Lee Finishes
2/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Ariana Lee can finish.
Montana State's sensational distance runner proved it time and again last year, proved it by qualifying for the NCAA Cross Country Championships twice as an individual, and proved it again on Friday night.
"I put all my eggs in the last three laps," said Lee, the senior from Lander, Wyo., who won the 5,000 meters Friday night in the 2004 Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Big Sky Conference Indoor Championships in Worthington Arena. "I went into the last three laps looking to see if I could put a kick on and lose (NAU's Erika Edwards). I finished strong."
Lee has had a tremendous career at MSU, but she's saved her work for the biggest meets. She was named the 2003 Big Sky Indoor Women's Track Athlete of the Meet for her performance in Flagstaff last winter, winning the 3,000 and 5,000 meters and finishing third in the mile. Then last spring at the Big Sky outdoor meet in Bozeman, Lee stunned the conference by winning the 10,000 meters in her first try ever at that distance, helping to lead MSU to its first-ever outdoor title.
"Ari has been tremendous in championship races," said MSU coach Dale Kennedy. "She really understands the importance of those situations, and is one of those special athletes that lives in the moment and is able to perform without inhibition."
Lee said she benefited from her past clutch performances during Friday night's championship-winning run. "I think a big part of this was what I did last year, knowing I had the confidence to do this again," Lee said.
Lee's performance was not only significant on an individual level, but helped the Bobcats to the first-day lead in the team standings. Lee said a quick start was not only something the team needed, but something it discussed. "We talked about feeling the momentum coming off the outdoor conference meet last year. We needed to start feeling that momentum before the conference meet. We didn't want to leave it to the last couple of races."
As Montana State chases a Big Sky title on Saturday, Lee will be chasing personal history, and personal demons. "I've had really mixed feelings all week," she said of facing her last weekend of team competition as a Bobcat. "It's been so incredible, and knowing that I've got this, the meet in Seattle, and maybe nationals left is bittersweet. It's all icing on the cake. It's all way more than I ever expected to accomplish."
With a pair of races on Saturday -- the mile, and the 3,000 -- Lee knows the time for melancholy is near, but not quite at hand. "I'll be crying like crazy on Saturday," she said, "but not until it's over."
Montana State's sensational distance runner proved it time and again last year, proved it by qualifying for the NCAA Cross Country Championships twice as an individual, and proved it again on Friday night.
"I put all my eggs in the last three laps," said Lee, the senior from Lander, Wyo., who won the 5,000 meters Friday night in the 2004 Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Big Sky Conference Indoor Championships in Worthington Arena. "I went into the last three laps looking to see if I could put a kick on and lose (NAU's Erika Edwards). I finished strong."
Lee has had a tremendous career at MSU, but she's saved her work for the biggest meets. She was named the 2003 Big Sky Indoor Women's Track Athlete of the Meet for her performance in Flagstaff last winter, winning the 3,000 and 5,000 meters and finishing third in the mile. Then last spring at the Big Sky outdoor meet in Bozeman, Lee stunned the conference by winning the 10,000 meters in her first try ever at that distance, helping to lead MSU to its first-ever outdoor title.
"Ari has been tremendous in championship races," said MSU coach Dale Kennedy. "She really understands the importance of those situations, and is one of those special athletes that lives in the moment and is able to perform without inhibition."
Lee said she benefited from her past clutch performances during Friday night's championship-winning run. "I think a big part of this was what I did last year, knowing I had the confidence to do this again," Lee said.
Lee's performance was not only significant on an individual level, but helped the Bobcats to the first-day lead in the team standings. Lee said a quick start was not only something the team needed, but something it discussed. "We talked about feeling the momentum coming off the outdoor conference meet last year. We needed to start feeling that momentum before the conference meet. We didn't want to leave it to the last couple of races."
As Montana State chases a Big Sky title on Saturday, Lee will be chasing personal history, and personal demons. "I've had really mixed feelings all week," she said of facing her last weekend of team competition as a Bobcat. "It's been so incredible, and knowing that I've got this, the meet in Seattle, and maybe nationals left is bittersweet. It's all icing on the cake. It's all way more than I ever expected to accomplish."
With a pair of races on Saturday -- the mile, and the 3,000 -- Lee knows the time for melancholy is near, but not quite at hand. "I'll be crying like crazy on Saturday," she said, "but not until it's over."
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
