The Manitou Messenger had the chance to catch up with All-American Sean Lonergan to reflect on his experience at the NCAA Division III National Championship Track & Field Meet.
Q: What was it like competing at nationals, being one of four to represent St. Olaf?
A: It’s always a great honor to represent your school at the national stage. Despite the pressure to perform well, I received so much love and support which made the experience an unforgettable one.
Q: How did it feel to progressively improve and PR at nationals?
A: It was an amazing feeling. Once I began tapering, I saw seconds drop off my time, I used that momentum to motivate myself to run better each successive race. At nationals, my confidence level was at an all-time high.
Q: What are your expectations for the outdoor season?
A: From a performance perspective, I expect to set new PRs in my specialty events, score big points for the team at the outdoor conference meet, and finish 6th or better at outdoor nationals in the 1500 meter run.
Q: What was it like transitioning from a semester abroad to competing right away?
A: I actually managed to stay in really solid shape while I was studying abroad in Tokyo. I joined an international running club that met a couple times a week, and trained and competed in road races with them for four out of the five months I was there.
