(Photo by KENMOR59)
Recently you placed fourth at state. How much of a motivating factor was that for you heading into Nike Midwest knowing you could do better?
Getting fourth wasn't much of a motivating factor as some might have thought it was. I saw some people talking about redemption for state, but I was only running with a plan to finish in the top five. I never really felt the need to perform after my state performance. I ran well at state, maybe could have ran a better tactical race, but I was happy with it.
What was your game plan heading into Foot Locker Midwest and how did you adjust for the strong head wind on race day?
The game plan going in was to just keep my self in contention throughout the whole race and just try to keep out of the wind as much as possible. I never had any intentions on winning it until the final straight away, I was just running for that 5th man spot. Last year at NXR was just as windy and I was out on the left by myself into the wind so I know what it's like on that course to feel the full force of the wind on a windy day. The race spread out a little bit by the first mile. I just stayed in the 7-10 spot range and just let the pack do the work against the wind. Rounding that last set of hay bales onto the final straight away I was in 6th place. On the final stretch I felt good so I went when Jack (Keelan) went. I was able to hold it and even push it more than in some of the races in the past few weeks down the final stretch. When I caught and overtook the leader I was still thinking in my mind top five finish, not first place. It didnt really hit me that I could and would win till about 100 meters to go. Despite that I had been in the lead for around 100 meters by then. It didn't quite hit me that I won when I crossed the line. It felt exactly the same as my second place state finish my junior year, the feeling of what just happened?
Foot Locker Midwest is in two weeks and that will be your next race. What do you work on between now and then?
For my two weeks in between the NXR and Foot Locker Midwest I'll get some hard workouts, maybe some pace 1000's, but I'll be back to tapering the following week.
What are your goals in that race?
My goal for the Foot Locker regional is first to qualify, then to put my bid in to win. I don't think I'll be ask quick to mentally sell myself short this time.
What would it mean for you to qualify for both national level events?
Qualifiying for NXN and Foot Locker Nationals is something every high school cross country runner want to acheive, but so few ever make it. So it's an honor to be able to go compete at those national races representing my team and school. My goal is to finish top ten at NXN and I'll hold out on Foot Locker predictions because nothing is guarenteed and anything can happen. There will be more than ten guys deserving to go and it will just depend on who shows up and performs.