RunMichigan: How does it feel to be running your first Olympic Track and Field Trials?  

Desiltes : Truthfully I like to look at this as another USATF National Championship race only with a fancier title.   There is a part of me that is excited but if I let that take control I will lose focus on what's important, 3000 meters...35 barriers.

RunMichigan : Congratulations on your 2004 NCAA 3000m Steeplechase title, how did it feel to win after being runner-up your junior year? And did the race go as planned?

Desiltes: It was an NCAA title...it felt great!   Since I stepped off of the track in 2003 all I have been thinking about is getting that gold trophy.   To finally achieve that after a year's preparation makes me feel pretty good.   The race was perfect.   The pace was slow and I had two guys blocking the wind for me.   All I had to do was kick.   That was exactly what Coach Goodridge and had talked about.   Just letting someone else take the wind and being in position for the push around 2000m.   I was there and the push just never came.

RunMichigan: Coming out of Lake Orion High School, what made you choose Eastern Michigan University?  

Desiltes: Well it was a handful of things really.   Scholarship money was good but not a choosing factor.   My high school coach, Stan Ford, went to EMU and urged me to go there.   Also a big runner from my school, Clint Veran, went there and he told me it worked out for him...his dad actually called me and talked to me about the University too.   Then one of my best friends decided he was going so I pretty much had several indicators that it was the right place to be.   Plus Coach Parks was a straight shooter, he didn't blow smoke up my tail pipe, which made me respect him right from the start.    

RunMichigan : What has helped with your success at Eastern Michigan University?

Desiltes: The coaching staff has been great, they are always behind you 100%.   Coach Goodridge has just been awesome.   We have developed what is almost a father son relationship, which works out well until he yells at me like his son ha ha ha.   Also our alumni here are awesome.   We have Doug Tompkins who is just amazing.   He is at almost every meet we have and he maintains EMU's all-time list, which is roughly the top 50-60 runners in each event throughout EMU's track history.   Our Athletic directors and support services are a great help too.   But the most important element here is the great teammates I get to train with every day.    

RunMichigan : How has your running been helped with teammates like Boaz Cheboiywo and Gavin Thompson?  

Desiltes: Well like I said above great teammates make for great training.   It's also nice to have someone who can pull you around in a work out.   No one wants to lead 20 x 400m.   So when we can take turns pacing in reps. it just makes the work out go smoother.   Also when ever you think you are working hard you just have to look up and see some one training harder and it just helps give you a mental drive to keep pushing closer to your limit.  

RunMichigan : What type of workouts have you been doing this spring and early summer to get prepared for the Track and Field Olympic Trials?  

Desiltes: Well nothing out of the ordinary.   Repeats with hurdles in lane two and Gavin without hurdles in lane one.   There is no set work out that we have here, Coach Goodridge rarely repeats a workout so it always keeps us guessing.  

RunMichigan : Who have you been training with this spring and early summer?  

Desiltes: Most of my training has been with Gavin and a freshman, Cory Nowitzke, who ran around 8:56 this year in the chase.   It has really been going great.   It's nice to have G...Gavin to help keep pace and Cory is there just to hang on for the ride.   It does make you want to run harder in a work out just to see how long Cory will hang on for. Hahaha But in my cruel punishment to him he just keeps getting faster and faster.  

RunMichigan : How will you use your NCAA Steeplechase title experience and knowing that you can run under 4 minutes for the mile to help with your Olympic trials race?  

Desiltes: Mental confidence is the biggest key.   With an NCAA victory I know I have every right to be in top three as anyone else out there.   A sub four mile lets me know I can close with the best of them.  

RunMichigan : What is your goal for the Olympic Trials Steeplechase?  

Desiltes: 3 rd place and an A standard.  

RunMichigan : What are you doing over the next week to prepare for the Track & Field Trials?  

Desiltes: Relaxing and recovering...Lots of easy Distance runs and video games.

RunMichigan : Where is your favorite place to run in Lake Orion? How about near Eastern Michigan University?  

Desiltes: Well I guess in LO the best running would be in Bald Mountain and in Ypsi. the best places are probably the trails that we have made out in the woods.   We are working on a loop that will give us 8-10 miles with out hitting any pavement.   I love running through the woods and along the river.   It makes for great scenery and little worry of cars.   If your ever interested in seeing the finer side of Ypsi. let me know and I'll show you our steeple trails...lots of logs to jump.  

RunMichigan : What do you do to relax, when you are not running?  

Desiltes: Lots of video games and movies with my friends, they are fun, cheap, and keep me off of my legs...I'm talking about the games and movies.   My girlfriend and I are also playing a lot of darts and air hockey.   I gave up on racecar games as she seems to beat me every time, and lets face it...that's just not cool. 

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