Interview with Chanelle Price of Tennessee

by Tom Borish

Price led the first lap of the 800 meters at the 2008 Prefontaine Classic (Kirby Lee)

As the top finisher for the Lady Vols at the Belmont Opener, how did it feel to finally compete for Tennessee after such a successful high school career?

I was a little nervous about transitioning from high school to the college scene, but my first race as a Lady Vol was amazing. The Belmont Opener was a good race to begin my career at Tennessee, because there was little pressure and the plan was simply to test what type of shape I'm in at this point in the game.

How have the first few weeks been for you on the campus of Tennessee? What's been the best part of being in college so far?

My first few weeks at Tennessee have been great. It definitely has been a big transition, because I feel like I'm doing something every hour of the day. Life as a student-athlete is EXTREMELY BUSY. The best part of being in college so far is meeting a variety of people and being forced to learn how to manage my time.

Named 2008 Gatorade National Female Athlete of the Year, you enter your freshman season at Tennessee as one of the more touted athletes to come out of high school in a while. What are some of your expectations for this season knowing you'll be competing with the best in the country every weekend?

I am very excited to compete with the best in the country, because I know it will only make me better. My plan for this season is to contribute to the team in all ways possible. I hope to improve my personal bests in the 400, 800, and 1500, and my ultimate goal is to capture some NCAA titles, both individually and for the team.

Looking back at the 2008 Nike Prefontatine Classic in Eugene, you set a personal-best time of 2:01.61 in the 800 meters. How did you want to manage that race considering you led after the first 500 meters and were you surprised just how fast you were able to run that day?

In that race, my plan was to ‘get out and stay out.’ I was actually more upset than surprised, because I wanted to run under two minutes and break the national record.

During your senior year in high school, you made the high honor roll and graduated in the top five percent of your class. How important are academics to you and how do you best manage your time during such a busy athletic season which includes travel?

Academics have always been very important to me. I have the same mentality in the classroom as I do on the track, which is to give 110% and strive to be the best. Managing my time can get stressful and definitely takes a lot of practice. It all boils down to setting my priorities straight and remaining focused.

How has training and competing in cross country helped you transition to your performances on the track? What are your plans for the rest of this cross country season?

Cross country undoubtedly makes me much stronger for the track season. It improves my endurance, which is crucial for a grueling race like the 800m. During the rest of this cross country season, I plan to train hard in order to prepare myself for the indoor and outdoor seasons. I also intend on contributing to the team with goals of competing at the SEC and NCAA championships.

What are some of the more memorable experiences for you so far during your career? What events are you looking forward to this season?

My most memorable experiences include winning my first national title at the 2006 Nike Outdoor meet, racing against the pros for the first time at the 2007 USA Outdoor Championships, competing in my first international competition at the 2007 Youth World Championships, setting the Pennsylvania State 800m record and the national indoor 500m record, competing at the Olympic Trials, setting a personal best at the Prefontaine Classic, and attending the ESPYs as a reward for winning 2008 Gatorade National Female Athlete of the Year. This season, I'm simply looking forward to traveling to the various meets, especially the regional and national championships.

What is your current mileage base and how have you and the coaching staff try to maximize your potential for this season?

I average 30 to 35 miles a week. Coach Clark and I communicate to devise a plan that will maxmimize my potential for this season.

Competing at high level meets such as the Prefontaine Classic and U.S. Olympic Trials must have been a treat for you in regards to stepping out of the high school umbrella of competition. What did you learn the most from these meets that will help you this season at Tennessee and beyond?

Competing at the Prefontaine Classic and U.S. Olympic Trials helped show some of the things I need to work on while at Tennessee, such as learning how to cope with different things that occur when running in packs (shoving, tripping, getting boxed in). Overall, I learned that the next level is a whole different ball game, and I have to mature mentally in order to compete with the big dogs.

Many look to you as the future of U.S. middle distance running. Do you feel you have a lot still to prove and the weight of expectations on your shoulders?

I place A LOT of pressure on myself, so I try not to worry about expecations of other people. Striving to reach my goals will allow me to conquer what I expect of myself as well as what other people expect me to do.

How do you like to spend your free time when you're not focuses on the sport?

Track tends to occupy most of my time, but, when I'm not running, I love to relax and watch movies with friends and family. I also love to do typical ‘girl’ things like shop and get my hair and nails done. Text messaging, chatting on Facebook, and listening to music are additional hobbies of mine.