Gallery of Finalists:
Midwest
Boys

1.  Tim Moore MI

Tim says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized how you had finished and were going to Orlando? Was the placing a surprise, or something you were shooting for all year?

I felt great; happy to be back after last year. I wasn't totally surprised, but qualifying is always a relief and you can never take anything for granted in the Foot Locker races. All year, my goal was to win, but qualifying is always the main concern.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional your best race of the year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

Yes, it was my first race all year I was completely happy with. My legs felt good for the first time all year and my stomach didn't bother me either. All year, my stomach has been bothering me in races.

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve and get to Orlando.

Tempo runs and intervals with a short rest are the key.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to get All-American (or win, whatever your goal is)?

I don't really have any concrete goals for Saturday. For me to have a good race, I must stay relaxed and mentally focused the entire race.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family, coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite (HS, college or pro) runner?

My most important influence is my dad, because he got me involved in the sport and has always allowed me to do what I want with it. Paul Tergat is my favorite runner.

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

Hanging with my girlfriend, buddies, listening to music, watching Seinfeld, playing guitar, learning about nutrition and the human body.

2. Chris Solinsky WI

Chris says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized you had the runner-up spot and were going to Orlando? Was it a surprise to finish that high, or something you were shooting for all year?

It felt awesome. I had missed qualifying last year by three seconds (11th/15:23), and all this year I had been training for that meet. It felt good coming in second, even though I was hoping for first. I had been by Moore most of the race and, with about 3/4 mile to go I got a cramp, from the mud, and just never recovered.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional the best race of your year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

No, I would have to say that the Great American was my best race. I finished 3rd in my race and 5th overall, with a time of 15:18. And I would say that very comparable was my state meet, where I broke the state record of 15:15 set by Tim Hacker 21 years prior. I ran a 15:07 all by myself, so it is right up there with GAXCF. I thought that the MW-Regional was not a good race; I was going into it going for the win and I didn't get it and ran a bad time, so I was really disappointed.

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve to this level and get to Orlando (not just to qualify, but as high as you did).

My coaches, Donn Behnke and Pat Leahy, are great. They really helped me reach the level that I'm at right now. They brought me from a soccer player that couldn't even win his junior high conference to this. They have done a great job. We just ran a lot. I ran a lot of miles this summer and continued them through the season up until Regionals. We did many hard runs and lots of interval training mid to late season.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to not only get All-American, but place way up near or at the top?

My goals Saturday are to be, at least, in the top five. I'm going to try and get myself in a position that I can run comfortable and in the end make a run for the title. I think that right now I could handle a hard pace if one is presented, but if not ,that would be just fine, too; I have run successfully in both ways. My training is going great right now and I have a lot of confidence.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family, coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite (HS, college or pro) runner?

I would have to say the most important people would have to be my parents and my coaches. They are always there when I am in a low point of the season and they are always supportive and understanding. To be successful, those qualities are essential. Also, my friends that I run with are high on the list too. GO CLUB MEN and B.D.W.A.R.P!!!!

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

My interests are the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, and just walking in the woods or just outside. I also enjoy spending time with my family, friends and, most importantly, God.

3. Allen Bader OH

Allen says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized how you had finished and were going to Orlando? Was the placing a surprise, or something you were shooting for all year?

It was a great feeling. I was very happy because last year I missed going by two seconds. It was more or less of a goal just to make it out. I just wanted to get out and not go for time or place because of the conditions.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional your best race of the year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

No, State was. I ran 15:07 and won by 0.2 seconds.

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve and get to Orlando.

We ran plenty of hills and short speed workouts to get our legs turned over.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to get All-American (or win, whatever your goal is)?

I think everyone wants to win, but my goal is just top three and run sub-15. It will be a very fast, but packed, race.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family, coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite (HS, college or pro) runner?

My coach and running friends are my biggest influences. My favorite runner is probably Dathan Ritzenhein, because he is good, but yet doesn't let it go to his head. He is still very personable.

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

Just relaxing and having a good time

4. Nef Airai IN

Nef says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized you had finished in the top four and were going to Orlando? Was it a surprise at all, or something you were shooting for all year?

It felt great to know that I had a race that I can look back on and say, "good job. You raced to your potential on that day." I was not shooting for nationals until after state. I like to focus on the task at hand before I move onto bigger things.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional your best race of the year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

The Midwest race was the best race of the year for me because I ran well and I had people around me to run with the whole time. It was a new feeling, and having people around helped me run different parts of the race stronger.

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve to this level and get to Orlando.

My coaches are the best. They are truly devoted to making my team the best we can be. I trust them 100% in any choice they make for me, because without a doubt, I believe it will always be the right one. This year in training we did pool workouts, lifting, and runs, but we talked about what we wanted and how we were going to get there, which helped me a lot.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to get All-American, or finish in the top 10 or better?

I want to finish my cross country season with a race that shows me how hard I trained this year. So whatever time or place that is will just tell me how much harder I have to work in the future. Going into this meet I am not expecting anything, but good competition and to have fun racing the competition.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family, coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite (HS, college or pro) runner?

My coaches and my teammates are the most influential people in my running life. My favorite elite runner is Meb Keflezighi.

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

I like to volunteer my time helping sick children, and children with disabilities.

5. Adam Ludwig MI

Adam says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized how you had finished and were going to Orlando? Was the placing a surprise, or something you were shooting for all year?

It felt great. Going into the race, I was seeded 7th, but during the regular season - up to the state meet - I had felt like I wasn't really running up to that level yet.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional your best race of the year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

I think it was my best race so far. I just felt really good going through the mile, and that feeling continued as I moved up.

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve and get to Orlando.

My coach, Mike Mahler, brought me to the point I'm at right now with pretty low, but quality, mileage.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to get All-American (or win, whatever your goal is)?

I think if I run the kind of race I ran at regionals, I should be in pretty good shape.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family, coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite (HS, college or pro) runner?

My most important influences are my teammates and other runners that I compete with and against.

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

Besides a runner, I'm also a pretty big reader and writer. A friend and I also started up a community Web site for our area of Southwest Michigan, GoSWM.com. It's just turned out to be a pretty interesting job.

6. Tim Ross MI

7. Bret Schoolmeester CO

8. Sam Romanoski IL

Sam says:

1. How did it feel when the race was over and you realized you had finished in the top eight and were going to Orlando? Was it a surprise, or something you were shooting for all year?

I was really set to run at Footlocker and I knew that, if I ran my race, I would finish with the big boys. But yes, it is always a great surprise to come this far.

2. Was Foot Locker Regional the best race of your year? If so, tell us about what made it so. If not, tell us about your best race of the year.

My best race had to be my state race. It was a hard and tough race because I was not use to having all the runners right by me. When Micah Vandenend passed me in the end, it was hard for me to deal with, but I knew that I put 110% into the race. I was runner up by four seconds in that race.

3. Tell us about your coach(es) and what were the key training elements that helped you improve and get to Orlando.

I had been working with a good friend of mine every day after the state race. We knew that I had the ability to run longer distances, but I didn't have the speed yet. So we worked on getting some speed in me and I believe that it worked.

4. What are your goals Saturday? What kind of race will it take for you to get All-American or better?

If I run my race the way that I know that I can run then I think I can be in the top ten. I have to make sure that I am under control and run with heart.

5. Who are the most important influences in your running life (family,coach, friends, etc.)? Who is your favorite elite (HS, college or pro)runner?

Well, my family has always been there for me through both hard times and good ones. They really helped me a lot. This year my mom and dad really helped me by making sure that I would get everything done that I needed to do. My favorite runner has to be Pre, hands down, but the person who has made me strong is my friend and trainer Joe Renguso.

6. What are your biggest interests outside of running?

I love music. I play in a band right now and sing for the LZ Concert Choir. They have really helped me in these last weeks. I also dance and try to do some school work when I have time.

9. Andrew Bauer MI

10. Kaleb Van Ort IN