Interview with Chris Solinsky
Reported by Chris Fox

Chris Fox caught up with Chris Solinsky immediately after he won the 2002 Foot Locker Midwest Regional. Solinsky is the top returning runner in the boys' race after finishing third at last year's National Finals.

Chris Solinsky wins the 2002 Foot Locker Midwest Regional. (Photo by Chris Fox)

On his fitness:
"I didn't fully peak for this race yet, so I'm going to improve on my speed a bit more and get down there ready to run fast with the big guys."

"The (Wisconsin) state meet was four weeks ago, but I've been doing road races... Keeping in race shape... Just doing a lot of tempo runs and trying to stay quick."

"I'm actually going to start tapering for the first time all year. I'm looking forward to it. A lot of the other guys are going to be tough. It's going to be a big front pack. I don't think there is any favorite right now. I think I can run with them. It's going to be interesting in two weeks."

On the weather:
"We've had conditions like this (cold) all year; I think my best conditions were at the state meet -- forty degrees and a little wind. Even Great American -- I was expecting fast and good conditions; it was pretty cruddy; that's by far the hardest course I've ever been on; you never had a chance to recover -- up and down the whole time -- it was real soggy."

On the University of Wisconsin:
"I came to a decision about five weeks ago. (He also considered Stanford, Oregon and Colorado.) "I got really excited about going to Wisconsin. I could definitely see myself being there and having fun and being myself. We'll see what I can do. I'll try to put in a good track season, then work on a big summer base. Maybe I'll come down early and train with the guys and see what kind of shape I'm in..."

On his training and work ethic:
"I don't believe in lifting... I guess I'd say I'm a hard worker. I take pride in what I do. With my running, I'm not going to give it a half-effort. I'm always going to go out there and just pound the crap out of myself to try to get better and better. I feel like I still have a lot of improvement to do, so I can't wait until next year when I run with the big guys at Wisconsin."