2004 FOOT LOCKER CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Pre-race interview with Sean McNamara

by Ricky Quintana

Sean McNamara, click to enlarge. (Photo: Alison Wade/NYRR)

Sean McNamara, a senior at York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois, qualified for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships by being the top Midwest (and overall) finisher at the inaugural Nike Team Nationals. McNamara also led York (aka "Kroy") the team title at NTN.

MensRacing.com: How do you feel after Nike Team Nationals?
Sean McNamara: I feel refreshed. We're ready to go. The effort didn't really take too much out of me. I don't have too much jet lag from the whole trip, so I'm ready to go.

MR: It looked like you ran comfortably the last mile. Was that the case?
SM: I wasn't trying to expend all my energy in that race, because I knew I had a big race coming up. I just tried to score one point for the team and that was it. It wasn't about going out and getting a great time.

MR: Did the win at NTN give you a lot of motivation for this week? Do you guys celebrate all week?
SM: No, we had a celebration Saturday night after the race. I only got like two hours of sleep, but what are you going to do. We're over it. You don't celebrate too long. We're focused on the next goal.

MR: What do you think of this course?
SM: I like it. It's going to be challenging. There are hills are put in a place where it's going to challenge a runner. They're at really crucial times in the race. The mile and the two-and-a-half are really when the hills are big. It's going to be fun.

MR: You kind of laid back at NTN. Are you going to use a similar strategy in this race?
SM: I'm sure someone is going to take it out hard. I'm not going to be the one to take it out. I haven't really decided what my race plan is going to be. You don't really go into a race with a plan because you never know what's going to happen. There are so many variables. Someone could take it out really hard. They could out slow. I'm just going to go out and feel my way out.

MR: After everything that you've heard or read about Foot Locker in the past three years, what are your impressions now that you are here?
SM: I like it. I feel so spoiled the way were are getting treated out here. Two weeks in a row. Going to regular meets is going to be like, 'What, paying for water?!' It's just such an awesome experience. I'm honored to be out here. The race is going to be fun. It's going to be interesting.

MR: Have you made a college choice yet?
SM: I'm undecided still. I'm pretty far back in the process. I'm making my visits in January and early February.

(Interview conducted and posted December 10, 2004)