Ricky Quintana: What do you think about the field?
Alan Webb: The field is great. I'm looking forward to having one of the South guys win it. [It would be] nice to see (Brian) Sullivan come out the victor. Also team-wise, I would like to see the South team win it. I like the course. Tough course with couple of good hills in it, where the toughest guys wins.

RQ: What do you think are going to be decisive points for these guys?
AW: Definitely on the second loop, going up the hill second time. If it's close, that where the race gets decided. Doing it the second time is going to hurt little bit for some guys; the better man will come out on top.

RQ: What have you been telling the kids how to run this course?
AW: I tell my guys to take that first loop and maintain focus. Then really push it the second loop... Make your move the second time around. Not really conservative, but in control the first loop, and really put the hammer down the second time.

RQ: Anybody here that you are really watching to win this race?
AW: There is not a clear favorite, there a lot of guys who could win from all the regions. It would be nice to see one of the South guys win it, but there are some real strong guys from the West. West Region champion (Shadrack) Kiptoo and (Galen) Rupp from Portland. There is always someone from the Midwest who comes to run. I really have no idea. I couldn't say who is going to win. Whenever you say something like that, you know it is going to be a good race. It always fun to watch.

RQ: You and Dathan (Ritzenhein) and some of the guys from your time, like Ryan Hall, had great races this cross country season. Can you comment on this group of kids coming up?
AW: All the guys from my generation had real good cross country seasons. These guys in this race tomorrow, a few years from now, [they] will be the guys who will win US and NCAA titles. It is kinda of neat to see the progression. It is sort of my generation's time to start to take over a little bit, which is kinda of fun.

RQ: Does that give you motivation to see the other guys doing well?
AW: Definitely, I so wanted to be in that race between Dathan and Ryan. I just heard it was an epic battle, but I had my own little battle, too, with Dan Lincoln from Arkansas. That was a good race too. I didn't totally miss out. I had my own little battle.

RQ: Does that you give you confidence [for the upcoming] track season?
AW: Definitely, it gives me a lot of confidence. I am moving in the right direction. My fitness is good. All you have to do is keep it together. Keep training hard. This summer is a very important summer. Hopefully, I will be one of the guys who gets to run [at the Olympic Games].

RQ: Your fitness how does it compare to past years?
AW: Just as good, if not better than I've ever been before in terms of aerobic shape. I am laying good groundwork for track season. I always felt that for any distance runner, having a good cross country season sets the up the tone for the year.

RQ: What about all the other sub-4:00 high school milers here? What have you guys been talking about?
AW: Well, it is more interesting for them. Those guys [raced] against each other. I am sort of the outcast. I am the young punk. [It's an incredible honor] to be in that class of runners; those guys were and are the running legends of American middle distance running. It has been a very humbling experience.

RQ: Yes, a very exclusive club!
AW: You can say that again! A lot of pictures been taken! There will be more to come this weekend.

RQ: Do you keep up with most of these guys?
AW: Uhm, a little bit. I met Tim Danielson the first time today, so it was definitely cool to meet him, he is a really nice guy. Congressman Ryun works in Washington D.C. and I live pretty close, so of the three of those guys, I kept the best contact with him. It is not like I talk to him on a regular basis; he is pretty busy guy (laughs). But whenever we meet or do an event like this, I always enjoy having a good conversation with those guys.

RQ: Do they give you advice? Jim Ryun and Marty Liquori kind of went through hard times too — injuries and disappointments — do they share anything like that with you?
AW: It just a general tone. Obviously, I am doing a little better now. It is nice not having to look for advice when you are doing well. But I remember talking to Congressman Ryun a couple of times and he said just keep doing it, keep going, it eventually will turn around. I am still pretty young, everybody wants to win right away. [It] sort of helped me to take a step back and say, 'Hey, I am still young in terms of my running career.' So I have time to turn around and feel like I slowly but surely turned around my career.

RQ: What about maintaining your focus under the scrutiny that you face day in and day out? You have to be commended for that!
AW: There has been a lot pressure last couple of years, and it's understandable. The U.S. sort of wants to have a great milers and great distance runners, so when I did what I did in high school, people expected a lot of me, and I didn't give them exactly what they wanted in the last of couple of years. People have definitely been a little negative, but I feel like that has been the hardest part, just to stay positive and not let the people that want to be negative towards me affect me. I just have to keep going, keep running. As long I keep running, training hard, I will be fine. Those other people, they don't know me. I will challenge them to a race! Why don't they come race me? Those people have no idea what they are talking about, so I don't worry about it.