(Photo by Barry Jones for https://fl.milesplit.com)
Only one runner stands alone among all the contenders in Virginia this fall with a final race to go this weekend in San Diego for the Foot Locker Nationals. Fairfax senior Kevin Dowd rose to the "Cream of the Crop" at the Foot Locker South Regional in the Charlotte as the only Virginian to qualify and finish in the top 10 in the seeded boys race. He will be joined in San Diego by another Northern Region runner in Paige Kvartunas of West Springfield, who finished ninth in the seeded girls race at the South Regional. After being bothered by an achilles injury mid-season and failing to win regional or state crowns, Dowd is hitting his peak in the post-season as shown with his sub 15 5K run at McAlpine and feeling confident about racing at his best this weekend as well in a field of the nation's 40 best from four regions.
Interview with Kevin Dowd
MileStat.com: Congrats on qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals! What were your emotions as you crossed that line and realized you finished among the top 10?
Dowd: I was relieved that the race was finished as I always am. But I realized I was top 10 when in the last 600 meters there were a bunch of people counting up and then pointing at me and saying 10. I was kind of in disbelief though. I knew I could do it, but I had so many doubts at the same time.
MileStat.com: It was reported that you had an achilles injury which was bothering you during much of the season. When did the injury first pop up and how much did it affect your races and training?
Dowd: Yeah it sort of popped up mid-season right after Brentsville Relays. I did a long run the next day and from then until two weeks later it was pretty bothersome. I was glad that I never let it get really bad and I just sort of backed off. I was able to train those two weeks, but minimally. I was pretty much only able to do easy runs and drills. I think it really affected races like Octoberfest and Manhattan for me. I never really felt good during those races and my legs just kind of felt dead. My times were bad too.
Photo by Brandon Miles
MileStat.com: It seemed at regionals and states you had difficulty in closing out races at the end. How frustrating was that in both instances when you can see first place and a victory in sight at the end?
Dowd: It was hard to see that in both races knowing that I was capable of winning. I got left behind right after the one mile mark at regionals and I figured I'd just run an even race and then run them down at the end but they never came back. In retrospect, I wish I had tried harder to cover the move that Chris made early in the race. The state meet was somewhat similar, but some of the guys broke away later in the race. I feel like both of those races were decent for me, but I just didn't come out on top.
MileStat.com: After the state meet, how did you feel about your chances of qualifying for the state meet?
Dowd: I was actually very confident. I had never been to McAlpine, but when I heard my coach and my sister telling me that it was a really flat course with a great surface, I knew my chances at running a solid race were high. I had been having trouble with getting into a good rhythm in races all season but it was very easy at McAlpine because there weren't alot of hills, sharp turns, or much mud at all.
(Photo left by Barry Jones for https://fl.milesplit.com)
MileStat.com: Last fall was tough for you having to sit out the season due to injury. How tough was having to sit on the sidelines and what did you learn from that experience?
Dowd: It was very difficult for me to sit out. I put in a lot of work over the summer and I hadn't even really gotten a chance to have a good race before I messed up my knee. I learned to be more careful with non-running related activities especially during the season.
MileStat.com: You have a very talented older sister in Frances Dowd, who was one of the state's top middle distance runners the past few years and now runs at Tech. Did she play a big role in getting you more serious into running and how are the two of you different as runners?
Dowd: She has definitely played a huge role in my running to this day. She was the reason I started running cross country and probably the reason I stuck with running. We are definitely different runners. She;s pretty much good at whatever she tries and running wasn't different. I had to work my way up a little more than she did at first. It was great to see her go through the some of same ups and downs that I go through and ultimately come out on top.
(Photo right by John Herzog)
MileStat.com: What are your expectations entering the national race as a first-time qualifier and 9th finisher from your region?
Dowd: I'm really hoping to run a strong and smart race this weekend. My runs this week have been great and I think I'm running at my peak. I think I have a good advantage on the hills compared to some of the kids who are not used to that sort of course. I really want to be an All-American. But my main goal is to run a solid race and represent the South region well.
MileStat.com: During the race at Foot Locker South, obviously you were hoping to qualify but did you also have a mindset of also trying to beat all the other Virginia guys and be the top finisher from the state?
Dowd: That definitely crossed my mind especially leading up to the race. I knew that I would probably have to be the top guy from Virginia in order to qualify. I think the course definitely favored me more though compared to some of the other Virginia guys. It was a lot like a track.
MileStat.com: You were able to compete in some very competitive invitationals this season between Maymont and Manhattan, which featured many runners who either qualified for Foot Locker or NXN. Having raced well in both of those meets, do you feel more secure about yourself hanging with those guys this weekend?
Dowd: Yes I do. I think some of those bigger meets helped me prepare to race faster and more competitively. I have a natural tendency to want to take a race out really slow and just wind it up towards the end. But these races have gotten me used to going out really fast and responding to surges and things like that. I'm really looking forward to competing this weekend against guys that have beaten me earlier this year.
(Photo left by Ted Plunkett)
MileStat.com: Entering the regional race in Charlotte, did you think it would take a sub 15 to crack the top ten and what was your realistic time goal for yourself prior to the race?
Dowd: I had no idea what times would be like. I was excited to see what my time would be like on the course but I didn't think I'd get near 15:00. I really just followed the pack and tried to stay relaxed but when we went throught two miles in 9:32, I realized that the times in the top 10 were going to be really fast.
MileStat.com: Last outdoor track season was a really breakout season for you setting significant personal bests in the 1600 (4:17) and 3200 (9:23). After posting such fast times, how certain were you that success on the track would translate into more success this fall?
Dowd: I was not certain at all about that. I had no idea what to expect this year as far as how well I could run in cross country. I hadn't gotten a full season in since sophomore year so I sort of went into the season without a great idea of what it would be like.
MileStat.com: What was your training like this summer and this season? Also what would you consider as your best workout of the season?
Dowd: I did some great training this summer. I usually drove out to some nice trails early in the morning and was able to put in some nice long runs. I think my best milage was about 60-65 in one week. I went to Camp Varsity in Madison County (VA) in early August and got some great runs in there while having a lot of fun. Later in the year, we sort of hovered around 45-50 miles per week and did some solid workouts which changed up as the season went on. My favorite workout was any one of the many extremely hard hill workouts we did at Van Dyck Park.
(Photo right by John Olson of https://sc.milesplit.com)
MileStat.com: Checking off becoming a Foot Locker finalist on your list of goals for this year, what are your remaining goals in your senior year on the track?
Dowd: I don't have any real solid goals for indoor track, but I really want to hit great times in outdoor track as well as win some big races. I think I can run much faster times this year with a full cross country season under my belt. I want to run faster than 4:10 for the mile.
MileStat.com: Where are you at in the college recruiting process and what are the schools that are you are most seriously looking at? Have you gotten a few more calls from big schools since qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals?
Dowd: I'm looking at Virginia Tech, UVA, and William & Mary. I would like to look at some out-of-state schools, and do some more visits before I decide.
(Photo by Barry Jones for https://fl.milesplit.com)