Men's Pre-Race Quotes

Reported by Parker Morse, Photos by Alison Wade

Boaz Cheboiywo

Boaz Cheboiywo of Eastern Michigan.

Boaz Cheboiywo of Eastern Michigan won last year's NCAA individual title in a competition that was more rout than race. He broke from the pack early, demolished those rash pursuers who tried to come with him, then held off the late-race charge of Jorge Torres to win with a commanding gap. The gaps appeared in the armor shortly after the race, though, when he complained of hamstring trouble; he missed the entire indoor season, but returned to take the 10,000m title in Baton Rouge. This year Cheboiywo has been less invincible. First he was out-kicked at the Griak invitational by newcomer Kip Kangogo of BYU. Then at his conference meet, he took a wrong turn on the course and was unable to regain the lead. Somehow, though, a Cheboiywo who just might be beatable is even more challenging than last year's untouchable Cheboiywo.

On whether he feels any pressure as the defending champion:
"Absolutely not. I am not feeling any pressure. I'm ready. I've been training for this and I am looking forward to the race tomorrow."

On his surprise loss at the Griak Invitational:
"It was a very nice race. It was at the beginning of the season, I lost to Kangogo, which was a very good thing for me. It gave me strength. It led me to test my strengths and weaknesses. And after that, I used that as a strength, to go and train. It was not like I lost, just because I lost. It was just the beginning of the season! I had not trained. I took off a very long time, I was off for two months, and worked two jobs, and I was taking a very hard class at the same time. I took the two months off after NCAA track, and I think now I am more ready to tackle him."

On the course:
"I think that this course is an awesome course, especially when compared to last year. Last year's course was not worked out like this year's. I went through the course yesterday, and I found that people covered the potholes, they cleared the bushes. Last year there was pavement. So I like this course. It is a real compliment to be the national championships course. I congratulate the Indiana State University for such a well-done job."

On what his competitors would have to do to beat him:
(Smiling) I think that is a very challenging question to answer. I know they are ready. I am ready too. So I can say, the only thing they have to do, is just to work very hard to beat me, and I will work hard at the same time, and we will see who is who. That's why the race is scheduled for tomorrow. That's why we have a national championship. I am prepared to take it on."

On his race plan:
"The race plan is a secret that I keep to myself. But the most important thing is, the race is going to take care of itself. The race tomorrow will determine, am I going to fail? Am I going to take it out? I leave everything for tomorrow. I am ready."

On David Kimani:
"I raced him last year in cross country. Things did not go as well as we expected. I realized that he had been injured, and I can't compare myself to last year with him, because we didn't run. We raced on the track, in the mile, but I was not prepared, I came out of an injury, out of a stress fracture. I had trained three or four weeks. He was ready for that. So, now I'm ready. I'm ready to take him, I'm ready to take anybody who has come."

On whether he will be able to end the race by the two-mile mark, like last year:
"I think this year is going to be interesting. Just analyzing what is going on, what has been written, the comments that people make, I've been reading that Torres, Kimani, Kip Kangogo are ready. And it would be awesome if we could all run together, and we could determine who is going to win the race. As I said, the race is going to take care of itself. That's my strategy. I want to defend my final cross country title. So I am not going to retreat, I am not going to surrender. I am going to run like a wounded lion. If I am going to fall to the ground at the finish to win the title, that's where I'm going to go. I'm ready."

Jorge Torres

Jorge Torres

Last year Jorge Torres' choice not to pursue Boaz Cheboiywo when he first took off turned out to be wise. All the runners who went with Boaz wound up broken, far back in the pack or not even finishing at all. Torres, on the other hand, was gaining on Cheboiywo in the closing miles, and though Boaz had built a gap too large to bridge, Torres did lead the University of Colorado to their first team title. This year, Colorado's team chances are dimmer than last year, and Torres isn't in a position to sacrifice his own race to run conservatively for his team. Undefeated this year, the former Foot Locker champion wants an NCAA title as well.

On the course:
"I think the course itself is relatively hard. Physically, it's deceiving. It's not as flat as it looks. It's got long, gradual hills which will take their toll in a 10k. But I'm really excited to run on it, and I'm sure a lot of other people are too. I learned how to approach it at Pre-Nationals, where to force, where to attack, and where to back off. I don't know how the weather's going to play out tomorrow, right now it's beautiful outside, but the forecast is calling for snow, and if know the Midwest just right, the wind on that course can be pretty brutal.

On how he sees the race shaping up:
"I see four contenders, five contenders who have been pretty solid all year.
Boaz being one of them, David Kimani, Alistair Cragg, and Kip Kangogo. All of them are top-notch runners, and they're not going to let it go easily. I think five people are going to be competitive for this championship, and it's going to be a very interesting front race.

On running for a team versus running for an individual title:
"I think last year I [was] a little cagey, and held back a little bit. This year's my last race with NCAAs on the line. There's no holding back. I can't come back next year, and win a title. I have to go out there and do or die. I know I'm running against some topnotch runners, but what better way to finish my career than running against the best and maybe coming out ahead."

On coming into NCAAs without having been in a close race:
"I've been able to run and just pull away from everybody and win with a comfortable margin, but I know that tomorrow most likely it won't be the same scenario as it's been for the last couple races. I've been playing it in my mind and I've played every scenario possible so that I'm ready for anything. I'm ready to push the pace if I have to. I like the challenge. I think I'm ready."

David Kimani

David Kimani of Alabama.

David Kimani was the NCAA Champion in 1999, running for Southern Alabama, but ever since then he has struggled in cross country. In 2000, after transferring to Alabama along with his coach, he led much of the race, but faded in the Iowa's bitter cold. In 2001 he attempted to cover Cheboiywo's break, but wound up on crutches even before Cheboiywo finished, as his often-inflamed Achilles tendons took him out of the race. Kimani has been more dominant under cover, winning a 2000-2001 double-double of the 3,000m and 5,000m indoors. His most recent NCAA title came this past spring in the 5,000m outdoors.

On how he's looking at Monday's race:
"I'm pretty excited. This will be my last year of cross country, and I've come a long way. I'm excited that it will be a competitive race. It's great to be here and run competitively, run fast, see how hard I can go. I'll enjoy it."

On his preparation for the race:
"You just have to have your mind set the right way. This will be a real race, not just cross country. I've been in training for the whole season this year, I haven't had to go to the pool, so I'm better prepared than I have been the last two years. I will never say I'm in the best shape of my life. But I've prepared for this race the best I can prepare for a race. I can dig deep in my body and see what I can do."

On the course:
"This is the best course I've run on. It's very open. I think it's good."

Kimani, Cheboiywo and Torres react to Kimani's final comment. (Click to enlarge.)

On beating Boaz Cheboiywo:
"I don't think it will be too tough. (Laughs, as does Cheboiywo.) I've run at NCAAs before. I've lost, I've won -- I'm not afraid of how this race is going to be. When Boaz came, we didn't know him much, but I know him better now. It's not whether I win or lose, the issue is having a fun -- a good race.