Destinee Gause 2012 Reynoldsburg
Personal Bests
· 100 Meter Dash 11.63
· 200 Meter Dash 23.50
· 400 Meter Dash 54.42
· 60 Meter Dash 7.50
· Long Jump 17-5
2012 OATCCC D1 Indoor State Champion 200m 23.95 New D1 State Meet Record
2012 New Balance Indoor Nationals 200m Champion 23.82
2012 Brooks PR Invitational 60m 3rd 7.50 PR
2011 USATF National JO Championships 400m 6th 55.42 PR
2011 USATF National JO Championships 200m 1st 23.50 PR
2011 Ohio 100m D1 State Champion 11.82
2011 Ohio 200m D1 State Champion 23.84
2011 OHSAA 4x400 2nd 3:48.78
2010 Ohio 200m D1 State Champion 24.07
Member 2010 4x100 D1 State Champions 47.24
Member 2010 4x400 D1 State Runner-Up 3:48.87
2009 Ohio 200m D1 State Champion 24.21
Member of 2009 D1 4x400 State Champions 3:43.83 D1 State Record, Meet Record & Stadium Record
Member of 2009 D1 4x200 State Champions 1:37.02 D1 State Record, Meet Record & Stadium Record
OHRunners: Destinee, last Spring we interviewed you as Ohio’s two-time defending D1 200m Champion, as well as a member of two Reynoldsburg State Record holding relay teams, The 2009 4x200 winning team (1:37.02) and 4x400 winning team (3:43.83). You were also a member of the 2010 4x100 State Championship relay in a time of 47.24. I asked you at that time what your goals for the year would be “Repeat as one of the only 3 time D1 Girls 200m Champions? Repeat as a member of a 3 time D1 4x400m team? Repeat as member of back to back 4x100m D1 team? Help lead the Reynoldsburg girls to their 3rd Consecutive State D1 Team Championship? You replied “All the things you listed. I want ALL of those things to happen and if they don't happen, I just want to make sure my times or our times are better than they were last year. But, also adding to that list, I'm coming for that 100m state title this year also!” You did win the 100m and the 200m races. You fell just short as runner-ups in the 4x400. As you reflect back, how would you describe you and your Reynoldsburg teammates accomplishments at State last year?
Destinee: I must say I was mostly impressed with the 100m. Simply because that’s where my confidence lacks. So, when I looked at the board and saw that I ran an 11.63, not to sound overly confident or cocky, I said to myself, "Well that was nothing, you could've went 11.5." I mean that I was intimidated by that race and running that 11.63 seemed like a breeze. Furthermore, everyone knows the 200m is my baby (lol). Throughout the year I was beginning to become frustrated with myself however, because I was so tired of running 24's, and it seemed like every attempt of breaking a 24 was a failure, So when I ran that 23.8 it did more than lift my spirits up. It’s a hard feeling to explain. Only a true runner can understand what it feels like to finally brake a second off of your race, especially if you've been working at it for a long time. As far as the 4x4 goes, I was proud of my team for giving their all, however, I was still hurt because that was the first time throughout my high school career that we lost a 4x4, and we only lost by like 5 meters. I'd prefer to just lose rather than to almost win. Real competitors know what I mean by that. BUT it was a great feeling to 3-peat, especially since we came in as the underdog.
OHRunners: Looking forward to the 2012 Outdoor Season, you are healthy and in great shape. You set a new Ohio Indoor D1 Meet Record in the 200m, winning in a time of 23.95 and you were the New Balance Indoor National Champion in the 200m with a 23.82. Also on the national scene, at the Brooks PR Invitational you placed 3rd in the 60m with a 7.50 PR. You have obviously set a very high standard for yourself and your expectations for the outdoor season. What are those expectations?
Destinee: Well you know, I feel as if last year was my year of finding myself. I mean people would tell me how good I am, but I never knew for myself how good I was, until last year. So, this year I’m challenging myself to see just how good I can be or how far I can go. I'm already known as the best in Ohio, now I’m aiming for the best in the country.
OHRunners: A couple of questions that we asked last year. Today, now, as a three time defending 200m champion, a defending 100m champion, a National 200m champion, part of the defending 4x100 relay team, part of the runner-up 4x400 relay team and a leader on Reynoldsburg’s three time defending State D1 girls Champions, what pressure do you feel?
Destinee: As of right now, I'm not really feeling a lot of pressure with my individual races or the relays. It’s just with being three time defending State D1 girls team champions. That’s because of the drop in numbers of the people we have, and because I know how bad I want to 4-peat and how bad I'll be hurt if we don't win. We've won the Division 1 State Meet every year of my high school career, I'll be hurt if we don’t win this year, MY SENIOR YEAR !
OHRunners: You are the three time defending D1 State 200m champion. The State D1 record, Stadium record and State Meet record were set in 2007 by Aareon Payne of Cleveland Beaumont in a time of 23.65 for the 200m Dash. Kandace Thomas of Canton Glen Oak holds the Stadium record of 11.74 in the 100m Dash. Describe the type of race that you will need to run to get those records?
Destinee: Uhmmm, well actually, I believe I won’t have a problem with setting a new record this year in the 200m and 100m because I've already ran faster than those times. It's just all going to come down to how strong and how in-shape I am when States roll around. So, I mean, I guess I'll just have to run a strong race, which shouldn’t be a problem being that I am a lot stronger this year.
OHRunners: Another question that we asked last year was “In your career thus far, what do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?” You replied “Winning States my sophomore year with only 7 people.” In lieu of your accomplishments since our last interview, would you still view this as your greatest accomplishment?
Destinee: No, I do not consider that to be my greatest accomplishment anymore. It's like the more you compete, what you see as your "greatest accomplishment" changes almost every meet. So, I'll have to say as of right now, my greatest accomplishment has to be having two national titles in the 200m, one in outdoor and one in indoor. However, I'm sure that'll change later on in the season.
OHRunners: What are your Goals for this outdoor season?
Destinee: This year I have set pretty high goals. As I said earlier, this is the year where I'm going to really challenge myself. Referring to my track career in general, I'm going for a 23.00 in the 200m and an 11.30 in the 100m. Referring to my high school career, I'm going for another state title in both 200m and 100m. Also, a come-back in the 4x4 lol. I just will not let that race go.
OHRunners: Thanks Destinee. See you this Spring.
Donovan Robertson 2012 Berea
Personal Bests
· 100 Meter Dash 10.71
· 110 Meter Hurdles 13.70
· 200 Meter Dash 21.53
· 300 Meter Hurdles 36.90
· 400 Meter Hurdles 53.51
· 400 Meter Dash 48.85
· 60 Meter Hurdles 7.57
· 60 Meter Dash 7.00
2012 OATCCC Indoor State Champion 60H 7.67 New D1 State Meet Record
2012 New Balance Indoor Nationals 60H Champion 7.70
2012 Brooks PR Invitational 60H Champion 7.57 New National Record!
2011 Ohio 110m Hurdle D1 State Champion 13.70
2011 Ohio 300m Hurdle D1 State Champion 36.90
2011 Ohio 200m D1State Runner-Up 21.63
2011 OATCCC Indoor D1 State 60H Runner-up 8.04
2011 OATCC Indoor D1 State 400m 3rd 49.7
2010 Ohio 300m Hurdle D1 State Champion 37.19
OHRunners: Donovan, last Spring we interviewed you as Ohio’s defending D1 300m Hurdle Champion. At that time, you told us that your expectation for the year “as a returning champion (was) first, to become the 110H State champion, and then to defend (your) 300H title.” You also told us that you felt that you were doing very well in the 100m and 200m and that you would do your best to make it to States and on the podium in those events as well. You did defend your 300m Hurdle championship with a 36.90. You did win the 110H Championship in 13.70. You were runner up in the 200m in a time of 21.63. The 100m didn’t happen, but you couldn’t have asked for a much better performance than you had at States. How would you describe your accomplishments at State last year?
Donovan: I would describe my accomplishments as satisfactory. It was the best day in my career at the time, and even though I did not make it to states in the 100m, or win the 200m, I was extremely happy with how the meet turned out. The state meet was also an eye opener for me in terms of my future for track. It helped me realize that track is not just a way to pay for my college anymore; it is now a career possibility, and a chance for me to leave my mark as an athlete.
OHRunners: As we head into the 2012 Outdoor Season, you are coming off of a stellar indoor season. You set a new National Record of 7.57 in the 60H, winning at the Brooks PR Invitational, you are the New Balance Indoor National Champion in the 60H in a time of 7.70 and you are the OATCCC Indoor State Champion in the 60H in a new Ohio State Meet Record of 7.67. You have obviously set a very high standard for yourself and your expectations for the outdoor season. What are those expectations?
Donovan: I have a couple of ambitions for this outdoor season. Naturally, I would like to defend my state titles, and possibly gain one or two more from the sprints. A bigger plan is to capture the state/meet records for both the 110 and 300 hurdle races. However, the biggest goal I would like to achieve is to win the state trophy as the Berea track team. We have a driven, talented, and charismatic team this year, and a few of my teammates have a great chance at qualifying for states as well. If everything goes well, we could possibly earn Berea High's second ever state title. To me, nothing would be sweeter than a team victory like that.
OHRunners: In terms of expectations, the Ohio D1 State record in the 100H is 13.30 set by Chris Nelloms of Dayton Dunbar in 1990. The State Meet and the Owen’s Stadium records are 13.40 set in 2004 by Ted Ginn, Jr. of Cleveland Glenville. Describe the type of race that you will need to run to get those records?
Donovan: In order to break those records, I will need to run a near-flawless race. In the 110 hurdles, one of the most important parts of the race is from the blocks to the first hurdle, because this sets the speed to the rest of the hurdles. I have worked with my coaches constantly, and we have broken this section down into a science. I will have to take no more than 1.8 seconds to cover this distance. A quick reaction to the gun, straight explosive steps from the blocks, and big arm action will be crucial to getting me to the hurdle in that time. throughout the race, I will have to focus on clearing the hurdles without touching them, maintaining a steady hip pattern, and also on keeping my arms tight to my body and in control. These are the key techniques that I will be focusing on all year, and most definitely at the state meet.
OHRunners: Similarly, your times in the 300H are close to the State records. The D1 record is held by Derrick Williams of Canton GlenOak . He set the standard of 36.34 in 2001. The State Meet record is 36.38 set in 1988 by Glenn Terry of Cin. Sycamore. The Owen’s Stadium record was set in 2008 by Michael Willey of Miamsburg in a time of 36.59. Are these records in your sights? What type of race will you need to run?
Donovan: These records are definitely in my sights. Again, I will have to run a near-perfect race if I am going to have a shot at beating these records. The biggest thing is to make sure that my strides always match the hurdles. I do not switch lead legs, so a stutter step before a hurdle will kill my speed and my chances at breaking a record. In order to lessen my chances of stuttering, I will have to run 19 paces to the first hurdle, and 13 between the rest. These are really large strides, and is used in college and the Olympics, so I will definitely have to practice to get this technique down.
OHRunners: On another quick note, in our last interview you told us that “your favorite race is a tie between the 110 hurdles and the 200m dash.” As you look back at your performances last year, is it still a tie?
Donovan: It's been a whole year since I said that, but now I have to say that the 110 hurdles is my favorite race! I've been working on technique for the 60 hurdles this indoor season, and I have fallen in love with how much technique is stressed in both the 60 and 110 hurdles. I love to analyze and dissect things in my mind, and these races suit me perfectly. However, I will still always enjoy the feeling of sprinting the curve of a 200!
OHRunners: Thanks Donovan. See you this Spring.