2003 NCAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Pre-Race Press Conference

Reported by Parker Morse

L-R: Alistair Cragg, Grant Robison, Ian Dobson and Dathan Ritzenhein. (Photo: New York Road Runners)

The day before the NCAA Cross Country Championships, the host University of Northern Iowa brought together coaches from the leading men's and women's teams, and a number of athletes from each race to meet the media. For the most part, they say nice things about the course for the local newspapers and, in the case of the coaches, defer to each other about which teams and athletes are favored. The art of the press conference is the art of gracefully evading expectations.

Mick Byrne of Iona College

On the course:
It's a fair course, and it's not as fast as people think it is. The section from about 7k to about 9k is where a lot will be decided. But it's a completely different course in November than it was in October. We're excited about getting out there tomorrow.

On his team's prospects:
We came in last year looking to do really well. Our number two and number three men didn't get it done, and we were really disappointed leaving Indiana. This year we have a good team, and the coaches' poll has been very good to us. I don't know if that's because I'm voting in the poll, or that I have a lot of friends voting in the poll. I think there are three or four or five teams fighting for the podium.

Mark Wetmore of the University of Colorado

On running again in Iowa:
The course suits the needs of our team, except we wish was it was at four or five thousand feet of elevation.

On his pre-race advice to Dathan Ritzenhein:
I'll tell him to score as few points as possible for the team.

Andy Gerard of Stanford

Andy Gerard. (Photo: New York Road Runners)

On the "transition" question, which he calls the most-asked question of the fall:
It hasn't been a big transition on the physical side. By and large the training has remained the same. The transition is more about getting to know the guys on a personal level. They've been great. But probably the better people to tell you about it are Ian and Grant, who are coming in here later.

On Stanford's cold-weather reputation:
My guys are hoping to dispel the myth that we can't run in the cold. It came up a couple of years ago.

Alistair Cragg of Arkansas

On his recovery:
I'm comfortable with where I am. I don't think I've ever gone in to a race thinking I couldn't use another week or two. I've crammed four months' training into two months. I'm ready, but I wish I'd had more time to do what I had to do.

On the competition:
Last year there was a lot of talk about four or five guys, and everyone else let us go. That was fine, it made it easier for us to get away. This year, there are maybe twenty guys who think they can get top five.

Grant Robison of Stanford

On the conditions:
It's a fairly flat course, the grass is short, and the ground is firm. It will be like a track race, and that's good for me. I don't think the weather will be an issue; it's an old cliche, but we all have to strip down to our little shorts and run in it. Besides, I'm not from California.

On Coach Gerard:
It's been a smooth transition. It's slightly different workouts, but it's the same guys on the team. He's always telling us that we're all tied together, that our depth is what pushes those of us in the front to higher levels.

Ian Dobson of Stanford

On the coaching change:
The biggest change has been that we've been doing more workouts on grass. We're not on the track as often. Our track is being resurfaced, so maybe that has something to do with it. I was worried when I first heard [about Vin leaving] bit it has worked out all right.

On the team:
The rest of our team is running the PA-USATF meet in Golden Gate Park today - right about now, actually. It's been nice to have the rest of them training through the whole season.

On the prospect of cold weather:
For half an hour, I don't care what's going on.

Dathan Ritzenhein of Colorado

Dathan Ritzenhein. (Photo: New York Road Runners)

On the course:
The 8k to 10k difference is going to throw some people off. I like it. The longer the better.

On his state of his return to racing and training after a long layoff due to injury:
I came back a lot faster and stronger than I thought I would. I've got a lot of work in, but now there's nothing I can do in the next 24 hours. It's nice to get back and get that first race under your belt.

On his last big cross country race:
World Cross is at a much different level. We're more like the Junior level at Worlds, here in the NCAA. But there's a core group of guys around that 13:30 level...

On Colorado's team:
I'm one of the oldest guys on the team as a red-shirt sophomore. We have a lot of personality this year... I think we have the potential, a few years down the road, to have the kind of up-front depth that Stanford has.

(Interviews conducted and posted November 23, 2003)