Pep talk inspires Pollard at state track meet
By Jerry Giese, Journal sports writer | Posted: Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Talk about motivation.
Paige Pollard listened to the ultimate pep talk shortly after winning the 800-meter run Saturday at the Nebraska Class D state high school girls track meet.
The Newcastle senior was clocked in a school-record 2:20.25 while rallying past Margo McNuff of McPherson County during action at Burke Stadium in Omaha. Following the victory, Pollard met with Raiders' Coach Robin Mohr, who wanted more from the Wayne State College track and women's basketball recruit.
Pollard, the Sioux City Journal's final Siouxland Athlete of the Week for the spring sports season, responded with two more state titles and two more school records. The 17-year-old daughter of Gregg and Donna Pollard of Newcastle, won the 400 (:59.15), then rallied to win the 300 hurdles (:45.46).
The victories helped Newcastle win its first-ever Class D state title, as it outscored Bertrand 43-39. Later in the meet, Pollard teamed up with sophomore Julia Mohr, senior Alyssa Olsen and freshman Abbey Lowe for a sixth-place time of 4:14.66 in the 4x400 relay.
"I told her, 'Great job, but Paige, we need two more,'" said Coach Mohr, who guided Newcastle to the 2006 Class D2 state girls basketball title, a season when Pollard averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and three steals after transferring from Elk Point-Jefferson (S.D.).
"If we wanted a shot, we needed her to perform at her very best. She said, 'I will do it.'"
Pollard claimed her second 300 hurdles state title, winning the first time as a sophomore at Elk Point-Jefferson. Second in the 800 and third in the 300 hurdles at last year's Class D state meet, Pollard entered her final state track meet as the Class D leader in the 400 (1:00.20) and the 800 (2:23.40).
Pollard said she was fired up by Mohr's pep talk.
"It was nice to think he believed I could win," said Pollard. "It was like a little boost, knowing he thought I could do it and knowing my team believes in me. It makes a big difference.
"Then, you know you have your coach and your team and their energy backing you up. It gives you more energy and it keeps you going for the team.
"You know they're there for you no matter how you do. It's nice to have a good support team and have the coaches believe in you. It made me want to perform."
She used different strategy while performing in the 800. Thinking as a junior she could set the pace and win the event at last year's state meet, she was timed in 2:21.25 and couldn't catch up to freshman Hannah Connealy of Mullen, who won in 2:20.37.
Saturday, Pollard ran the first half of the 800 in 70 seconds. She liked the pace McNuff was setting and was in a pack of four runners.
"Coming around the last corner of the last 200, I started kicking it in," said Pollard. "That was my plan. In that 800, you deal with strategy that isn't in other races that are shorter.
"The 800 is strategically, a tougher race, physically and mentally. It's more challenging. You have to figure out the pace and where you want to sit in the race."
"Physically in the 800, she's strong and mentally, she's strong," said Mohr. "She was down 50 yards to the leader, then pulled on the last curve. She learned this year the one place you lead is the end.
"Both laps, she ran about 70. She was saving it for the end and knew she had it saved. It was great for her and great for us."
Pollard broke two records she set at last year's state meet, the 800 (2:21.1) and the 300 hurdles (:45.9). She also broke her 400 record (:59.3) set earlier this season.
Pollard's favorite event is the 4x400 because it's a team event.
"Track is an individual sport, but a relay is team-oriented," she said. "I like it because you're running for three other girls. They give me a boost to be good and I want to finish strong for them.
"We were close to being undefeated in that relay this year. Julia has a good first leg and Alyssa, our second runner, has a good stride and can flag down runners. Abbey runs consistent, then I finish at the end."
Newcastle also got important third-place points at the state meet from the 4x800 relay of Mohr, Olsen, Lisa Grosvenor and Pollard's freshman sister Taylor.
Taylor Pollard also placed sixth in the 1,600 while Grosvenor was eighth in the 3,200.
"At the beginning, Coach talked about winning a state title, thinking we can do it if we perform well," said Paige Pollard, a National Honor Society member who plans to major in physical therapy at Wayne State.
"I was thinking, if I could do my best, I could help the team get enough points to win. Everyone else did their jobs too."
SPECIAL MENTION
Boys Track
Tony Jacobsen, Laurel-Concord: The senior placed second in the 800 (1:58.85) at the Nebraska Class C state track meet and led off a 4x400 relay that successfully defended its state title, timed in 3:27.78. He also ran on the second-place 4x800 (8:21.21) for a team that tied Tri-County 53-53 for the title.
Girls Track
Heather Kessler, Storm Lake: The senior, a University of Northern Iowa track recruit, won the 100 hurdles in :15.21 at the Class 3A state meet. The Tornadoes placed fifth in the final team standings.
Paige Pollard listened to the ultimate pep talk shortly after winning the 800-meter run Saturday at the Nebraska Class D state high school girls track meet.
The Newcastle senior was clocked in a school-record 2:20.25 while rallying past Margo McNuff of McPherson County during action at Burke Stadium in Omaha. Following the victory, Pollard met with Raiders' Coach Robin Mohr, who wanted more from the Wayne State College track and women's basketball recruit.
Pollard, the Sioux City Journal's final Siouxland Athlete of the Week for the spring sports season, responded with two more state titles and two more school records. The 17-year-old daughter of Gregg and Donna Pollard of Newcastle, won the 400 (:59.15), then rallied to win the 300 hurdles (:45.46).
The victories helped Newcastle win its first-ever Class D state title, as it outscored Bertrand 43-39. Later in the meet, Pollard teamed up with sophomore Julia Mohr, senior Alyssa Olsen and freshman Abbey Lowe for a sixth-place time of 4:14.66 in the 4x400 relay.
"I told her, 'Great job, but Paige, we need two more,'" said Coach Mohr, who guided Newcastle to the 2006 Class D2 state girls basketball title, a season when Pollard averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and three steals after transferring from Elk Point-Jefferson (S.D.).
"If we wanted a shot, we needed her to perform at her very best. She said, 'I will do it.'"
Pollard claimed her second 300 hurdles state title, winning the first time as a sophomore at Elk Point-Jefferson. Second in the 800 and third in the 300 hurdles at last year's Class D state meet, Pollard entered her final state track meet as the Class D leader in the 400 (1:00.20) and the 800 (2:23.40).
Pollard said she was fired up by Mohr's pep talk.
"It was nice to think he believed I could win," said Pollard. "It was like a little boost, knowing he thought I could do it and knowing my team believes in me. It makes a big difference.
"Then, you know you have your coach and your team and their energy backing you up. It gives you more energy and it keeps you going for the team.
"You know they're there for you no matter how you do. It's nice to have a good support team and have the coaches believe in you. It made me want to perform."
She used different strategy while performing in the 800. Thinking as a junior she could set the pace and win the event at last year's state meet, she was timed in 2:21.25 and couldn't catch up to freshman Hannah Connealy of Mullen, who won in 2:20.37.
Saturday, Pollard ran the first half of the 800 in 70 seconds. She liked the pace McNuff was setting and was in a pack of four runners.
"Coming around the last corner of the last 200, I started kicking it in," said Pollard. "That was my plan. In that 800, you deal with strategy that isn't in other races that are shorter.
"The 800 is strategically, a tougher race, physically and mentally. It's more challenging. You have to figure out the pace and where you want to sit in the race."
"Physically in the 800, she's strong and mentally, she's strong," said Mohr. "She was down 50 yards to the leader, then pulled on the last curve. She learned this year the one place you lead is the end.
"Both laps, she ran about 70. She was saving it for the end and knew she had it saved. It was great for her and great for us."
Pollard broke two records she set at last year's state meet, the 800 (2:21.1) and the 300 hurdles (:45.9). She also broke her 400 record (:59.3) set earlier this season.
Pollard's favorite event is the 4x400 because it's a team event.
"Track is an individual sport, but a relay is team-oriented," she said. "I like it because you're running for three other girls. They give me a boost to be good and I want to finish strong for them.
"We were close to being undefeated in that relay this year. Julia has a good first leg and Alyssa, our second runner, has a good stride and can flag down runners. Abbey runs consistent, then I finish at the end."
Newcastle also got important third-place points at the state meet from the 4x800 relay of Mohr, Olsen, Lisa Grosvenor and Pollard's freshman sister Taylor.
Taylor Pollard also placed sixth in the 1,600 while Grosvenor was eighth in the 3,200.
"At the beginning, Coach talked about winning a state title, thinking we can do it if we perform well," said Paige Pollard, a National Honor Society member who plans to major in physical therapy at Wayne State.
"I was thinking, if I could do my best, I could help the team get enough points to win. Everyone else did their jobs too."
SPECIAL MENTION
Boys Track
Tony Jacobsen, Laurel-Concord: The senior placed second in the 800 (1:58.85) at the Nebraska Class C state track meet and led off a 4x400 relay that successfully defended its state title, timed in 3:27.78. He also ran on the second-place 4x800 (8:21.21) for a team that tied Tri-County 53-53 for the title.
Girls Track
Heather Kessler, Storm Lake: The senior, a University of Northern Iowa track recruit, won the 100 hurdles in :15.21 at the Class 3A state meet. The Tornadoes placed fifth in the final team standings.
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GO NEWCASTLE wrote on May 23, 2007 2:37 PM: