2003 NCAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Pre-Race Press Conference

Reported by Parker Morse

L-R: Dena Evans, Patrick Shane, Laurie Henes and Michael Whittlesey. (Photo: New York Road Runners)

The day before the NCAA Cross Country Championships, the host University of Northern Iowa brought together coaches from the leading men's and women's teams, and a number of athletes from each race to meet the media. For the most part, they say nice things about the course for the local newspapers and, in the case of the coaches, defer to each other about which teams and athletes are favored. The art of the press conference is the art of gracefully evading expectations.

Michael Whittlesey of the University of North Carolina

On how the race could shape up:
The course creates a lot of opportunities for the athletes to stay focused on the course. The middle part of the race is gut-check time. That's where you decide if you want to keep working at that pace.

On racing North Carolina State so often:
Going head-to-head so often during the season has made us both better. The ACC meet was one of the most exciting races I've seen...woman-to-woman all the way.

Laurie Henes of North Carolina State University

On where the race was most likely to develop:
Things don't go out quite as quickly in the women's race... The middle section of the course, perhaps from 3k to 5k, is where everything's going to happen.

On the change from 5k to 6k:
I wouldn't have wanted to go from 5k to 6k when I was running. But I think there's still too big a differential between the mens distance [of 10k] and the women's distance. We run the same distances in track, but I think the message that we're sending, that women can only run 6k, isn't good. I don't think 8k would be too long.

On former 10,000m champion Kristin Price's return to NC State's lineup in this meet:
[She] had bursitis in her Achilles tendon. She started training a week before ACCs. We had a hard night before ACCs, because we knew where we'd be without her, but if we'd lined her up there, we wouldn't have her here.

Patrick Shane of Brigham Young University

On the course:
UNI has done a lot of things to ensure that this meet goes well. I noticed today that they marked the course with red lines, so they would show up even if it snows.

On being ranked number one:
Rankings are interesting and fun, but we don't spend time looking at them or talking about them. We definitely don't think we're the favorites. (Joking) Stanford won their regional meet without their third runner, and we hope they don't run her tomorrow, either. They may not need to. On paper, we're second.

On whether that constituted his annual sandbagging:
I truly believe that. We don't spend time talking about winning national championships. We don't set goals at all in our program. I don't believe in setting goals. We focus on the process, not the outcomes, and a championship is an outcome, so that's not something we focus on or talk about. This year, I think I can honestly say that we're less of a favorite than we were last year.

On building a tradition:
We don't put expectations on our athletes, but when younger athletes come in to a program with a tradition of winning, that's something they come to expect of themselves, and something they can see is possible.

On the race distance:
I think the move from 5k to 6k has been a good move. It should have happened years earlier. Even now, there's a big difference in recovery times. The men had to race 10k nine days ago, then come back and race 10k again tomorrow. The women only had to race 6k nine days ago, so they should all be fully recovered. The challenge is completely different for the men.

Dena Evans of Stanford

On Stanford being a contender for the national title:
Our team is no stranger to high-pressure situations. We only have control over our own performance. We can't control what any other team does. There are a lot of great teams out there, and there are a lot of people here who can run for a small number of spots.

Michaela Manova of Brigham Young University

On the course and conditions:
I like this course. Last year was boring. We just ran two laps around a big field. You know where you are on this course. I'm glad it's like that this year. Today is not cold, really. If it's bad tomorrow, we'll warm up a little longer, wear another layer and jog around at the start.

On being an individual competitor for a championship team:
I don't think it changes much to be running for team score. I'd still be running to win. But I'm not going to go out crazy fast, or risk anything like that, because I know I have six others behind me who trust me, and they expect me to have a good race.

Shalane Flanagan of the University of North Carolina

Alicia Craig. (Photo: New York Road Runners)

On defending her title:
This is one of my favorite courses, because it doesn't repeat much. I look forward to running tomorrow. I think I have a lot of people cheering for me, and a lot of support, because I'm the defending champion. It gives me a lot of confidence. I think it's good for me, and I look forward to, hopefully, winning again.

On what comes after NCAAs:
I haven't put Indianapolis definitely in my plans, but I was on a World Cross Country team before [the Juniors in 2000] and it was a lot of fun. I'd like to do it again.

Alicia Craig of Stanford University

On the possible bad weather:
We'll see what it's like in the morning. I grew up in the Midwest, so I know what it's like. I'm not surprised.

On individual aspirations and team goals:
Being on a competitive team doesn't change my strategy. I'm still trying to do as well as I can for my team.