 13-16, 2010.
Chris, it may not be as big as some cities in the US, but Albuquerque is a great place to focus on training. Lee – I believe this place is really just great for training from the weather to the altitude, to having a really smart coach.
5. What advice do you have for younger athletes who are looking to possibly get a scholarship, or leverage their running into something that can help their career (academic or athletic)?
Chris – New Mexico and Joe Franklin are on an upswing right now, he kind of started to grow his program with Lee and I, as well as the other guys who led us to the highest MWC point score in UNM history this past weekend. I would say to young people who are looking for the powerhouse schools, the Oregon, Oklahoma State, Colorado, and Virginia (top middle distance and distance places currently) that Joe Franklin has as good a program and is only getting better each semester with his program.
Lee – I am not really into why Joe’s program could be seen as better than others, I just know it works well for me and I think everyone should want to be a Lobo (New Mexico’s mascot). In my 3 years here (2007 fall to date) I can say that my first year at UNM was kind of terrible and it has really gotten much better over my 3 years. As this past weekend shows, it seems to be growing still with young guys like British true freshman Sam Evans running 1:50.08 on the weekend for 800 meters.
6. How would you describe Coach Franklin’s approach to track and cross country? Does Joe seem to have the drive to make UNM a future national power that you can look back on as obviously established Alumni, like Jeremy Johnson and Chip Smith do with great pride?
Chris – yes I will be honored to be alumni of UNM and Joe will have New Mexico on the map for many years to come, especially the fact that he has as good a training environment as anywhere in the US and Albuquerque is not an expensive place to live like the Northeast, where I grew up in Boston.
Lee- Yes, Joe talks about the Arkansas teams of the 1990s and says that he wants to see 3-4 guys in red and white in the NCAA mile and 1500. We have Chris, myself, and Jacob Kirwa right now as a triple threat in the 1500, 5k (Jacob), and 10,000m. I think Joe will certainly have 2-3 guys that can compete for the title in each event, so yes, he has an approach of building slowly and will have a powerhouse top 5 cross program and top 10 track program for years to come (this year the Lobos men were 8th in Cross, 8th Indoors, and other than Oregon may be the only men’s program with top 10 in all 3 sports, experts think 20 points outdoors, 10 in 1500, 8 in 10,000, and 3 in the 5,000m).
Why do you think Joe will stay at the high level of athletes, Lee? Joe builds with patience, follows every rule, and does it the right way with a very light budget from what he tells me.
7. In this new Regional Set up, are you guys at all concerned about the races in Austin, TX on the 27-29 of this month? This is a new format, so does that hurt or help guys like you who are now on the top of your game?
Chris – it will be tough to run a 10k in Austin, TX, yet I know I can run 29:00 without hurting myself for the NCAA, but I do think a regional 10k is kind of nonsense and the 10k should be treated the same as the Decathlon in term of a qualification. I am just lucky to have been able to just do the 5k at the MWC meet for UNM, as 3 10ks in a season are tough, not if they are in 4 weeks like the SEC guys, 10k Knoxville, then 10k in Austin and finish with a 10k in Eugene. The reality is we all have to do to qualify, so it is fair, but all the 10k guys will be tired by the time the season ends.
Lee – Well, to be honest, I do not like that the time qualifier for the fastest guys is gone, but I like the set up at regional because it promotes racing. I think the NCAA needs more racing and qualifying so it can realistically be compared to the IAAF Championships and other larger championship meets.
Lee, do you know how you make it from Austin to Eugene. Not really, but I will just do as Joe tells me and with my strength we are not sure if I will run just the 1500m or double in the 5,000m as well. I want to race the Oregon guys again in Oregon and see how that goes, as I was the sucker who led the most the last time I went to Eugene and that history will not be repeated.
(For those reading the article, at the regional preliminary round in Austin, TX, as it is called by the NCAA, the first round of the 1500m will be 4 heats of 10-12 athletes with top 5 from each heat plus next 4 fastest times advancing to the quarterfinal, which then will be the top 5 from each heat plus the next 2 fastest times advancing to Eugene in the Men’s 1500. In the Men’s 5,000 the semi-final round will be 2 heats of 18-24 athletes with the top 5 and the next 2 fastest times advancing to Eugene, OR.)
9. How was it to get 2nd in the 800 at home to the BYU kid who ran 1:47 earlier in the year Lee? Do you think the altitude hurt or helped you? Well, obviously the 1500 win shortly (1:20 min) before the 800 was a tough double and congratulations on the win, Lee.
Lee – To be honest, Joe wanted to simulate the possible feeling at sea level of a 1500m at 6:45 PM and a 5k at 8:45 PM at the regional round in Austin, TX. Joe asked me to help pace Bishop and Millington (both ran 3:42 equivalents in the race) as well to a sub 3:46 race at 5,120 feet of altitude. Then there is the fresh 1:47 guy and the time frame just 70 minutes after a 3:44.99/1500m at altitude is really a challenge and I did my best, the result was a slight 800m PB for me, so I will take it, but I would have rather won the race.
What did you like or dislike about the race, Lee, well, the first 100m was tough, as the lactic acid had built up in my legs from the 1500m, as the real speed work just started two weeks ago. We (the miler types – with Bishop and Millington) just started doing intervals under 60 second pace for the 400s and I finished a couple workout pretty speedy (say 55), so I know I could have ripped an 800 if not for the double. I think I can go under 1:47 in the right race if not faster.
10. Chris, the MWC 5k was by far the toughest event in the conference with 4 All-Americans from this school year (Chris, Rory, Tyner and Jacob), how does it feel to get 2nd to your teammate (Jacob Kirwa) who won the 10k last night and then be declared the winner because Jacob was disqualified for lane violations? Do you think that Jacob being born and raised at altitude helps him to compete well in the MWC races at altitude?
Chris – Well, I have to say that it was not really right to have had Jacob be disqualified. We all slowed down and stopped, Tyner, Jacob, and I were in a pack and it happened with 500m to go. I spoke with Tyner and he did not feel that Jacob hurt his or my race, but I am not a track official.
Jacob is definitely the best altitude runner in the conference, Cross Title in Provo, Utah, and a Double 5k and 10k wins last year (2009) at Wyoming (over 7k feet). I feel bad for Jacob and know he will be a top 5 finisher in Eugene, OR. The part I like is that I have now been given credit for the track record for 5k on the UNM track and I have to say I like that idea, yet I gave my medal to my friend Jacob Kirwa.
More importantly, New Mexico got second for the first time in the MWC in Track and Coach Franklin is the men’s coach of the year, a well deserved award and that is a great day for UNM. For me, getting to race Justin Tyner again on my home track in a Championship after he was 3rd at the NCAA indoors and I was 4th was something that motivated me in training. I respect my training partner Jacob and Tyner as a great competitor, so the race was great to be a part of this weekend. I am just glad that Jacob is in the 5k at the regional and not my race, as he has this nasty kick (reportedly a sub 24 second 200m last week at the end of a 14 times 400m workout).
Quotes from MWC Track Meet from the Only 2 Coaches to Win MWC Men’s Cross Country title in the last 6 years:
2 Time Olympia Ed Eyestone (BYU Men’s Distance Coach): (he is asked what recruits and the like he has coming in this fall for his cross country team) “Well, I have 4-5 kids coming off of mission who are in 17 minute 5k shape. I will have to put them on a weight loss program.” Ed, what type of program is that? Oh, 100 miles per week at 6,000 feet should do the trick and they should be in shape for track season.”
Joe Franklin (New Mexico’s Distance Coach): “Wow, I had no idea I would be the men’s coach of the year Mountain West Conference. I owe it all to the kids who listened well and ran well this weekend.”
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