2004 FOOT LOCKER CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Pre-race interview with Jeff See

by Ricky Quintana

Jeff See, click to enlarge. (Photo: Alison Wade/NYRR)

Jeff See, a senior at Middletown High School in Middletown, Ohio, qualified for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships by winning the Foot Locker Midwest Regional.

MensRacing.com: How are you feeling?
Jeff See: I'm feeling pretty good. I did a short jog today and some strides. I'm feeling fresh.

MR: How are the course conditions?
JS: They're great compared to a couple of weeks ago [at the Midwest Regional,] where it was all mud. This is perfect. I love it.

MR: The Midwest Regional came down to a kick. Were you expecting that?
JS: I wasn't really sure what to expect. I was just hoping to make it. I try not think about it too much and overanalyze everything. As far as expectations, I didn't really think about anything like that. I knew Levi [Fox] was going to be up there. That wasn't a surprise really.

MR: How do you feel up the course layout?
JS: I think the main hill that everyone talks about, the second time going around it is going to be tough. I've run on hills like that before so I think it will be alright. It's actually pretty hilly — hillier than I thought it would be. I like it. I think it's good that there are hills in it. Hopefully, that will help me rather than hurt me.

MR: Most people think of you as a miler. This year you've proven yourself to be pretty good in cross country. What do you think will be the best strategy for you in this race?
JS: I just want to stay in the lead pack the whole time. When you get that gut feeling to go, just go. Definitely my goal is not to let anyone get away and just run away with the race. I really don't want to stick to a strategy too much because I know in a race anything can happen.

MR: Considering your mile speed, do you have confidence in your last mile?
JS: I feel like if I can hang in there with the lead pack until the last 800m, I'll feel pretty confident. I know that all those guys that are going to be up there are going to have really good foot speed also. With the speed that I have, the only thing that matters is that I don't burn everything out in the first two miles or two-and-a-half miles.

MR: You've been healthy for a pretty long stretch. How are you feeling in terms of your conditioning?
JS: I'm feeling really good. I got sick a couple of weeks after state. That's the only thing that's happened to me since the summer. My legs feel fresh. My mentality is fresh. I'm ready to go I think. I'm excited about it.

(Interview conducted and posted December 10, 2004)