Pre-Race Interview with Chris Solinsky
By Becky Orfinger

Chris Solinsky the day before the 2002 Foot Locker National Finals. (Photo by Alison Wade/NYRR)

MensRacing.com: What did you think of the course?
Chris Solinsky: I liked it, it is an actual cross country course. Last year I thought it was a little too much like a track. The surface last year was nice -- I liked the grass -- but I like the hills this year. It throws a new element in.

Are you feeling ready for the race?
I'm feeling strong and pretty good.

How did your regional race go?
It went really well. I was actually nervous the week before about choking and not making it back. So I just took the lead from the gun and held it, and then with about 400 meters to go, my coach told me to shut it down. I felt really smooth the whole way. I didn't feel like I ran all out. I ran a tempo run last Saturday and at five miles I was at 25:20 and I felt comfortable -- I know I'm ready to go.

Do you have a race plan?
I did, but I think I'm throwing it out now after seeing the course. I was planning on going out in under 4:35 and try to be under 9:20 at the two-mile mark, but I think I'm going to play it by ear, maybe take it easy on the first loop and pass people on the second. It's hard to make a race plan on a course like this with so many turns. I'm just going to try to run strong the whole time, stay in front and not let anyone get in front of me.

Do you have a lot of friends and family coming to support you?
Yeah, there are about 30 people coming in tomorrow from my hometown. I'm really excited. About ten of them are my friends and the rest are relatives and family friends.

Is someone in that group responsible for giving you your nickname, "The Rocket?"
Yes, the originator of the nickname is coming. He's a huge fan of Steve Prefontaine and is really into running. Sophomore year, after I won the state meet, he just started calling me 'The Rocket' and it stuck.

Are you relieved to already have made your college decision?
Yeah, I am going to the University of Wisconsin, I'm really excited about that. Out of all the schools I visited, it was just the right place for me. I was excited to see that they did well at NCAAs last month. Hopefully next year with me and [Josh] Spiker back [from injury], they'll do even better.

(Interview conducted and posted December 13, 2002)