Rosemary Longisa After Winning The NCAA Outdoor 1500m Title
Rosemary Longisa shares her thoughts after winning the 1500m title at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships
Video Transcript
Have you ever closed a race that fast like that, other than an 800?
I think I closed in 58 in the indoors, indoor this season.
Yeah.
At C double A's?
Yes.
Okay.
Yeah.
At nationals.
Yeah, but- How was the wind?
It was very tough.
Like, from the 300 curve, it was so tough, so I was just aggressive.
I just, yeah.
Yeah.
You were close to winning indoors.
What was the difference between second indoors and first today?
I don't know.
Maybe I just really doing indoors, and for this I was ready, 'cause I was like the same distance, 100 meters and twice, so I was just happy to do it.
Yeah.
What kind of- Wind- What kind of plan did you and Coach Phipps come up with for this one?
she w- no, my coach, she's the one who- Laura?
Laura.
Harman?
Sorry.
Yeah, Laura.
Yeah.
And she told me first to just see how it goes first.
just keep up with them because it's 100 meters, and just go maybe after 800, just believe in yourself and just go.
Yeah, but I think I just went before the, the 800 mark because I realized it was a little bit slow, but I just went.
Yeah, so I'm all right.
Did you mind having a slow early pace the first lap or two?
I No, but also was expecting something like that might happen, so I was like, "It's, it's gonna go either fast or slow," so.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Did, did you want to be near the front?
Did you think it was important to be up there if it was a slow pace, or- Yeah, I, I took the lead because I was like, "This is gonna go so slow."
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I just took the lead and control it.
You, you got, you got to watch Faith run the world record here at pre last year.
Yeah.
And now you get to say you're a national champion on the same track that she set the world record.
Just, you know, what, what does that mean to you?
Because I know you guys have a good relationship, and you guys have become pretty close within the last year.
that build my str- my mental, and I was so strong.
Like, when I came here, I saw her running, and I got inspired so much, and I went to hard work.
And just anytime I compete, I like how aggressive Faith is, and she's just confident going for races.
I feel like I always try to do that, and I've been trying to do that, and it's been working.
I just realized that you can believe in yourself, because that is what Faith does.
Yeah.
Yeah, so.
And Keenan said she texts you sometimes.
How often?
most times.
Like, most races?
Yeah, sometimes after my races, she just says congratulations.
Yeah.
Sometimes says, I can just say hi, and she says hi back, and it's like just a friendship.
How'd you get her number?
How did that r- friendship begin?
No, she, she sent me a message first when I came here last year.
I tagged her on TikTok, and then she messaged me in TikTok, and then, like, we exchanged contact there.
And also, I sent a gift to her a few months ago, just appreciate of what she's done for me, and I sent it through my brother.
And so she even called me to say thank you, and since then we've been so much in touch with her.
What was the gift?
I sent, my favorite picture of hers, like a portrait, with a written message of how grateful I am for her inspiring me.
Okay.
And what did she give you?
I have a Prefontaine kit, the one she broke her world record in it.
The bib or the- No, the kit.
Yeah.
The whole thing.
Oh, the whole kit.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
Oh, that's awesome.
Yeah.
So where, where do you have that right now exactly?
Is it hanging up somewhere, or is it- I have it in my bag right now, because after this race, tomorrow I'll be going to Kenya for Commonwealth Games, and I'll probably every time just say hi to her, because she told me to come and just say hi to her this time.
Do you feel like a superhero every time you wear that?
Oh my gosh.
When I have a hard workout, I wear that kit, and I feel like just flying through the world.
Yeah.
The portrait you sent of her, you said it was your favorite por- picture of her.
Of hers.
Was it fr- was it from a race, or what, what, what, what was the picture?
It's, I think she was racing in Paris when she broke the 5K world record.
Yeah.
There's that picture.
Yeah.
And, I have it in my gallery.
And so that's my favorite picture of her.
That's awesome.
So when she first reached out to you, what, what was your reaction like?
This is the Olympic champ.
No, I was like, you know, there are many scams, like some people in Instagram or, or, or TikTok, they can just fake account in someone's name.
Yeah, yeah.
So in my mind I was like, "No, this is not real.
This is someone trying to play mind with me."
And then, and then I was like, "The account is verified with a blue tick," so I was like, "This is Faith."
And she said, "I was looking for you after Prefontaine Classic to give you a gift."
I didn't even respond first.
I was just in shock.
Yeah, and then it was real her.
So will you race against her in the Commonwealth Trials?
Is she gonna be in the race?
No, she's not racing.
Yeah.
What's, what's the- Maybe I- Sorry.
I hope to compete with her soon somewhere.
Are you planning to come back to Prefontaine?
That was the goal, but I still don't know yet.
Ah, okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So if it happens, it's gonna be another dream come true.
Definitely.
What's, what's the best piece of advice that Faith has given you?
she told me to trust the process, focus, and listen to your coaches, and just believe in yourself, and discipline, and be consistent.
I remember those words very well.
She told me at Graduate Hotel.
And have, have you met in person or- Yes.
Yeah.
Okay.
First day I came to meet her here when she was racing, that's the first time I got to meet her.
Okay, I wasn't sure if she mailed you this thing or not.
I tried so many times in Kenya, but it didn't work.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Got time for one or two more.
We're good.
We're good.
Yeah.
Congratulations
