2004 FOOT LOCKER CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Post-race interview with Chris Barnicle

by Ricky Quintana

Chris Barnicle (Photo: Alison Wade/NYRR)

Chris Barnicle, a senior at Newton North High School in Newton, Massachusetts, finished sixth at the 2004 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in 15:34. He qualified for nationals by winning the Foot Locker Northeast Regional.

MensRacing.com: How did the race go for you?
Chris Barnicle: I felt dead today. I'm really kind of disappointed. My time was [15:34]. It was a weak year and I thought I had a shot of winning it. It just wasn't my day.

MR: Did you have any indication that you were not feeling well before the race?
CB: No, none at all. I slept pretty well the past few nights. There's really no excuse. I just have to look to track season and see how well I can do in the two- mile, see how close I can get to that 8:36.

MR: Did you not have any energy or was it the course?
CB: I thought this course was fast. I thought I could break 15:00 on it. That wasn't the case at all. I was really dead. Mark Matusak passed me and then 'wham,' I had nothing left.

MR: When was that?
CB: That was the last 200m. I had nothing, nothing at all.

(Interview conducted on December 11, 2004, and posted on December 15, 2004.)