You have been dominant this fall, winning each of your races in course record times. The meet record is 17:58, with the course record 17:48. Will this be your focus, or will you just aim to win?
It would definitely be exciting to break 18 minutes. I really like the Belfast course and I certainly will have that time in mind when I run.
Last year was your first year of XC. How much better prepared are you this fall for the 5K distance?
Last year it was hard for me to make the transition from the track and to focus on running a fast time in the woods. Also, having a year of improving my mile and 2-mile times has prepared me for running the 5K distance.
You didn't win the individual Class B title last fall. Has that been motivation for this fall?
In a way that has motivated me, but really I think what motivates me most is my excitement for track this year, and knowing that cross country is great training for that.
You have done well nationally on the track. Will you be running in the Footlocker or NXN races this fall, and what would it mean to make a trip to nationals?
I think I will be running at Footlocker this fall. Last year at this time I wasn't thinking about it at all, and when it crossed my mind that I might want to do it, it was after New Englands and I just wasn't really prepared to arrange to go to the race. This year I'm definitely looking forward to giving it a shot, and the idea of running nationals is really exciting.
I'm sure your fall has been busy with recruiting visits and nightly phone calls. Have you made any official visits yet?
Yes, I've had two official visits so far and I have two more planned. They have been really great so far. It has been awesome to stay on campus and to spend time with the teams and coaches. I definitely think that taking these official visits will help me to make the best, most informed decision that I can make. It's really busy -- I've been away for a couple of weekends in a row, but I definitely recommend to other seniors staying overnight at a school that you're considering, because it is really helpful in perceiving all the aspects of that school, not just what you have heard.
