April 26, 2002
Janae Strickland on setting Missouri's outdoor record in the women's shot put: "I didn't realize it was 50 feet. I just knew it felt good. I wasn't going for a PR or anything. I called my dad and I laughed. I was full of different emotions."
Russ Bell on his two Drake Relays championships: "I threw within a few inches of my PR in the shot put on a bad day. My victory lap was enjoyable -- everyone was cheering and that was really fun. In the discus, I did think about defending the title. It was a horrible day with the temperature and the wind, but I came out alright."
Assistant track coach Brett Halter on Russ Bell's winning performances: "I think it's a huge honor to be a Drake Relays champion. With all the people who come here, who are invited to be here, and to be a Drake Relays champion. I think that's an important competition for Russ. Looking at the history of the Drake Relays and the very beginnings of the Drake Relays...we have Drake Relays trophies from around 1910 so it really puts things in perspective of how big this thing is. This thing really is very special."
Halter on Janae Strickland's record toss: "To have a two-foot PR at the Drake Relays is huge. Drake is not always the easiest place to throw well -- especially the first time. Basically it was a star-studded field and Janae went in and delivered."