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Catching Up With Hassan Mead - Payton Jordan 2015

Published by
DyeStatPRO.com   May 1st 2015, 2:30pm
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OTC Elite Star Ready to Tackle 10,000m

By Scott Bush

At last year's Payton Jordan Invitational, Oregon Track Club Elite's Hassan Mead shocked the track and field community with his runner-up finish to Ben True, crossing the line in the 5,000m in 13:02.80. Mead owns plenty of successful performances, but this one was a game changer. 

This weekend Mead races at Payton Jordan once again, this time in the 10,000m. He'll face plenty of strong competition, including True, Ryan Vail, Bobby Curtis and a host of others, but the former University of Minnesota standout is plenty confident heading in to his first 10K as a pro.

We caught up with Mead this week as he prepares for Saturday's race, discussing the quiet start to his season, what his expectations are for this weekend and how last year's magnificent effort changed things for him. 

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Scott Bush (SB):You had a very quiet start to your season. What have you been up to and why the limited racing, thus far?

Hassan Mead (HM): Yes you are right, I haven’t raced much going into this weekend but when you look back the last few years I think it’s fair to say I always come into to this weekend without racing much. The majority of the time I have been busy training between Eugene and Flagstaff.

SB: This weekend at Payton Jordan, you face an incredible field in the 10k. What are your expectations heading into the race?

HM: This weekend will mark the first time I line up for the 10k as pro. Coach Mark (Rowland) and I had a plan in place on when we wanted to target the 10k and that time has come. In terms of expectations heading into this race, it is as  simple as run my race, trust my fitness and be very competitive as always. I am looking forward to opening up my season in an exciting venue such as Stanford.

SB: Last year at Payton Jordan you crushed a 13:02 for 5,000m. What did that race show you and how did it help you along the rest of the 2014 season?

HM: Running the time I ran last year at Payton Jordan indicated that my training was working, and also that I was ready to compete at the highest level, especially internationally. As of how it helped me along the way, well the result of that race provided many opportunities later in the summer including Stockholm, Sweden where I ran pretty well.

SB: This year being a championship year, will your focus fall more on the 5k as USA Outdoor approach or will this weekend's race help shape your direction a bit more?

HM: No. This weekend will not impact which event I will pursue. Coach and I have a plan involving focusing on the 10k but that does not mean that we will rule out the 5k. We will focus on this weekend and do what we must do, which is get the IAAF standard for the 10k. After the weekend coach and I will reevaluate the performance and make a decision going into the rest of the season.  

SB: You're coming down from what seems like a successful stint at altitude in Flagstaff. How did training go?

HM: Training in Flagstaff was good. The weather has been great the majority of it and I have been healthy and training fully, so it was great trip.

SB: OTC Elite continues to thrive. What's the support like from the group, both your teammates, but then also the resources you have available to you?

HM: The support I received from OTC Elite, from day one, has been nothing but pleasure. I have very talented, hard working individuals as teammates that coach recruited from all over the global. They are some of the funniest, energetic, coordinated and un-coordinated people I’ve ever met. It is exciting and troubling when we’re all in one place because there is no telling what is going to happen.

On the business side Oregon Track Club Elite provides me resources that were not available elsewhere. These resources allow me to improve my performance and develop as an athlete. Coach Mark and the Nike Team gave me opportunity and resource to succeed as a pro runner and that’s something rare. 

 

 



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