Pre-Race Interview with Brooke Stewart, December 7, 2001

By Alison Wade

Brooke Stewart on her way to a 32nd-place, 19:09 finish at the 2001 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. (Alison Wade/New York Road Runners)

Brooke Stewart Bio

This is your second time here, you finished eighth at the Texas State Meet, it seemed like you'd have your work cut out for you in qualifying, and yet you pulled through. What did it take to get here?
I pretty much tried to stay with the leaders in the beginning, I ran behind the front pack. I was 10th at the two-mile mark and I just tried to outkick some girls. Somebody told me with about a half mile to go that I was in ninth. I passed one girl because I wanted to make it back.

Can you tell us how the rest of your season went?
It was a pretty good season. I came off an alright track season and I just wanted to improve my times. There are a lot more girls this year in Texas that were really good. I had a pretty good season. At the state meet I didn't really worry about my place, I worried about my time. I ran my personal best.

What happened that made Texas so much more competitive?
For a lot of girls it's their senior year and they got really good. I don't really know but it's pretty exciting. The South was strong this year.

Yes, the South is strong. It seems like everyone who qualified ran about 45 seconds faster to get here this year. Were the conditions just really good?
Yeah, there was good weather. It was cloudy and a little humid, but it was cool, not hot.

What's your goal tomorrow?
Probably top 15. I didn't do too well last year, I just want to do better than I did last year.

What's your race strategy?
I haven't really thought about it yet.

Did you learn anything from last year's experience?
You have to get out hard and stay with the middle pack if you want to finish well.

What happened in last year's race?
Last year I think I went out too fast and kind of fell apart in the second mile.

What's it like being back here for a second time?
I think it's exciting because a lot of these girls are new this year. You already know the course and everything, you know what it's like so you don't get as nervous.

It's still fun the second time around though, right?
Yeah, it's a lot of fun. I think it's more fun because you look forward to things and you know what it's like.