Over the next few days, UKAthletics.com will be providing quotes from various members of the swimming & diving team as they compete in the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minn.
March 8
Chatham Penrod
Kristina Sledge
Chatham Penrod
On being a part of the NCAA Championship team?
I don?t think it has really hit that I?m at NCAAs. So, far it has felt like just another meet. I think that?s the best way to think about it and to just have fun.
On the team?s goals?
Our goals are we definitively want to be in the top-10 and relays really help that. I?d like all of our relays to make finals. The team down here is awesome. Everybody that is here is really close.
On what they?ve been doing since they arrived in Minneapolis?
We?ve just been hanging out with the team. We?ve been to eat and we got our nails done. Tonight when we went to practice we were the only team there, so that was pretty cool. The whole thing has been fun so far.
On her first reaction to the other teams participating?
I don?t think I really had one (a reaction to the teams at NCAAs). I don?t know a lot of the girls here. I?m used to swimming the same people, so it?s kind of different to come here and see new faces. When you look at some of the teams and see people who you?ve seen on TV it?s kind of shocking.
On being the only freshman on the NCAA team?
They (the upperclassman) make fun of me a lot, because I say silly things. They don?t really treat me like a freshman.
On Minnesota and the University?s aquatic center?
It?s cold. The aquatic center is really nice. It?s beautiful and it?s a really fast pool.
Kristina Sledge
On being a part of the NCAA Championship team and what they?ve done so far?
It?s pretty exciting. It?s fun. I like all of the restaurants that we?ve been to. I don?t like the snow and cold weather too much, but the town is pretty cool. The meet hasn?t started yet, the pool is cool but, we haven?t really started the meet yet.
On her goals at the Championships?
I don?t have a national cut yet, I want to make the cut. I think it would be cool if we got top eight in the 400-free relay. I think we have a shot at finishing in the top-10.
On her preparation for the 400-free relay
Usually the 50-free is the first day, so I usually have that to warm up for my other events. I?m glad the 200-free is before the relay so I have that to warm and get used to the situation.
On the 200-free relay team?
I?m really excited to watch our 200-free relay team tomorrow night. It will be a good way to start the meet out. I think if they do well it will boost the team?s confidence it a lot. If they were to medal that would be a great thing and would pump the team up a lot.
On the goals for the 400-free relay team that she is on?
I think top-eight for any of the relays is a realistic goal. If everybody can swim their best times, we can do it. If we want to get a top-10 team score we need to do well in all of our relays. Because the 400-free relay is the meet?s last event we?ll know what place we have to get to finish in the top-10.
