Colorado State University Athletics
Rams’ Sprinters Take Positives from NCAA Experience
6/10/2026 9:10:00 PM | Track & Field
Ahead of plan, Carpenter and Givens recraft what awaits
EUGENE, Ore. – In a race, in life, situations can hit you fast. In some cases, a slow buildup you don't recognize is happening. Or they can appear in an instant. Unexpectedly.
When Kenny Carpenter exited Hayward Field and made his way toward the student-athlete tents, the Colorado State junior was able to succinctly put his emotions into words.
"I'm cooked," he said.
Not just from the day Wednesday, which was his debut performance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships when he competed in the 400 meters. From the past month. Not just physically, but emotionally, as well.
Because he went from Mountain West champion in the event (expected), to advancing at regionals to the national stage (very much not). His training was set to carry him through the first two stages. The third put him ahead of a future schedule.
"I think I just need to become better prepared. I mean, I didn't think I'd make it here, and I
don't think J.J. (Riese, the Rams' sprints coach) was fully expecting it. So, going into next year, just being prepared for making this meet and really doing better at it."
He wasn't alone in those feelings. Teammate Trenton Givens was experiencing them, too, as he ran a few races earlier in the 110 hurdles. Both of them were coming off school-record performances at the NCAA West First Round – where they hoped to peak. While both had desired to do better at the meet, both were mature enough in the moment to realize they will have the tools available the next time a moment hits.
For Carpenter, a junior, that's the next track season. For Givens, a graduate student, it will be something else in his life. Maybe not their best athletic output, but they will be better for the blessings the day will eventually provide.
Givens is counting on it, particularly since he didn't count on being here. Not two years after blowing out his Achillies tendon.
"I think a lot about my faith and the higher powers that are at play. To see myself overcome something like that, to know that that was a trial, a setup for something bigger, the next time in my life I'm really going through something hard, I'm really going through a trial, I hope that I remember this," he said. "I hope I look back to this and think, this is a setup for something else. I'm not just down in the dumps just to be down there. Maybe this is a moment for me to grow so that way the next time I can be ready for it."
Givens felt ready for the race. He still did when he settled into the blocks in Lane 9 of the first heat, but he felt slow coming out of the blocks and when he didn't clear the first hurdle cleanly, the race was anything but clear for the 14.24 seconds he ran to finish 24th.
"It happens so fast that to try to take you through it moment by moment would be pretty difficult. I remember being in my blocks, the moment I heard set, things just kind of happened," he said. "A lot of times I do go into that muscle memory mindset, and sometimes it works. In this case, I just happened to clip (the hurdle) a little bit. Maybe I was pushing out a little too hard than I normally do because just the moment brought it out of me.
"It happened so fast. By the time I realized what was happening, it was halfway through the race. It was kind of that, but it's all good."
His event was the most remarkable of the day. In his heat, Texas' Kendrick Smallwood ran 13.02, at the time the second fastest clocking in history. Givens reached the tent in time to watch the second heat – and history. Auburn's Ja'Kobe Tharp posted a world record 12.75.
As Givens was lingering in the media area, Tharp walked in and was swarmed, Givens taking notice and looking at him in awe. Star-struck.
"I wish I could have been up there in that moment, but I still feel like a part of history. It is so crazy to see where track and field is at right now because it's only getting faster," Givens said. "I can't believe it.
"I honestly was sitting there in the back watching it and I was stuck. I was stuck watching it over and over because I'm like, there's no way I just watched that happen. The heat after I ran, it's so crazy."
Which is the way Carpenter felt about the entire experience, from landing in Track Town USA to walking into a fabled facility just to get in a few practice runs. He had actually made it here. Which was a goal.
The when was what caught him off guard.
"I think I kind of surprised myself, I kind of surprised (Riese) making this meet and just not being prepared for what was to come here. It's ahead of schedule," he said after running a 46.41 to finish 22nd. "A great experience, I think, going into next year. I'm going to kind of come in with a chip on my shoulder and say, 'I know what I can do, and I'm going to do it.'
"I've never been at anything like this before, like, in my entire track career. So, coming in
that first day and seeing it, I was distracted half the day almost. But it's definitely an experience to have, and it's only going to build me up."
Which is why Riese was chalking the day up as a win for both. Both are honorable mention All-Americans. Both did things which fuel why he is a coach in the first place.
"Both those guys were the plan is to win a team title, win an individual title (at conference).
So the peak is set for the conference weekend, which was exactly four weeks ago," Riese said. "They probably ran their prelims almost exactly four weeks ago, so it's really hard to
maintain that level of sharpness for that long.
"I mean, whether it's at the national meet or if it's at the Doug Max invite, you get excited when things click. It's really exciting. It's really rewarding. So, yeah, these guys are ahead of schedule."
Givens was walking away from his career feeling proud to reach a point which seemed to be an impossible dream when his injury hit. Now, he heads into life expecting good to come, even from the bad. To be ready when those moments come because he's sure they will.
His story motivates him more than ever before. He hopes somebody else will find inspiration in his tale.
"It feels so good. It feels all-encompassing, like everything was leading to it, and it feels like this is the end," Givens said. "I feel ready to close this chapter, which I didn't know if I was going to be at the end of my race, the last time I crossed the finish line, if I was going to be ready. Yeah, I feel ready for it."
Carpenter, too. He will look familiar to Riese when he shows up for next season, but they both know a different person will be in his place.
He looks back and senses his body nor his mind were ready for what was to transpire over two weeks, 14 days which were not in his plans.
Time for a new plan. But first, some rest.
"I think next year I'm going to come in, and I'm going to be set on making the final and being a first team All-American," he said.
Quite direct. Very succinct.
When Kenny Carpenter exited Hayward Field and made his way toward the student-athlete tents, the Colorado State junior was able to succinctly put his emotions into words.
"I'm cooked," he said.
Not just from the day Wednesday, which was his debut performance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships when he competed in the 400 meters. From the past month. Not just physically, but emotionally, as well.
Because he went from Mountain West champion in the event (expected), to advancing at regionals to the national stage (very much not). His training was set to carry him through the first two stages. The third put him ahead of a future schedule.
"I think I just need to become better prepared. I mean, I didn't think I'd make it here, and I
don't think J.J. (Riese, the Rams' sprints coach) was fully expecting it. So, going into next year, just being prepared for making this meet and really doing better at it."
He wasn't alone in those feelings. Teammate Trenton Givens was experiencing them, too, as he ran a few races earlier in the 110 hurdles. Both of them were coming off school-record performances at the NCAA West First Round – where they hoped to peak. While both had desired to do better at the meet, both were mature enough in the moment to realize they will have the tools available the next time a moment hits.
For Carpenter, a junior, that's the next track season. For Givens, a graduate student, it will be something else in his life. Maybe not their best athletic output, but they will be better for the blessings the day will eventually provide.
Givens is counting on it, particularly since he didn't count on being here. Not two years after blowing out his Achillies tendon.
"I think a lot about my faith and the higher powers that are at play. To see myself overcome something like that, to know that that was a trial, a setup for something bigger, the next time in my life I'm really going through something hard, I'm really going through a trial, I hope that I remember this," he said. "I hope I look back to this and think, this is a setup for something else. I'm not just down in the dumps just to be down there. Maybe this is a moment for me to grow so that way the next time I can be ready for it."
Givens felt ready for the race. He still did when he settled into the blocks in Lane 9 of the first heat, but he felt slow coming out of the blocks and when he didn't clear the first hurdle cleanly, the race was anything but clear for the 14.24 seconds he ran to finish 24th.
"It happens so fast that to try to take you through it moment by moment would be pretty difficult. I remember being in my blocks, the moment I heard set, things just kind of happened," he said. "A lot of times I do go into that muscle memory mindset, and sometimes it works. In this case, I just happened to clip (the hurdle) a little bit. Maybe I was pushing out a little too hard than I normally do because just the moment brought it out of me.
"It happened so fast. By the time I realized what was happening, it was halfway through the race. It was kind of that, but it's all good."
His event was the most remarkable of the day. In his heat, Texas' Kendrick Smallwood ran 13.02, at the time the second fastest clocking in history. Givens reached the tent in time to watch the second heat – and history. Auburn's Ja'Kobe Tharp posted a world record 12.75.
As Givens was lingering in the media area, Tharp walked in and was swarmed, Givens taking notice and looking at him in awe. Star-struck.
"I wish I could have been up there in that moment, but I still feel like a part of history. It is so crazy to see where track and field is at right now because it's only getting faster," Givens said. "I can't believe it.
"I honestly was sitting there in the back watching it and I was stuck. I was stuck watching it over and over because I'm like, there's no way I just watched that happen. The heat after I ran, it's so crazy."
Which is the way Carpenter felt about the entire experience, from landing in Track Town USA to walking into a fabled facility just to get in a few practice runs. He had actually made it here. Which was a goal.
The when was what caught him off guard.
"I think I kind of surprised myself, I kind of surprised (Riese) making this meet and just not being prepared for what was to come here. It's ahead of schedule," he said after running a 46.41 to finish 22nd. "A great experience, I think, going into next year. I'm going to kind of come in with a chip on my shoulder and say, 'I know what I can do, and I'm going to do it.'
"I've never been at anything like this before, like, in my entire track career. So, coming in
that first day and seeing it, I was distracted half the day almost. But it's definitely an experience to have, and it's only going to build me up."
Which is why Riese was chalking the day up as a win for both. Both are honorable mention All-Americans. Both did things which fuel why he is a coach in the first place.
"Both those guys were the plan is to win a team title, win an individual title (at conference).
So the peak is set for the conference weekend, which was exactly four weeks ago," Riese said. "They probably ran their prelims almost exactly four weeks ago, so it's really hard to
maintain that level of sharpness for that long.
"I mean, whether it's at the national meet or if it's at the Doug Max invite, you get excited when things click. It's really exciting. It's really rewarding. So, yeah, these guys are ahead of schedule."
Givens was walking away from his career feeling proud to reach a point which seemed to be an impossible dream when his injury hit. Now, he heads into life expecting good to come, even from the bad. To be ready when those moments come because he's sure they will.
His story motivates him more than ever before. He hopes somebody else will find inspiration in his tale.
"It feels so good. It feels all-encompassing, like everything was leading to it, and it feels like this is the end," Givens said. "I feel ready to close this chapter, which I didn't know if I was going to be at the end of my race, the last time I crossed the finish line, if I was going to be ready. Yeah, I feel ready for it."
Carpenter, too. He will look familiar to Riese when he shows up for next season, but they both know a different person will be in his place.
He looks back and senses his body nor his mind were ready for what was to transpire over two weeks, 14 days which were not in his plans.
Time for a new plan. But first, some rest.
"I think next year I'm going to come in, and I'm going to be set on making the final and being a first team All-American," he said.
Quite direct. Very succinct.
Players Mentioned
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