“Projected Top 2012 Iowa High School Track & Field Athletes” Interview -
Neil Flattery, Senior, St Edmond Catholic, Fort Dodge
1. When & how did you get started in track & field? When I was in fifth and sixth grade I ran for the Fort Dodge Comets Track club in a few local meets every year, but it was pretty low-key. I went out for track in middle school just because it kept me in shape and it was the sport to go out for in the spring, but I didn't really start getting serious with the sport until high school when we started winning state championships.
2. Person/people most influential to your success in track & field? There have been many people in my experiences that I could attribute to my success in track. If it wasn't for the people ahead of me at St. Edmond that set the bar so high, I would have never run the times that I have run. They laid the groundwork for the track program at St. Edmond with their success and their work ethic. Also, my dad, my coaches, brothers, and cousins have always pushed me to be my best.
3. Your favorite track & field event? My favorite track & field event is the 4x4. Even though it's the last race of the meet and you may be tired from all your other races, you still find the energy to run in the 4x4 because of the excitement of the race and all your teammates running back and forth on the field cheering you on.
4. Your track & field event coach(es)? Coach Kibby is my head coach and I work with him when I am doing more sprint-based workouts. Coach Murphy is my other coach and I run with him when I am doing middle distance and distance workouts. I couldn't ask for a better pair of coaches.
5. Keys to your successful track and field training program? The keys to my training program are having a good work ethic, always trying to stay positive, and having great coaches and teammates training with me.
6. Your favorite track & field meet? My favorite track & field meet is the Drake Relays because of the atmosphere and being around world-class athletes. Besides the Drake Relays, I would have to say the Dodger Relays is one of my favorites because it's a home meet and Dodger Stadium is a great venue to run at.
7. Your greatest experience in track & field so far? I would have to say my greatest experience in track so far is coming into the Drake Relays with the slowest qualifying time in the 4x4 my sophomore year and then running the fastest time in the prelims out of all the heats, and then taking a victory lap underneath the fireworks at Drake Stadium on Friday night of the Drake Relays. Being a part of two state championship teams was great also though.
8. Goals for the 2012 season? My goals for the 2012 season are to win another team state championship and get four gold medals at the state meet. I would also like to win the Drake Relays in something.
9. Long-term goals in track & field? I would like to run at division I level in college and continue to improve my times year after year.