NCAA Champ Brianna Rollins Signs Pro Contract

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[caption id="attachment_10283" align="alignleft" width="242" caption="Brianna Rollins in Aug 2012: Photo by Patrick Wright, Clemson University"]

[/caption] The past several days have been exciting times for 21 year-old Brianna Rollins who has just signed a professional contract with agent John Regis of Stellar Athletics. The Clemson University junior was recently crowned the 2013 NCAA champion in the women’s 100m hurdles at the NCAA Championship held in Eugene, Oregon last weekend (June 8). She won the title in spectacular fashion, stopping the clock in a world leading time of 12.39 seconds and smashing her own NCAA record of 12.47 seconds, which she set in the semi-finals a day earlier. The previous record of 12.48 seconds was established by Southern California's Ginnie Powell at the 2006 NCAA outdoor championships. Brianna, the Florida native, now has the two fast times in the world so far this season in the 100m hurdles (12.39 and 12.47). For her exploits Brianna was named the USA Track & Field Athlete of the Week. Having dominated at the collegiate level on winning numerous Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) titles and re-writing the 60m and 100m hurdles record book at Clemson University, Brianna now has her sights set on the next level. TrackLedger.com caught up with Brianna as she discusses her NCAA performance and her immediate plans as a professional athlete. How do you feel about signing a professional contract? I am very excited and I am very happy of course… it is something that I have dreamed of for a while now, since high school. I did so well this year and I am just excited about upcoming seasons … I am so excited, it’s such a blessing, God has blessed me so much and I am very grateful for this opportunity. Did you expected to do that well at the NCAA? Honestly, I don’t put any expectations on my runs… I just come out there and run great and just let everything happen on its own, and when I did that, great performances happens. What was your mindset heading into the NCAA finals? [caption id="attachment_10284" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Brianna Rollins 2013 - Photo by Rex Brown, IPTAY Media"]

[/caption] My mindset was to just focus on what I had to do to try and win the NCAA championship, and that’s exactly what I did. As far as going pro, will you continue your studies at Clemson? I have one more semester left and I will graduate in December [2013]. Who initially inspired you to run track? Honestly, that question is difficult because when I started running track when I was in high school, I had no clue about anything. But I admire Sanya Richards-Ross and Allyson Felix. Have you always competed in the hurdles? I started running the hurdles in high school but actually I like running the longer hurdles (300m). I really started getting interested in the hurdles in my junior year in high school. Can you comment on being named USAT&F Athlete of the Week? I am just blessed and I am excited about everything that is happening. How do you manage to stay so calm during your big races? I think it’s a part of my personality, I’ve always try to stay calm and try not to think about things I have no control of. What’s your mindset as you transition into life as a pro? I will continue to work hard, and continue to focus on what’s ahead of me and don’t let anything go to my head. What’s next for Brianna Rollins? The USA Trials Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter