University of Georgia Bulldog Aaron Evans recently placed third at the NCAA Championships in the 800-meter run behind half-mile speedsters Andrew Wheating and Robby Andrews. Running one minute, 46.24 seconds at his NCAA Regional Meet for a nearly four-second personal-best time and a Bermuda National Record, Evans isn't done quite yet this summer. With two more meets this summer, Evans is keeping it positive and taking it all in.

Let's get NCAAs out of the way. Third place behind what was kind of being billed as a heavyweight fight between Andrews and Wheating. Is that what you were going for going in?

Going in the championship I thought really anybody had the potential to do it on that day. I have respect for everybody in the field. I don't just look at Wheating any different from the eighth-place guy. I felt like it was anyone's race...and I was there to win.

In it to win it. Were you happy with third place?

Oh yeah! I was very happy with third place. Coming through regionals and SECs, I had a lot of fast races and to get through regionals and get through to nationals, was just an accomplishment in itself. The first day, I was happy.

First NCAA championship. What was it like? Were you feeling pressure or nerves?

No, not at all. I try to to not be nervous. My nerves weren't really getting to me. To be Oregon, at Tracktown, USA, it felt amazing.

1:46-low this season. Do you think you could improve on that?

I definitely think I could improve on that. First day of nationals, I wish I was in a faster heat. That first heat was real and I watched that like, “man!” That was a nice race, but the 1:46.4 I ran felt easy. I was just trying to get first and get through.

Where are you right now? Are you still in Georgia or back in Bermuda?

I'm still in Athens. I'm staying around and training. I still have NACAC Under 23 and CAC Games.

And where are those?

NACAC is in Miramar, Florida and the CAC Games are in Puerto Rico.

What are your goals for the U23 Championships?

Definitely to bring home a medal. Definitely top three. I know the USA is going to be there, so I imagine I'll go against people I've raced in the NCAA final will be there. Some familiar faces. It will be all good.

Then you go back home?

I'll fly back home to Bermuda with the team and train. Then I'll come back two weeks later to go to Puerto Rico for the CAC Games. I'm still looking at Commonwealth too. I'm not sure if I'm going, but I've made the standard and I'm thinking about it.

And you've set the Bermuda 800-meter national record?

Yeah, I did. I broke it for the first time at SECs.

How many other 800 guys does Bermuda have?

From Bermuda, there are some younger guys that are coming along around 1:51-1:52. There's a guy who's going to be a junior in high school. He's a 1:51 guy. He's coming behind me, but I've never gotten to race him.

You're going to have to lower that record a lot to put it out of reach of these guys.

(Laughs) Yeah, he's coming for it definitely.

Long term goals, throw out a number. What do you think you can run in the 800?

In the future, 1:43 would be my first goal.

Are you more comfortable moving up to the mile or moving down to the 400?

(Laughs)...uhh, none of those. I've run the four by four and I've run the 1,500 meters before. Definitely not the 400. If I had to, I'd go up. I hate it, but I do it on occasion. I did the 1,500 outdoor this year at a home meet. I was racing against some other teammates and sitting at the back. Then, the last lap, I just kicked it in.

This fall, will we see you coming out for cross country?

No, no, no, no! I don't run cross country. That's too long. I just started running for real. I'd been doing sprint workouts since I came to UGA as a transfer. I'm just getting into it. They wouldn't make me run cross country. I'm just starting to run for real. I came from the University of Memphis.

Why did you choose the University of Memphis in the first place?

I liked Memphis a lot. I liked the coaches a lot. I went to Memphis because I didn't take any other visits. I thought, “this is how all of the colleges are.” Every other college is the same. The University of Memphis is no different from the University of Florida. I was thinking they were all the same.

Then how did you get to Georgia?

The coach brought me here. I liked the coach and the facilities and the atmosphere. That brought me here! No complaints now. I love it here!

Do you live in a track house on campus?

No, not yet, man. But, if I did, we'd have to get Track Shacks down here. That would be awesome! Right now I'm living on campus in the residence dorms, apartment-style.

When you get free time down there, what are you doing for fun?

I'm playing PS3, I'm listening to music. I like to going to Wal-Mart. There's something about it. I'll walk around and just look at the electronics. I'll be in Wal-Mart for an hour. That's where I go to spend my money...and to the mall.

What music do you listen to?

This time for nationals, there was definitely some Travis Porter, Proud to be a Problem Mixtape. It was getting me hype. I was one of the crunkest people! (Laughs) I wish people could hear what I was listening to on my Ipod. We can't even listen to electronics back in the warm-up area. I understand it though. I warm up outside anyway. I do all my jogging and stuff outside. I just want to be free.

You were running 1:50s this indoor season, then you drop to 1:46s. What did you do to chop four seconds off your time? PEDs?

(Laughs) What!? No, it was just a difference in training. We completely switched it up from indoor to outdoors. He basically tells me what the problem is and knows I have to do more running. I'd come to the track and do three 300s. He'd be babying me from where I came from. I was doing sprint workouts. I wasn't used to going out for a five-mile run or doing two miles before a workout and then another run afterward. I wasn't used to all that. After indoors, it was just a warm up to what we're going to do. We just build up from it.

What was the volume difference from back then to now?

Shoot...I really didn't run at all then. I'm for max...30 minutes a couple times a week.

Do you do 600s too or do you stay away from those like the 400?

I did one 600 and I got DQed. It was terrible! You know how you protect yourself indoors? You don't want the guy in front of you to get up on you. I was leading until the last lap and he cuts in in front of me. I didn't want to clip their leg, so I put out my hand to push him a little forward—not shove him—and he got tripped up on my legs anyway.

Was he pretty pissed after?

No, not at all. He knows it was his fault. He cut in right in front of me. It was cool and I talked to him after. I would never do that on purpose and I had to let him know that.

What are you studying at Georgia?

Right now my tentative major is economics. Really, honestly, I like it, but I couldn't see myself working in an office. I'm mainly doing it because I want to learn how to run my own business. I'd rather work for myself. That's what I see myself doing, being my own boss. I'm doing it right now just to learn it. I like sneakers a lot and I like clothing. I'd like to have an exclusive sneaker store. I'm talking about the new Nikes coming out, the premiums, the Sneakerhead stuff. The Air Maxes, the Jordans...that kind of stuff.

If you could have one meal, prepared by anyone, what would you have and who would make it?

My favorite food—this isn't my favorite food, but it's something of a habit any time I'm home—my Nana's Johnny Bread. It's something like cornbread, but more for breakfast, fried up. It's a Bermudian thing! I guess they probably have it down in other places in the Caribbean, but my Nana makes it and it's sweet and I just love it! I can't wait to go back this summer and get some!

Is Johnny Bread the key to dropping four seconds in your half-mile time?

(Laughs) No! It's not a health food. It's UGA!

What's the food like on campus?

Campus is good. We've got a variety. I just make my rounds. Our dining halls have gotten awards and stuff.

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